The Storms that Come

I really wish I could tell you why life can be so difficult sometimes.  I wish I had an answer that made some sense of it all.  I look around at some of the people in my life and all that they are going through and all I can think is God, I don't understand.  The friend whose job is a huge source of stress and there doesn't seem to be any other options, the pastor who's daughter was murdered at the age of  22, another friend whose precious hopes have once again been shattered.  The storms that come in life can be so painful and it's so hard watching someone you love go through a storm.

A couple of days ago a storm came through Boston.  The winds were fierce and it got me thinking.  If you look at strong, sturdy trees when a strong wind blows they look a little frazzled.  The leaves are shaking wildly and the branches are swaying.  If it's a bad enough storm a branch or two may even snap, but the roots remain in the ground.  The wind doesn't uproot the tree and toss it about.  The tree is anchored because of its roots. 

For anyone in the midst of the storms that come, may you be rooted in peace today and always.  Your leaves may shake, your branches may bend and sway and one or two may snap, but may you be rooted in the shalom that only God can offer.  May you know that no matter how the deep the pain, no matter how grave the crisis, you will NOT be uprooted and tossed about.  May God's peace anchor your soul through the storms that come until they pass over. This is my prayer for you.

Following the Way,
Kevin

A Litany Of Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks to God our Father and Mother for all gifts so freely bestowed upon us.

For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea,
Lord we give you thanks.

For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ,
Lord we give you thanks.

For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,
Lord we give you thanks.

For eyes that see and ears that hear, and arms and legs that move.
Lord we give you thanks.

For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
Lord we give you thanks.

For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,
Lord we give you thanks.

For the breath of God within us that causes us to be and makes our mortal bodies God’s dwelling place,

Lord we give you thanks.

For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,
Lord we give you thanks.

For all who hunger and thirst for justice, truth and righteousness,
Lord we give you thanks.

For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
Lord we give you thanks.

For tears and how you use them to water the soil of our faith,

Lord we give you thanks.

For unexpected loss that causes us to stop and reflect and realize what’s important,

Lord we give you thanks.

For meeting you in silence when there are no words to say,

Lord we give you thanks.

For joy and laughter and moments of wonder,

Lord we give you thanks.

For this community and everyone in it and all of the blessings they bring,

Lord we give you thanks.

Following the Way,

Kevin 

A Guided Meditation on Gratitude

This is a guided meditation I led at my church.  May it speak to your heart also.

I’m feeling incredibly broken right now.  In the past 6 months 2 people that I know have been shot and killed.  Both young women in their twenties and both from the church I was very involved in for seven years.  On Tuesday I found out a friend from college has cancer.  And in addition to all of that I’ve been processing some heavy personal disappointments of my own.  It is quite fitting that I am here tonight to talk about gratitude because if I am only able to say thank you to God when everything is going well than my thank you doesn’t really mean anything.  If gratitude is something I only express when everything is going according to plan than it can never become a spiritual practice that becomes life giving and life changing.

Someone recently asked me why am I so drawn to gratitude and I struggled to articulate an answer.  The best way that I can put it is that the ability to cultivate gratitude has saved my life.  Some of us have had many, many things go wrong in our lives and I am one of them.  As someone with a history of depression sometimes I become overwhelmed.  For me being depressed is like being locked into a pitch black room.  There are no windows, no doors.  It’s totally dark and I can’t see.  I can’t see God. I can’t see the ones around me.  It’s so dark I can’t even see myself.  But when I find something in my life to be grateful for and give thanks light comes into the room and I can see again.  The doors open and I can be reached.  I can be reached by God.  I can be reached by those who love me. I can be reached by joy even in the midst of pain.

Guided Meditation:

I want you to close your eyes and take a deep breath.  Think about a painful situation in your life for a moment.  Acknowledge it.  Feel the weight of it.  Take it all in.  Now search for something good even in that situation.  Is there any good to be found?  Is there anything to be grateful for?  Find it and focus on it.  Take a deep breath and as you breathe, breathe in gratitude.  Without ignoring the pain, focus on what you’re grateful for and breathe in gratitude.  With every breath let if fill you; let it fill your body and soul.  Let gratitude fill the thoughts of that painful situation and bring in its light. Take another breath.  Take another breath.  Allow your heart to rest in this place of gratitude. Carry this gratitude with you throughout your day.

Following the Way,

Kevin