Clergy from left, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill, Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Associate Priest Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By Rev. Deb Beloved Church
White Rock Presbyterian Church
These days, when I read something, I’m often in a hurry. I’m either reading to get the dang thing read—reading a chapter ahead for a class I’m facilitating, for example—or I’m reading for information, skimming to get the gist.
Less frequently do I read things slowly—things like poetry, for example, or sacred texts, or other beautiful writings—giving myself time to reflect on the words, creating space for them to settle into my soul, opening my heart to receive what they’ll offer to my deeper self.
It’s not that I don’t value this type of reading. I absolutely do, having experienced firsthand the power it can offer.
It’s just that I struggle to make room for it in my day-to-day life. Our hurry-up world doesn’t encourage taking time to reflect; our do-more-now living discourages slowing down and going deeper.
That is something, however, that faith communities typically offer. And I, for one, am most grateful for that, because it can be so good! I find that when I give myself time to read beautiful words slowly and reflect on them, I open myself to explore what’s below the surface, to consider what’s there but not as readily accessible. I find that I’m reminded of the reality of things like truth and strength, courage and hope, faith and love, both within myself and within the world around me. And who doesn’t need to be reminded, regularly, of those things?
I’d like to share an example of what this looks like for me, drawing on a single verse from the ancient sacred text of the Hebrew Psalms.
Here’s the verse:
“But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.” (Ps. 69:13)
And here’s what it offers me, when I slow down enough to listen:
With the words, “my prayer is to you, O Lord,” I’m reminded that when I pray, I’m praying to God–Creator of all that is, in all and beyond all, Almighty and Eternal, who knows me more intimately and loves me more deeply than I can comprehend. It is to this God that I offer my prayer. Truth and strength!
With the words “at an acceptable time, O God…,” I’m reminded that God’s time is not my time. I’m reminded that I am bound by my finite and limited understanding of time, but that God is not. Courage and hope!
With the words “in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me…,” I’m reminded that God’s center is Love, that God’s essential nature is Love, and that it is out of the abundance of that unconditional, relentless, fierce Love that God will respond to my prayer. Faith and love!
This single verse from an ancient, sacred text is just one among so many beautiful writings of our faith—words that have so much to offer, when we slow down enough to listen.
Come and slow down—come and reflect—come and just breathe–at church!
Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a column written by local women clergy including ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com); Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (pastornicole@bethluth.com); Associate Priest Lynn Finnegan, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org); Pastor Deb Church, White Rock Presbyterian Church (pastor@wrpchurch.com) and The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church (momaryannhill@gmail.com).
