Rip Caswell (b.1962)
Baptism of Christ
May the Lord bless his people with peace. Psalm 29:11b
Today may we be blessed with
trust in God’s unfailing presence,
confidence in God’s love and patience,
comfort in God’s peace.
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Ion Chibzii
“Grief” (70th years)
12 June 2011, 20:50
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Psalm 90:1
We carry a cross of grief throughout our lives. To live with our grief requires courage and compassion. When we accept the moments of anger, resentment, finger-pointing, forcing solutions, and depression as symptoms, we dare to identify the source of our grief: the death of loved ones, disillusionment with government, church, and community leaders, being the target of prejudice, racism, violence, and injustice, illness, loss of employment and income, the frailties that come with aging, unfulfilled dreams. Grief challenges us every day, individually and collectively.
Lord, help me identify the source of the grief in my life. Grace me with the courage to be honest about my emotions and accountable for them. Shelter me with your love and compassion as I grieve. Bless me with great compassion for all who grieve.
The Blue Marble
NASA/Apollo 17 crew; taken by either Harrison Schmitt or Ron Evans, December 7, 1972
We human persons are so small, frail, weak, and fragile. But filled with God’s Holy Spirit, we have the choice to be spacious in love, unbreakable in generosity, powerful in compassion, and invincible in forgiveness.
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place — What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? Psalm 8:4-5
Enver Rahmanov
Prayer of compassion
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works. Psalm 145:8-9
How grateful I am to be able to turn to the Lord and know I will be welcomed with kindness and compassion, particularly on a day like today when I am in great need of comfort.
James Moriarty
Fig Tree in Spring, 2005
Everyone I talk to has something difficult to bear: the death of someone dear to them, grave illness in the family, loss of income, oppressive work conditions, the lessening of physical abilities, coping with addiction.
Add to that rampant anti-Semitism, racism, prejudice, selfishness, greed, and indifference to the poor, homeless, refugees, and immigrants—and the world seems unsafe, unloving, and ready to implode.
It is a time of terrible grief where anger, blame, and depression dominate.
Today I will be a part of God’s vision of love and compassion. I will offer comfort and kindness to everyone I meet because I know we are all grieving something.
I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Psalm 16:8
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Harry Fenn (1845-1911)
Caesarea Philippi (Banias)
Watercolor, gouache, brown ink, and graphite on light brown wove paper
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Even the low times contain a stillpoint of joy. The Lord is right there in the moment. I do not walk alone.
Gracious is the Lord and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The Lord keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
Psalm 116:5-6
Amish farm field, wheat up in shocks
By Nyttend (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness. Psalm 51:3
