Weekly Spiritual Reflections  

Today, there are levees breaking along the Mississippi River; people are racing to hold back the water.

Today, there are fires raging in California; people are racing to hold back the flames.

Let us pray for all those who suffer and struggle to survive the imbalance of water, from flooding or fire. 

Let us pray for all those whose livelihood is underwater or leveled to ashen ruins.

Let us pray that refreshing waters of life may emerge in flooded lands and wash over charred landscape. 

Let us pray that hands of hope and feet of strength may swim through despair and traverse through desolation.

May the shock of destruction be held by courage.

May the pain of grief be held by comfort.

May the emptiness of loss be held by community.

Let us pray that lives may dwell in the balance once more. Amen.

Links to news sources:

Calif. firefighters dig in to protect Big Sur
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91IHLAG0&show_article=1

Residents keep fighting rising Mississippi River
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25347124/from/ET/

"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord,

plans for your welfare and not for harm,

to give you a future with hope."

Jeremiah 29:11 NRSV

At a very chaotic moment in my life,

I asked you O God, to be present with me…

to help me keep things in perspective…..

(Did I really know what I was asking for?)

As silence flooded my heart,

I felt your Spirit encircle and enwrap me;  

You surrounded me like a warm, quilted blanket,

and held me close to you

as a mother holds a child in her arms.

In that moment of stillness,

all my fears melted away;

the stress of life vanished,

and nothing else seemed to matter.

My only focus was being in Your Presence,

and feeling rooted, secure, safe, loved,

protected, centered, balanced, nurtured, unafraid.

Oh, so loved.

Oh, so surprised.

Thank you God

for overwhelming me with Your Love. Amen.

Denise Pyles, M.Div.

From Peruvian Journal, April 1990

The national news last evening had an interesting report on religion throughout the US population.  This report highlighted some of the findings from the Pew Forum's US Religious Landscape Survey results published in February 2008.  The issue emphasized last night was that most Americans are strongly religious and also respect the different faith traditions, believing that there are many paths that lead to God. 

This is a hopeful sign for our world:  believing in the truth of one's own faith and respecting other people who are different; believing that there are many interpretations of God and how this faith is lived, while trusting that God is bigger than we can ever imagine.  Trusting that there is a wideness in God's Grace and Love – now that is hope!

I keep going back to the image of Mt. Rainier – called "Mt. Tahoma" by the native people which means, "Mountain of God."  For hikers and climbers, there is more than one path that leads to the top of this mountain. For us spiritual hikers, may we trust the path we are on right now, while honoring those on different trails leading to God.

This day, may you dwell in the wideness of the Spirit's Love and Grace.

Here is the link for the news article:

Religious Americans: My faith isn't the only way
America remains a nation of believers, but a new survey finds most Americans don't feel their religion is the only way to eternal life - even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25334489/from/ET/

A few days ago I spent some time taking photos of a multitude of flowers that were in full bloom.  I took hundreds of close-ups through a Nikon lens.  While I was reviewing the photos, I paid attention to the beauty of these flowers and the exquisiteness in each plant.  While paying attention to the splendor of nature, I began to see God emerge through the delicate petals of each plant.  God's creative imagination of magnificence radiated through each of these flowers.  I paused for a moment to savor this glimpse of God.

Here is a suggestion to tend to your soul:

1) Take photos at very close range of flowers – any flowers in bloom – it can be in a garden, in your yard, on a street corner, anywhere.  Make sure that only the flowers are visible in your lens. If you don't have a camera, no problem, take time to look at the flowers with your eyes and your heart – again at very close range to see only the beauty of the flowers in bloom.

2) Stop and take a moment of quiet to gaze upon this splendor – either by reviewing the photos in your camera or sitting in front of the flowers. Allow the Spirit of God to emerge through beauty. What do you see? What do you feel?

Awaken your spirit to a soulful moment this day!

I had lunch today with a business colleague, and I talked about how much I liked Tim Russert, a political news analyst of NBC and Meet the Press, who died suddenly at the age of 58, and whose memorial service was today.  Politics can be such a divisive issue and yet Tim could make any discussion on politics worthy of attention.  It was as if he could create a peaceful conversation on politics just by his very presence and the way he asked questions that would engage someone to dialogue rather than to argue. 

The reason I liked Tim was that he was very respectful of everyone he interviewed.  He would challenge, question, disagree and press issues with people but with no hidden agenda or any kind of malice behind his words.  He was very genuine and sincere in seeking information or answers from others.  His strong faith, rooted values especially as a parent that exuded from the very fiber of his being – all of these were excellent gifts he had, but he had no arrogance nor pushed his own perspective onto others.  He also had opinions and thoughts on politics but one never thought he was dominating with his point of view.  He would disagree with others and yet it was done in such a respectful manner that he honored the differences and empowered the listeners to do the same. 

We need more people in this world who are like Tim Russert – strong in their values, deeply respectful of all humanity, and who empowers others to honor the gifts and differences of everyone.  The world would be a much better place.