Dear Lord, we are all frail and finite creatures

whose years are numbered yet we live with a

bit of abandon and a lot of hope.

Then something can come our way which 

unbalances us, disrupts our patterns and 

our lives and we become frightened 

and confused and angry.

But it’s Your presence, Your love,

Your healing power which makes

it possible for us to work through and 

cope with whatever might come our way.

Then we can offer up our pain,

in prayer, for someone who is hurting more.

And we can use our fear as a reminder that we

really have nothing to fear!

Opening prayer by Alan Houghton- chosen and read by Kay P.

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Today’s opening reading, on facing fear. I walked through the woods, compass around my neck, just in case. I marked my way toward the marsh not with breadcrumbs but a couple fallen but sturdy sticks: one stationed upright, a longer one laid along the edge of the path. I planned to remember the direction: right, right, right, left; I was never great at using a compass. At the marsh, I gingerly walked out onto a raft of dried spartina, those hollowed shells still strong enough to save my feet from mud. I stood with the view; then found myself rocking, first onto the balls of my feet, then onto my heels. A slow motion, forward and back, like breathing. Readiness flowing with steadiness. The breeze brushed my cheeks, as if confirming the rhythm.

Turning back from the marsh, I noticed not one path but several tributaries of it, and couldn’t remember which to take. How did I get here? I walked a bit, fear announcing itself, rising in my ears, pounding my heart. I stopped, took a breath, and seeing the ferns waving now on my right, I realized ‘not-this-way.’ I reversed direction, re-found my marking sticks. In just a few minutes I saw again the campsites indicating the start of the walk. The thought struck me: it doesn’t take much distance from the familiar to feel lost! How easily the path gets obscured. Maybe next time I will rely more on compass instead of memory. Maybe, too, a larger message today: to rely on the Compass instead of over-relying on my own can-do. Ah, yes, forward and back, like breathing.

Photo and reflection by Amy W.

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As I walked along the beach by the surf I was reminded of the words from the Eucharistic prayer that talk about unity, constancy and peace. The constant motion and sound of the waves brought to mind that our lives are like that. No matter what we are going through in our busy days and nights, we are constantly moving towards the peace that passeth understanding and hoping and praying for a sense of oneness and unity with those whose lives we touch and even those who we don’t even realize are affected by who we are and what we do. I was thankful for God’s constant presence in my life and all the beautiful things He sends every day to remind me of His never failing care and love. 

Photo and reflection by Kay P.