The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
Another day of ministry
Another day of reading and reflection
Sadly, walking with beloved friends
Through the Valley of the Shadows
Yet in the midst of it all
Your light shines brightly
Lord, walk with those whom I love
Lord, guide us as we journey together
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
A personal and profound reflection that touched the depths of my own heart and soul… thank you, Jake!
When we returned to the room, Meredith was sitting up in bed. Puffy—her lovingly battered stuffed rabbit—was tucked under one arm. She was sipping apple juice from a straw. A Barney video was playing on the TV. And every nurse on duty in the Pediatric Cardiac ICU surrounded her bed laughing and clapping.
Read more at jakeowensby.com/2019/10/18/what-keeps-you-going/
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
Another day of ministry and travel
Pastoral and Hospital Calls
Walking with families through challenging times
Walking with a dear family from afar
Even though we walk through the Valley of the Shadows
You are with us, Lord
Tonight we supported a wonderful organization
Crisis Advocates who are incredible first responders
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
A day of enforced rest
When the body and spirit say enough
Thank you Lord, for this time to simply Be Still
Thank you Lord, for time spent with Thomas Merton
Thank you Lord, for time spent with my sweetheart
Now as my eyelids grow heavy I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well
Safely rest
God is nigh
And so, as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
A day of meetings and hospital calls
Time spent on the phone with a dear friend
Walking once more through the Valley of the Shadows
Lord, grant this family comfort on this journey
Lord, grant them peace
Lord, hear the groans of their hearts
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It was a powerful Lord’s Day of worship
It was also a time of reflection
As we walked along the Lakeside
Your Spirit’s presence was palpable
Challenge us O Spirit of perfect truth
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
Denise and I spent last week at our favorite place on earth, Montreat Conference Center (and village) in North Carolina. To be in such a sacred space is a blessing.
To say that this was a week of comfort wouldn’t be an understatement, it would be a lie. We attended the CoInspire conference put on by the PC(USA). The bottom line for the conference was how we must Liberate Imagination and Eviscerate Racism. As a white male with privilege, I had no clue growing up and early on in my career in the military where I was a Chaplain, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring how bad it was.
Working with my LGBTQAI+ friends in the military for 21 years, I saw the lies and the strife they went through. I also saw first-hand the glass ceilings and “under the radar” Racism, Sexism, and inequality faced by many who have sworn to protect the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
I was reminded this past week that there is much work to be done. I was also reminded of the part I MUST play in systemic change in our nation and world.
There is still much to process. It will take more than a few days to process. Yet in addition to processing, there is a call to immediate action. Lord, give us the courage and the strength to do so.
There is so much to do.
Following our week at CoInspire, we spent a couple of days in Louisville. To spend time in the places where my spiritual mentor Thomas Merton walked was amazing. As I pondered and prayed, I asked God for guidance. How am I to walk this road and fight this fight?
To quote Merton: Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. It demands greater heroism than war. It demands greater fidelity to the truth and a much more perfect purity of conscience.
May God guide and challenge each of us, dear reader. May we truly be instruments of reconciliation and peace.
First Reading – Psalm 111
Second Reading – Luke 17:11-19
Beautiful prayers from Madre Christine Sine ❤️❤️
…I find that prayers like this are powerful ways to keep the presence of God with us throughout the day. Whenever I get anxious or uptight because there seems to be too much to do, I love to pause and recite one of these prayers while slowly breathing in and out…
— Read on godspacelight.com/2019/10/12/breathe-deeply/
