The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2)
Heads and hearts
Disconnected
Oversaturation of news
Polarized views
Bent over
Pent up
Traumas resurfacing
Survivors rising
and standing
in solidarity as
silences cease
God, we need you!
A glimpse of grace
Even a trace
Empathy
Compassion
Kindness
Love
Come out, come out, wherever you are!
Help us
to breathe
to step away
from the screen
to be kind
to ourselves
to one another
to shut the &#@+* up
and listen
to learn
to live
to love.
Reconnect our
heads and hearts.
That might just be
the place to start.
Last week I found myself in a position where I wondered “What am I doing here?” as I experienced new learning and growth. I then remembered this poem that I penned nine years ago as I was discerning a call to seminary.
Did you ever walk into a place knowing
it was exactly where you were meant to be?
Perhaps it was an office, a stage,
a courtroom or a university.
It may have caught you by surprise
because you said, “That’s not for me.”
But there was this inner sense of knowing
that went beyond what you could feel.
What brought you to this place
where deep knowing filled your heart?
Was it an internal compass or
the creator of the universe and stars?
In this place your purpose was revealed
as a puzzle fits together from its parts.
Did you ask “How did I get here?”
That answer is simple. You were called.
A few days ago, a spoken prayer on a morning prayer CD that I listen to caught my ear. I don’t recall the exact words but the gist of the prayer was to be mindful of God’s presence throughout the day, especially in the stranger.
That afternoon I did encounter Jesus, at the hair salon, in the form of a young woman who was clearly and admittedly struggling with some addiction issues. I confess that my discomfort almost got the best of me. Even with training and practice, some situations prove more challenging than others. This was one of them.
Comfort zones are exactly that: comfortable and difficult to step out of! At a loss for words, I simply prayed silently and listened as she shared her struggles. There was Jesus, amidst this woman’s tale of stolen property, hard times, regret, broken relationships and frustration. Our encounter ended with a few brief words and an awkward, nervous laugh.
Had I not heard that prayer that morning…had I not stepped out of my comfort zone…I may not have noticed the holy in the lowly: my own discomfort and lowliness, the lowliness which I perceive in others and the lowliness of God. May my eyes be opened to the holy lowly every day.
.