In Which A Kidney Stone Happens

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, July 17, 2016

In Which A Kidney Stone Happens

No one can say that I lead a boring life. Always something going on. This afternoon, someone close to me had a kidney stone. Again.

Yes, the pain was excruciating. Yes, I took the loved one to the hospital. And, yes. Everything is all right now.

But, how quickly everything can change. In just a half an hour, perhaps a bit more. Going from perfectly normal and pain-free to debilitating, excruciating pain.

I wonder. How is it that one little misstep can mean a catastrophic fall? Or, losing one’s balance can cause life-threatening injury? Or, a split second of inattention on the road can mean a multiple car accident?

I guess I go through life blithely, never thinking about ninety percent of the things that are near misses. I suspect the vast majority of people in the world are the same way. Yet, today, I thought about all of those times, all of those situations that just could have been. Catastrophic, or life-threatening. Even, the sudden loss of life.

Dear God, thank You for watching over me. Thank You for being a strong Fortress, my trustworthy Dwelling Place. I pray that You may continue watching over me and my family, and my loved ones. Lord, in Your mercy, hear my earnest prayers.

In Your mercy, hear all of our prayers. #PrayForNice

@chaplaineliza

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Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza  And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

Re-member-ing? Or, Putting Together That Which Is Broken?

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Tea bowl fixed in the Kintsugi method

Re-member-ing? Or, Putting Together That Which Is Broken?

Ah, brokenness. Puzzle pieces, scattered far and wide. Or, worse, some delicate figurine or pottery that has broken to pieces. Again, difficult to reassemble.

That’s what I immediately thought of when I saw Margaret Silf’s different prayer suggestions Yes, I know I have been requested to discern my personal faith story. Yes, I realize it is—indeed—a sacred task. Then, WHY do I have the overwhelming feeling that making sense of my faith story/my faith journey through life is so closely akin to re-assembling the broken fragments of some kind of fragile glassware?

The gist of one of her penetrating suggestions runs as follows: “Notice how God has been constantly present, not just in the special moments. Notice especially how, with hindsight, periods when God felt absent may have prepared you in some way for further growth. Notice how periods of difficulty strengthened you in certain ways, as hard exercise strengthens our muscles. . . . Where honesty prevents you from seeing God in parts of your life, tell God so in your prayer, and express your pain and anger to God freely.” [1]

I figured this, so far. My deep-down brokenness comes from several places, not least of which is the evil of a fallen world. (I have no problem believing this. I freely admit where I have fallen far too short.) Yes, society is broken, the family structure is at fault, relationships are (at best) erratic, and my internal and external person and Being is irreparably flawed.

And yet—and yet—I have hope. I hope in the One who loves me. I receive grace through the One who loves me. And, I take comfort in the One who never leaves me nor forsakes me. And, who loves me even when I cannot love myself. I can try to follow the twisted, winding path of my faith journey, and journey myself to wholeness. Wholeness in body, mind and spirit.

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, thank You for an excellent guide book in Inner Compass. Please, God, help me as I take this journey of discovery and exploration. Be right next to me as I reveal these hidden or forgotten fragments of my journey. Thank You for assuring me that You can handle some pain, anger and disappointment, from me, and from others. Lord, in Your mercy, hear my prayers.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .

[1] Silf, Margaret, Inner Compass: Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality (Chicago: Loyola Press, 1999), 20-21.

Second Sunday in Lent – Praying For Myself? Praying For Others.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, March 1, 2015

Second Sunday in Lent – Praying For Myself? Praying For Others.

Here we are. At the second Sunday in Lent. I am bubbling up on the inside like the waters of a spring. Not turbulent, but more troubled.

I read with some interest the readings in the devotional book I have. First, the scripture for today. And then, a selection from Elton Trueblood. A very good brief reading, but I just could not concentrate on it. My mind—and heart—kept wandering away. Wandering toward some matters of continuing prayer.

Lord, I know I am to pray for those who repeatedly come to my mind. Please, Lord. Hear my prayers. I know I need to listen to You, too.

I think of the words of Psalm 130: “2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” That lament is exactly what I feel like saying. Except, the psalmist said it first. And, better than I could ever do.

If anyone could pray with me for some continuing concerns weighing on my mind right now, I would appreciate that more than I can say. Thank you.

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

(Check out #40acts; doing Lent generously at www.40acts.org.uk )

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And read #40acts sermons sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .