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Dear Sojourners,
Our host, Karen, offered a prayer for us to consider before sharing our posts this month:
I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven
the glorious sun's life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
- from the Northumbria Community
As beautiful as the prayer is, I struggled to see a lesson in it. I didn't see a reflection piece in a prayer in which the speaker has made this commitment.
I've been quite fretful in these past years. I've worried over Covid, then vaccines, then boosters, divided politics, the behavior of school children, and now another war before the world has cleaned up after the past several. There is no shortage of things for any of us to worry over. I sometimes joke with one of my very anxious kiddos that I'll take their top worry for free! I don't charge. I'll worry over that stinker of a worry like a pro. The only hitch is, that they can't have that worry back. They have to let it go for good.
This is, of course, what God is urging of me.
Years ago, I was in professional development when I began asking quite a few "what if" questions just as my middle school students do. After I sputtered off several questions, the leader simply invited me to "trust the process." That was a moment I'll never forget. The leader was very quiet, and patient and welcomed my questions. The answer to them was...trust the process of what I was learning.
Lent has been a productive time for me. My church publishes a devotional each year written by members of our congregation. It is beautiful and funny and painful and wonderful to read. I draw closer to my church family as I read about the ways that they have approached life with God's help. I've used these devotions as writing prompts and the reward has been rich (OK, some giggles and tears too).
When I re-read the prayer above I realize I don't have to find a lesson. All I need to do is trust the process. Trust the beauty of the wonders of nature as true, trust the power of God to hold and lead, watch and hear, hearken and guide and protect. The invitation is there. I simply need to relax into it.
I need to trust the process. And, not take that worry back. Amen.
I am struggling to get anything written down for today's post. I need to trust and let go, but it's not working for me. Thanks for writing about your own vulnerable process.
ReplyDelete"Trust the process" is a gift from you today, Linda. Each week since my cataract surgery, I have seen my doctor several times. I did not expect swelling in the cornea nor a long period of healing so trusting in the recovery process is great advice. My 2nd surgery has been postponed and I must continue in prayer to recover. Trust in the process-yes, the Lord hears my request but your thoughts and thoughtful post have helped me (virtually) see better. Thank you, my friend, for this enlightening post and am important layered inspirational quote collage.
ReplyDeleteTrusting the process is hard to do! I love the idea of combining the beauty of the world with the power and wisdom of God and the ability to let go and relax and let God (His heavenly host to be my guard).
ReplyDeleteLinda, I find your words deeply reflective and honest. This, so important: "Trust the power of God to hold and lead, watch and hear, hearken and guide and protect. The invitation is there. I simply need to relax into it." It is challenging sometimes for us to rest in our faith, as we are used to investing energy in "doing." Even worry is a form of "doing." We pull at the yoke when the Lord is offering rest...Thank you for the reminder to trust. Blessings-
ReplyDeleteLinda, what a beautiful post. I love this. It's a devotional for me today. I'm taking this away for today: "...trust the power of God to hold and lead, watch and hear, hearken and guide and protect. The invitation is there. I simply need to relax into it." Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gift you are offering your students, through this seemingly light-hearted funny ask -
ReplyDelete"I sometimes joke with one of my very anxious kiddos that I'll take their top worry for free!"
You are imparting to them (and to us!), free of charge, the biggest gift of all - to pause, to let go, to breathe, to trust something much larger at work. Just beautiful!
I finally wrote mine, and now I'm going around reading everyone's. This is so good, Linda. Working on trusting the process, too.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I don't usually consider myself a worrier...but these last three years have given me plenty to wonder and worry about. It is hard, so hard, to just be in the midst of this anxiety...but so worth it, to let go and trust the process, as you've so eloquently ended with. Thank you for the companionship on this journey.
ReplyDelete