— Midweek Meditations:
thoughts, inspiration and encouragement
from ACF community members —
Just made it again, the first song still a bit short of breath, thoughts still running wild, coming and going, all the open tasks competing for attention, and it feels like a train station with trains arriving, departing just so the next train can arrive again at the same platform, never coming to a hold. The fast-turning dashboard leaves me with the feeling of having missed all trains of thought I should have caught before it disappears from my mind again in the haze beyond my vision just to pop up another time. Too many trains, too many destinations at the same time and no clear direction. As long as the time schedule has still some order, I guess one calls it multitasking but the border to ADS seems rather narrow, and what seemed to be under control today can easily be out of control tomorrow when an unexpected task or event pushes its way into my day. And when this happens too often then even the activities which bring joy and fulfillment become overwhelming and exhausting.
Ash Wednesday is meant to be a sign post to refocus during lent. Like Christmas or Easter it reappears on my calendar predictably and consistently but I am still out of breath while sitting down in the small evening service which is just the beginning of this time. My thoughts are still wandering while the liturgy continues, and then, I feel the finger again, with light pressure, painting the cross on my forehead only a few centimeters separated from the ongoing whirl storms of unfinished thoughts.
Will the cross help me again to focus on the center where the horizontal every day meets the eternal vertical? Will I allow the light pressure to put a hold to all my running, my thriving for more and just let me arrive in the here and now?
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
“Lord, let me come before you, just as I am and realize that you have done it already all; let me drink again from your water so I will not thirst again. Indeed, let your water become in me a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:14
Slowly, I arrive also with my mind and my heart, slowly my breath becomes deeper and slower and I notice again what was always there but hidden from my busy eyes: Your presence in my life. Let me hear your small voice between all the noises of this world, let me tune in, so your presence moves in like the spring into my life, frees rivers and creeks from the ice and allows new blossoms to spring forth from a ground that has not been worked because everything else has been more important. Let me wait upon you now, and let me experience again that in your holy presence, I am standing on holy ground. Let my heart and voice cry holy, lifting arms again to worship you.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7
“Lord let this peace we have in you not be wiped away like the cross of ash from our forehead but let this lent become a time when I refresh my walk with you. Let me recognize you again and let my heart burn when I hear your voice.”
Luke 24:32
Although the ashes like marks of the wars and starvation around us remind us “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” that we are mortal and our life is limited, and that our miraculously made bodies will decay again to dust (Ecclesiastes 3:20): Yet you call us to soar on wings like eagles. (Isaiah 40: 31) and to come onto your pastures that we will have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).
Lord, let me rise, lift up my soul, let me praise you as I finally come before you again today;
Let this lent be an ascend to the empty grave, your victory, from which all our hope shines into this world
Amen
The ACF Midweek Meditations
are written by a diverse group of our church members with the intention to seek God’s fingerprints in our lives. They range from somber to humorous and are inspired by all facets of live and faith. Written by ordinary people from all walks of life, they reflect a wide range of Christian backgrounds and spiritualities.
Each week’s text portrays the individual viewpoint of its author. They might not always resonate with everyone, and are not meant to be understood as representing the Anglican Church Freiburg as a whole. Yet, as a church that is aiming to ‘Build a Community of Grace’ we seek to practice learning from and listening to one another.
We pray that these humble ponderings add a small spark of blessing to your week.
Freiburg Anglican Church 