Something to Ponder by Rev. Mary White
It is amazing how when it is cut down a new tree will sprout from the stump. Maybe that is why I am captivated by them; trees are so resilient. And I find aged people to also be resilient. They carry within a narrative of life experiences that can enlighten the life journey of others if we would only be receptive of their offerings. Most of the time, the elderly overcame many of life’s challenges through their faith and hope in a Higher Power. But there are those in society who seem to be losing the spiritual characteristic of their being. Sadly. there are people who speak out against the concept of a Higher Power but I wonder if they have had any educational experience with the subject. Some have had negative experiences with religion but, religion is quite different from having a loving relationship with the Architect of life. Albeit, religion can be a conduit to experiencing a deeper relationship with one’s Higher Power.
Stay safe. Stay connected.
Blessings and the strength of Love be with you.
Rev. Mary,
revmjwhite@hotmail.ca
Reading Job 8:8-19 (ERV)
Ask those who are now old. Find out what their ancestors learned. It seems as though we were born yesterday. We are too young to know anything. Our days on earth are very short, like a shadow. Maybe the old people can tell you something. Maybe they will teach you what they learned. Can papyrus grow tall on a dry land? Can reeds grow without water? No, they will dry up before harvest. They will be too small to cut and use. People who forget God are like that. Those who oppose God have no hope. They have put their trust in something weak. It is like a spider’s web. When they lean against it, it will break. When they reach out for it, it will not hold them up. Such people are like a vine that gets plenty of water and sunshine, and its branches spread throughout the garden. Its roots spread among the rocks, searching for good soil. But if you move it, it will die, and no one can tell it was ever there. Everything might have been going well, but another vine will take its place.
Prayer
Life Giving Spirit
I am so afraid to open my clenched fists!
Who will I be when I have nothing left to hold on to?
Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands?
Please help me to gradually open my hands and to discover that I am not what I own, but what you want to give me. And what you want to give me is love, unconditional, everlasting love.
Amen.
– from “The Only Necessary Thing” by Henri Nouwen