7:25 prayer from 3 years ago....

Today this prayer came up in my memories.

It is one of many prayers I wrote during the "C-season" when connecting with people in person wasn't possible and attempting to connect in new and different ways on social media and other ways was the go-to.

7:25 came about because the first three letters of the acronym at the church I was serving were "S.A.L.". The fourth was "T.".  SAL means 'salt' in Spanish, so it worked as 7 was S, 2 was A, and 5 was L.

S.A.L.T. stands for Serve, Accept, Love, and Teach-- the heart beat of the church I served at the time.

The thought of the 7:25 prayers was that anyone was invited to post a prayer and/or for all to join in as community to pray at that time, twice a day. It was a way to connect virtually and through the cosmos.

I don't if it became a daily routine for anyone, other than myself. I do know that it took through this past first year of my family leave of absence to stop looking at the time at 7:25. It was pretty ingrained in me to pray at that time of day.

Here is the prayer that came up in my memory today.  It is a prayer that is as applicable today as it was then. We aren't in the same life situation as we were then, yet these words still ring true.

"7:25 p.m. prayer-- May we all become who we are created to be. May this season allow us time to reflect, to heal, to grow, to be and do-- in ways that we could not before. May we encourage one another. May we be love and light, offering spaces of grace to one another. May we be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Amen. Pastor Debra 8/16/20"

As I reflect on this prayer, I wonder.... did I, did we make the most of the season of liminal space and life turned upside down? Was it truly a time of reflection, of healing, of growth?

I know that for me personally, I experienced multiple transformations and changes as I adapted in my leading, teaching, and preaching. I also experienced growth and transformation in my spiritual journey. 

Did we as a whole become more encouraging to and for one another in our world? Do we now offer more love, light, and spaces of grace because of what we went through and experienced? Were we more part of the solution rather than part of the problem?

Where are we now in comparison to where we were?

These are questions for reflection that we can only answer within our selves and within our communities.  

If we see areas of possible needed healing, growth, love, light, and grace... it's not too late. These are still possible.

The prayer of 8/16/20 remains a prayer for today. May it be so.

Peace, 

Rev. Deb

Psalm 62--lectio divina reflections

I decided to read some Scripture this morning-- or rather to allow it to read me. Lectio divina, sacred reading, is a reading method that resonates with me.  

It is a spiritual practice that I float in and out of. Having just finished Daniel Wolpert's chapter (chapter 2) in Creating a Life with God on it, I decided it would be a good time to dive in.

A few notes from Wolpert before I share from my lectio reading:

• "...allow the words to sink down into the depths of your being." (52)
• "The Word of God becomes real and alive and active in you right here, right now." (54)
• "Prayer is not a product; it is a relationship." (56)

Looking through Nan Merrill's Psalms for Praying, I landed on Psalm 62 and these two verses (6-7):

For You alone my soul waits in silence;

my hope is from the Beloved.

Enfolding me with strength and steadfast love,

My faith shall remain firm.

In the Silence rests my freedom and my guidance;

for You are the Heart of my heart,

You speak to me in the Silence.

As I reflected, these words "enfolding me with strength and steadfast love" stood out to me. 

This brings to mind my spiritual practice of spending time in a hammock, of being. When I am in a hammock I am enclosed, enfolded, almost as if I am in a cocoon. I am able to to rest in that space, knowing I am held. 

The time strengthens me, refreshes me, renews me.

During the days and months of the pandemic, I spent much time in a hammock.  It was healing. It was transformational. 

It helped me be still. It allowed me rest. I waited in the silence and was reminded of love as I regained strength and hope.

I have been missing hammock time and the reading this morning reminded me of the benefits of this spiritual practice for me.

Hammock time was and is a time of freedom and guidance for me. It is a spiritual practice go-to when I am feeling overwhelmed, stressed, uncertain, tired, seeking connection with the Creator, and/or any other thing.

I truly sense the enfolding of the Spirit in that space.

Where (when, how) do you sense the enfolding love, hope, and strength of the Beloved?

Hammock time isn't the sole time for me, but it is what came up in this morning's reading of Psalm 62.

It is good to listen. 

May the listening bring forth fruit.

So be it.

And, may the adventurous journey continue!

Rev. Deb