Sipping tea before the sun rose this morning, I was gently reminded that this is a season of celebration.
Sunday was the day to celebrate the greatest of days: the day Jesus rose from death to life, victorious over the forces of darkness.
Bleary eyed, sleepy, wondering what the day would hold, I heard the voice speaking truth to celebrate, to soak in the life given, and above all to realize the promise and the call to rest.
My meditations this morning drifted in and out of praise and relief. Cease striving is the call I heard and the call I share.
"Praise the Lord, my soul, forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion..."
from Psalm 103
"In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength..."
from Isaiah 30
Life has been redeemed, restored. Don't turn back to darkness.
As a bit of a side note, this is the first year I have been following the Christian calendar via the lectionary series in the Book of Common Prayer. Since I could not offer a food fast for lent, I "fasted" from sleep, rising early to meet the day and the Lord. This has been incredibly powerful and is extending beyond Lent.
For me this has been a challenging time to sit and listen, to pray and meditate, rather than to study and aim to formulate doctrines. It has also been a freeing time of relationship not only with the Almighty but with the millions of others who read these same passages day in and day out, sacred readings and sacred spaces all combining in a community of faith we will one day see.
I'm linking up ShoutLaughLove today
cease striving--yes! how i love that isaiah verse, too. as someone who is not very quiet, it challenges me again and again.
ReplyDeletesimilarly, i've been reading Common Prayer (www.commonprayer.net) and it's been a powerful practice, too. i need to spend more time listening.
thank you so much for this meditation, kelly!
inspiring!!!!!!!!!!!
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