In the Bleak: Peace & Unrest
Practice of Presence:
Inhale, then exhale.
Inhale, then exhale.
Consider Mary’s breath as she witnessed the angel.
Inhale sharply, like she may have.
Breathe lightly, like she may have.
Widen your eyes, like she may have.
Lower them, like she may have.
[breathe as long as you need]
A Scripture:
Luke 1:28-35, First Nations Version (FNVNT)
Creator’s Mighty One (Gabriel) said to her, “Greetings, highly favored one! You are close to the Great Spirit and greatly honored among women.” Bitter Tears (Mary) was deeply troubled by this greeting and wondered what the spirit-messenger would say. “Do not fear,” he comforted her, “for you have found goodwill in the eyes of the Great Mystery. You will be with child and give birth to a son. You will name him Creator Sets Free (Jesus).”
It seemed like time stood still, and all creation stopped to listen as the messenger continued to speak.
“He will be greatly honored, the Son of the One Above Us All. He will be a great chief like his ancestor Much Loved One (David) and will sit in his seat of honor. He will always be chief over the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel). His chiefly guidance will never end.”
Bitter Tears’s (Mary’s) voice trembled with emotion, and her eyes grew wide as she looked into the face of the spirit-messenger.
She asked, “How will this be, since I have never been with a man?” Creator’s Mighty One (Gabriel) answered, “The Holy Spirit will spread his wings over you, and his great power from above will overshadow you. This holy child born to you will be the Son of the One Above Us All.”
A Thought:
There’s war. The holy land rages with everything but holiness. Political interests are of more interest than life. People are dead, dying, sick, and afraid. Bodies are buried in rubble, covered in dust. People sit in their living rooms, far away, and argue in comment sections about which lives matter most, as if this is a philosophical question and not one of human proportions.
Where is peace?
There’s war. I see it played out every hour in my office. Grief. Abuse. Relational conflict. Depression. Self-hatred. Shame. Anxiety. They all wage their battle within. Sometimes it is a cross silently borne. Others, it is a wail of pain. The body carries it like a bomb.
Where is peace?
A young woman is visited by an angel. She is troubled, fearful in their mighty presence. She is told she will become pregnant. The angel tells her “do not fear” but she does not feel peace, only confusion. She asks for clarification. She is told plainly: she will conceive the son of God.
Where is peace?
Peace is burrowed into her womb. She rests her hand on her abdomen and tends to it, quietly until Peace is ready to tend to us all.
A Song:
I wanna be where my feet are
I wanna breathe the life around me
I wanna listen as my heart beats, right on time
I wanna be where my feet are
I chase my worries
I flee my sorrows
But what you give me
is now
So take my burdens
and my tomorrows
I wanna be where my feet are
Excerpt from Centering Prayer by The Porter’s Gate