Pray

Ephesians 6:10-20

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

I was scheduled to read this in church today.  However, the Delta Variant had other plans for me.  A few weeks ago, my church took a step backward in the interest of safety.  We no longer have vaccinated choir members singing.  Attendance must be requested in advance, is limited to around 100 people per week, and assigned seating at a social distance has returned.  My husband recently began taking a medicine that makes him more immunocompromised.  I was mad. (had you noticed I stopped writing?) I had felt like I, we, had done all the right things yet here we are back where we started.  I find myself wearing masks where I cannot guarantee that all around me are vaccinated. I am frustrated. All of the Kleshas - Negative Mental States (Ignorance, Egoism, Attachment, Aversion, and Fear of Death) are winning. I don’t want to do this again. I want to sing.

Then I read today's reading.  Something more divine was at play when selecting me for this reading.  And, although someone else read it today, its message resonates. Be strong, armor yourself with God, “For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Then Pray. No, that last quote was not about fighting each other, but about praying for each other.  For me prayer wins, for you perhaps it is thoughts, meditations, wishes, blessings, graces, actions, or something else. “Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.”

So I pray. I pray that this delta variant ends, that children get vaccine, that Afghanistan finds peace, that our world stays cool, that my children and husband are safe, that all of you have your various prayers answered.  And if you have time pray for me to not be so mad, frustrated, and to find a place to sing.

Namaste

 

 

Samuel as an Example of Listening and Feeling

I Samuel 3:1-20

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So, he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore, Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So, Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore, I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.” Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” So, Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.” As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.

 

Today we read my most favorite Old Testament reading and story.  It contains within it my personal prayer mantra “Speak Lord for your Servant is Listening.”  Currently my personal use of this mantra comes weekly after receiving communion (even metaphorically now).  I kneel and silently speak these words, then I listen. Sometimes there is nothing, sometimes there are words, and sometimes there are simply bodily sensations.  Years ago, before I found this mantra, I used to just listen and sometimes I would be given messages, not just for myself but for others. Sometimes on sharing these messages tears flow. Much like Samuel I try not to hide anything.  I also cannot ask on behalf of anyone, this is God lead and hard.

I see this weekly experience as one of my experiences of mantra, meditation, and kirtan. Mantra is a repeated statement as a meditation or prayer.  Some people use prayer beads when doing this.  Some put it to music, or Kirtan which could also be a hymn. And some just listen or feel which is mediation.  Samuel was a seer, priest, judge, prophet, and military leader.  I don’t see myself as any of those, but more of a follower of his example to listen and feel God’s presence all around me.

Namaste

 

 

Photo from: http://ivehadanepiphany.blogspot.com/2015/01/speak-lord-for-your-servant-is-listening.html