Sunday Thoughts

Despite all that is going on in this country I always have hope. I can’t do the opposite. I have lived long enough to know that whatever is happening today is not necessarily what will happen tomorrow. Humans tend to think when things are good they will continue to be good and when things are bad they will continue to be bad. History shows us that neither good times nor bad times continue unchecked.

I had a great example of that today in Church. For our affirmation of faith we read from the Confession of 1967. Times in America we’re not so great in 1967. We were in a senseless war in Vietnam, civil rights were challenging and women were tired of being second class citizens.

The Presbyterian church gathered to write the confession of 1967 in response to our times, but it feels very familiar to our current times. The joy I got from reading this was not that times are bad now, but that they were bad then and then things improved. The fact that they don’t stay good or bad is nothing new.

My friend Warren shared a prayer he wrote for his church in Maine. As a deacon he was supposed to read it there today, but his church was canceled due to spring snow. I thought it was too good for someone not to hear. My prayer is that you have hope (and take action). Hope alone is not enough.

Oh God-

For always hearing our prayers…those spoken and unspoken;

For giving us reasons to hope when we’re feeling hopeless and in despair;

For comforting when we’re hurting or in mourning;

For helping us find the strength and courage when we’re facing hardships and challenges that threaten to break us;

For those family members, friends and even pets who accompany us on life’s journey, lovingly sharing our ups and downs;

For community, like this one, that sustains and bolsters us;

For those among us who advocate for justice, peace and those most in need;

For the little joys and blessings that bring smiles and laughter: a favorite song, a spring flower, a stranger’s smile;

For all of these and most of all for the life and love of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, now wandering in the wilderness, we give you our heartfelt thanks.