I spent a summer during seminary working in the chaplain’s office at a
Catholic hospital. My mentor in the hospital’s Pastoral Care Department
was Sister Ellen, and I learned so much from how she entered into each
conversation with compassion, honesty, and humility. She was nononsense, and she never let me doubt that in any situation we encountered
in a hospital room, God was there long before us.
When I left to go back to school at the end of that summer, she gave me a
book called “Seven Sacred Pauses” by Macrina Wiederkehr. It offers
collected prayers and meditations for the monastic tradition of the daily
hours. I have treasured this little book, and return to it again and again. In
the prayers, I hear Sr. Ellen’s voice reminding me that in whatever
challenges we encounter, God is already there--like on that Easter morning,
when the disciples were told, “he is going ahead of you…”
Here is one of the readings for the midmorning “Blessing Hour”:
Blessings. Blessings.
Blessings as the day unfolds, blessings of the morning.
Pausing in the fullness of the moment, our grateful hearts
Sing a morning song on this holy ground.
Sing a morning song to precious life all around.
Blessings. Blessings.
Blessings of the rising sun, blessings of the morning,
Pausing in the fullness of the moment, our grateful hearts.
Sing a morning song on this holy ground.
Sing a morning song to precious life all around.
Blessings. Blessings. Blessings of the morning.
-Velma Frye
What blessings are you encountering this morning?
A prayer from the same book--will you join me in these words?
O Spirit, Come…Come with your transforming power. Breathe upon and
into my thoughts and actions this day. Let my work be a labor of love. May
those who come in contact with me feel sheltered and cared for. May I do
or say some small piece of goodness that will help others feel affirmed and
supported. Let your wind and fire move me into the places were I am
needed. Let me become your breath so that I may assist you in breathing
new life into places that are stale and unfruitful. Make me forceful and
gentle, powerful and humble. O Spirit, Come!
Amen.
Pastor Kate