Keep breathing and abide

Although we often equate blessings with God’s benevolence, thinking they constitute a sign of God’s favor in the form of prosperity and abundance, they often work in ways quite contrary to such a notion. I have come to see with greater and greater clarity that a blessing is at its most potent in times of disaster, devastation, and loss. When God’s providence seems most difficult to find, a blessing helps us perceive the grace that threads through our lives.

A blessing does not explain away our loss or justify devastation. It does not make light of grief or provide a simple fix for the rending. It does not compel us to “move on.” Instead, a blessing meets us in the place of our deepest loss. In that place, it offers us a glimpse of wholeness and claims that wholeness here and now. A blessing helps us to keep breathing – to abide in this moment, and the next moment, and the one after that.

From The Cure for Sorrow: A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief

by Jan Richardson, Wanton Gospeller Press, 2020

How the Light Comes

I cannot tell you

how the light comes.

What I know

is that it is more ancient

than imagining.

That it travels

across an astounding expanse

to reach us.

That it loves

searching out

what is hidden,

what is lost,

what is forgotten

or in peril

or in pain. …

I cannot tell you

how the light comes,

but that it does.

That it will.

That it works its way

into the deepest dark

that enfolds you,

though it may seem

long ages in coming

or arrive in a shape

you did not foresee.

And so

may we this day

turn ourselves toward it.

May we lift our faces

to let it find us.

May we bend our bodies

to follow the arc it makes.

May we open

and open more

and open still

to the blessed light

that comes.

from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons

by Jan Richardson (2015)

Comments

Grief and Blessings

"The Blessing of Tears" by Eleanor Cowles The Upper Room, March-April 2021 “When I think of God’s blessings, I think of family, friends, sunshine, or even my morning cup of coffee. Until recently, I never considered tears a blessing. … As we walk through life, we often miss blessings hidden in calamities. But while tears can blur our vision, they can also clarify our sight to reveal new truths. Perhaps we can see our way to reach out to someone in pain I believe when we have walked through pain and grief, we may be the path – and there our tears can meet. Truly, tears can be God’s blessing for this life.” CONTENTS click the title to go to the article Nourishing Faith Adult Class: Joy, Grief, Prayers, “Slum Songs” Devotional 2021: Hope in the Wilderness Pastor Appointment: Sorrow, Blessing, Faith Pastor’s Column: God’s Time, God’s Plan Welcoming All New Meditation Room: Welcome Peace Virtual Mission u 2021 Toy Library Transitions to WWW United Methodi...

Racial Justice Book Club

Circle of individual voices on anti-racist journey The journey began with the first Zoom session on January 12 by meeting the facilitator, Crixell Shell, Assistant Executive Director of the Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute, where she is a Peacebuilding Trainer and Coming to the Table Racial Talking Circle Facilitator. Book clubbers also met others who joined the circle and discussed the touchstones that will guide discussion. Some circle members are from Epworth and others from the wider community with more joining the circle at later sessions. As they introduced themselves to each other, circle members shared their personal intentions in joining this Book Club. They also shared their reflections on how the introduction to Ibram X. Kendi’s How to be an Anti-racist impacts the way they view our past racist thoughts, feelings and behaviors towards themselves and others. The Book Club was established as a place for contributin...

Pastor’s Column

God’s timing, God’s plans Fellow Epworthians - As I sit here in my dad’s hospice room on the cusp of Holy Week, many things are rolling around in my head and in my heart. Obviously, I have a basic overlay of grief and sorrow. Infused into that are unsurprisingly disappointment, frustration, and perhaps some anger. Additionally, there are some warm feelings brought about by precious memories. Perhaps finally, for me, there is a both intellectual and spiritual curiosity – the desire to understand, especially to understand why. I’m sure you’ve all felt these very same feelings, perhaps recently. Over the last couple of weeks, my mother has regularly said an oft spoken idea, “God’s timing is perfect.” I’ve heard this same brought into conversation in challenging moments, especially when patience is required. Let’s think about God’s timing together. First, there is no Scripture that states unequivocally this understanding of God’s timing. Ecclesiastes 3:1 does say, “For everything the...

Epworth Echoes Spring 2021

Search This Blog