Author: Rev Kathy

The richest Arab nations are refusing to take in Syrian refugees. Persian Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait have pledged or donated hundreds of millions of dollars, but won’t resettle those fleeing the Syrian civil war that has been raging for more than four years.

Nearly half of Syria’s pre-war population of more than 20 million people have been displaced within Syria or have fled the country, according to the United Nations.

“The bottom line is that in terms of resettlement, the Gulf states have not stepped up in accepting refugees,” said Geoffrey Mock, the Syria specialist for Amnesty International USA. “They have offered zero resettlement places … and this is shameful.”

It is an international tragedy about which we can do nothing. We think of those 20 million people displaced by war and we imagine, accurately, that among them are innocent children. UNICEF estimates that there are 7.5 million children affected by the brutal four-year-old conflict in Syria. Children have been put at risk by unrelenting violence, crumbling infrastructure, ruined schools and hospitals and shortages of essential supplies.

Refugee camps in the countries bordering Syria are overflowing. There are now 2 million child refugees who have fled Syria. That’s more than the combined under-18 populations of Los Angeles and Boston.

What does God expect from us when so many are languishing? I believe he expects our awareness, our earnest prayer and our voices that are not afraid to speak out against wrong. God, give us a prophetic voice.
God, give us a prophetic voice that speaks of harm and pain;
A voice that claims injustice wrong, that calls the hurt by name.

God, give us a courageous voice that speaks against all wrong;
A voice that sees when harm is done, that sings oppression’s song.

God, give us now compassion’s voice that we might offer peace;
A voice that comforts through the night, that bids the darkness cease.

God, help us find our voice again when silence words erase,
When evil overtakes the words of righteousness and grace.

Hymn by Kathy Manis Findley, 2013

Forty-six years ago today I married the man who was my destiny. Most people said in the beginning that it was a very unlikely match. Even Fred thought for a while that our relationship would consist of only a date or two. But as silly as it might seem, God spoke to me clearly saying that Fred was the right mate for me.

My college roommates laughed at me. Fred’s friends made bets that he could not even pull off the first date. But by the end of the first date, I knew he was the one. On the second date, I told him that God told me we would get married.

Miraculously, he didn’t turn and run. He just took my bold statement calmly, saying that God had told him no such thing.

It appears that God knew what was best for us. Last night we stayed up past midnight and wished each other a happy anniversary. I was sitting on the side of the bed; he sitting on the other side. I said “It really was for better or worse, wasn’t it?” He asked what was the worse part. And I said, “Well, I’m sitting here looking at this dialysis machine. I guess that’s the worse.”

But then I said it could be much worse, and that we are so fortunate to have a treatment that works. When I was very ill for all of 2014, Fred cared for me tirelessly, every minute of every day. It seems to me that there is no greater love than that.

God was right about us, and we have been very happy all these years. Through the calm and through the storm, we have been happy. People always ask what is the secret for a long and happy marriage. Honestly, I am not sure of the answer, but I have an idea it’s two things: 1. God ordained it as our destiny; and 2. we both made a commitment to one another before God that the commitment would be lifelong.

 . . . always giving thanks to God the Father for each other
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 5:20 NET)

One of the shortest verses in the scripture is one of the most meaningful. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14 New International Version)

Being still is one of the hardest things for me to do. As long as I’m doing something relatively active, I am content. If I’m reading or writing, I am okay. But being still is a challenge, a necessary challenge.

The Bible says, “Be still and know that I am God.” When I am still in God’s presence, it is then that I draw closer to God. It is during those still times that I am able to express to God my innermost thoughts. Not only does stillness enable me to know God. It is also the time when God more fully knows me.

Being still is hard, but it’s one of the spiritual disciplines we need to practice every time we can.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

(Psalm 62:5-6 Revised Standard Version)

Listen to the beloved hymn “Be Still, My Soul” on YouTube at this link;

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p92fMgMt_Zw&autoplay=1

One of my most cherished moments happened several years ago as I was walking the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. The walk was a spiritual exercise for me, very contemplative and introspective. I walked it as a life journey that takes turns you never expect and yet gets to the center and back out again. It was quite an experience.

A sacred Labyrinth Walk, called Illuminating the Inner Path, is the ancient practice of “Circling to the Center” by walking the labyrinth. The rediscovery of this self alignment tool to put our lives in perspective is one of the most important spiritual movements of our day. Labyrinths have been in use for over 4000 years. Their basic design is fundamental to nature and many cultures and religious traditions. Whatever one’s religion, walking the labyrinth clears the mind and gives insight. It calms people in the throes of life’s transitions.

Life is about transformation, growth, expanding possibilities and discovery. Life is a sacred journey of your continuous vision. Life is about seeing clearly and deeply, learning, facing challenges and stretching your soul.

For many decades labyrinths have been used as a meditation and prayer tool that represent a spiritual journey to our center and back into the world again. We can walk the labyrinth as a metaphor for our life’s journey.

Many people become confused as to what the difference is between a labyrinth and a maze. A maze is similar to a puzzle which needs to be solved, due to the many turns, twists and blind alleys. One requires logic in order to find their way in and out of a maze. A labyrinth has only one path. The way into the labyrinth is the way out. There are no blind alleys, and the path leads you on a circuitous path to the center of the labyrinth and back out again.

When entering a labyrinth there is no right or wrong way to enter – all you need do is enter and follow the path. A labyrinth walk can encompass several attitudes. One can be prayerful, thoughtful, introspective or joyous. They key is to be mindful of the moment and mindful of your life while walking the labyrinth. Envision your life’s goal, walk with thoughts of your destiny and see what you learn. Pay attention to your inner emotions and the intuitive part of yourself.

The following labyrinths are in Macon:
Rose Park Labyrinth (always open to the public)
Mulberry Street United Methodist Church (always open)
Riverside United Methodist Church (call for information)
St. Andrew’s Montessori School (call for information)

The photo I have included is a beautiful lavender labyrinth at Kastellaun, Germany.

I like to think of God sometimes as a sudden God, a God who appears before us when we most need a healing touch, a God of brilliant light who illuminates our darkness. God is not hesitant. God is not slow. God is sudden. And suddenly, we are experiencing newness of life.

It’s what we need the most as we travel on this earthly journey. Newness of life when we feel abandoned. Newness of life when we feel alone. Newness of life when we feel that we have lost everything of worth.

This sudden God hears our cries from our life wilderness, touches us gently, and sees our trouble. We are human. We hold on to wounds. We carry burdens. But always, we wait for the sudden God.

And we find that God through prayer. Whether we pray with our own words or pray the prayers others have written, it takes just seconds to utter a simple prayer. But its influence on our hearts is permanent. Rabbi Naomi Levy says, “A moment on our lips is a lifetime on our souls.” A simple prayer can change every part of us. It can heal us and give us new life. It can open our lives to a sudden God who is with us instantly.

Yes, at times we find that we must wait for God patiently. But at other times God is a sudden God, a God who surprises us with his immediate presence,

O Thou sudden God, generous in mercy, quickener of new life, giver of new love, we place our trust in you. For you have touched us gently and seen our trouble.

You have woven our pain into patterns of hope.

The wounds we held on to, you have turned into new life.

The burdens we carried, you have turned into new beginnings.

To you, God of great mercy . . . To you, God of amazing love . . .

We give thanks. For you have touched us gently, and we have lived again.

There are many blessings that God wants to give us. One of the most cherished of those blessings is peace. God knows that our lives are filled with troubles and disappointments. God knows we have obstacles that hinder us and rough spots on our journey. But God also proclaims that we can have peace that is greater than all our understanding.

God tells us the obvious, “In this world you will have trouble.”

That part, we know all too well. But God doesn’t stop there. God also says, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

That’s good news for us. It’s news we need to hear, especially if we are suffering trials in our lives. Thanks to God for letting us know!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NIV

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Psalm 91 (New International Version)

I am one who has at times feared the terror of the night. I was able to handle the daytime, but at night all of my troubles closed in on me. It began when I was a small child. Everyone was asleep; all was quiet. The lights were out and there were no sounds but silence and my labored breathing. The doctor called it asthma. I knew it was fear.

I also knew that sometime in the night, my father would come into my bedroom and abuse me. So I knew exactly where the night terrors were coming from.

I survived those horrible years, and left home as soon as I could. But I know there was a divine protector watching over me during that time, one who detested the abuse of a child. It is so true that under God’s wings, I found refuge, and the day did come when I no longer feared the terror of the night. Psalm 91 became a great comfort to me in those days, and it remains so. Today, I “rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” I am grateful for God’s grace and protection. It has sustained me through many dangers, toils and snares.

You may enjoy hearing the song, “On Eagle’s Wings” sung by Josh Groban on YouTube.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?autoplay=1&v=FrLafWZxczI

As I lie in bed, I remember you; all night long I think of you,
because you have always been my help.
In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
I cling to you, and your hand keeps me safe.
– From Psalm 63

Yesterday was a sleepy day. It always frightens me when I start sleeping a lot, because that’s what I did before I became ill. So yesterday, I mostly slept all day, and when I was awake, I worried that something was going wrong with me. The worry reminded me of the dark hours when I was so sick, the many months when I was too weak to care for myself.

There is one big difference between now and then. Now I am in a place of being able to fully trust in God to be present with me. Those dark months convinced me of the constant, comforting presence of God. In that, my months of illness were a blessing that brought me closer to God, who was with me constantly. I love the words of Madeleine L’Engle.

“I need a God who is with us always, everywhere, in the deepest depths as well as the highest heights. It is when things go wrong, when good things do not happen, when our prayers seem to have been lost, that God is most present. We do not need the sheltering wings when things go smoothly. We are closest to God in the darkness, stumbling along blindly.”

I experienced God’s sheltering wings during the dark days of dealing with kidney failure. Whatever I face going forward, I will rest in God’s care and find peace beneath God’s sheltering wings.

I felt very rested last night. I think I am fine, in spite of my sleepy day. Perhaps the extra hours of sleep were a gift to me from a God who cares for me and my health.

You may enjoy listening to Lydia Stanley singing “Shadow of Your Wings.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?autoplay=1&v=6lp_gE9UN8U

In his journal, Henri-Frederic Amiel wrote this: “Life is short and we never have enough time for the hearts of those who travel the way with us. O, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind.”

Life’s journey can be strewn with difficulty. We have our hands full navigating our own journey, so being present for another sojourner is sometimes out of the question. The benefit of taking the time to offer solace to another person is that we take the intense focus off of our own obstacles. It’s actually very healthy for us to give our attention to someone else.

On top of that, it is the Christian thing to do. “Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.” (Philippians 2:4 New Century Version NCV)

A dear acquaintance of mine just lost her mother after a long and very difficult illness. Remarkably, she is spending time visiting someone else’s mother in a nursing home. She certainly has more than enough heartache to deal with right now, but she is sharing in another person’s life. She is offering love and kindness, although she desperately needs love and kindness herself.

It is good for each of us to remember that life is short, but we must be near to the hearts of those who travel with us, offering hope to those who need love and kindness so desperately.

“Be swift to love. Make haste to be kind.” And you will be showered with love and kindness when you need it the most.

Life’s journey can be a treacherous one. There is no easy walk to the places we want to go. There is no way to make the journey easier. It is what it is, filled with both happiness and heartache. As so many have said, tomorrow is uncertain, yesterday is gone, all we have is today.

The following words of Bishop Steven Charleston bring life’s journey into perspective.
Today is the acceptable year of your hope, today is the gift of grace given to you. It is now, here, in this moment that you will discover what you have sought for so long. Heaven does not arise in distant realms far removed from your reality: its doorway stands before you. These hours are poured into your hands like a treasure, they will not come again. Embrace the peace that passes between your dawn and the sunset waiting patiently on the horizon. Make this day count. Make it sing. Make it be the dream you first found in night’s companion hours.

Bishop Charleston is right that today is the gift of grace given to us. He is right to advise us to embrace the moment we have before us. He is right when he says “make this day count; make it sing.”

What will you do today to make this day count? What kind of melody will you hear when your day begins to sing?

I pray that you will accept this present day as a gift of grace from a loving God, poured into your hands like treasure. May peace pass between your dawn and your sunset, bringing you fresh hope for the journey.

These days, I find beauty in everything. It is as if my eyes have been opened and I see things more clearly. Simple things attract my eye and take on fresh, new meaning. I think this is the result of coming so close to death.

One very ordinary place I have found beauty is in a common dandelion. It is a thing so graceful in the wind, and yet when the wind blows hard, the dandelion loses itself, scattering into hundreds of tiny feather-like seeds.

The real miracle is that each seed holds the possibility of taking root and being reborn all over again.

I am not embarrassed that I have come to revere and appreciate such a seemingly insignificant part of nature. In the past, I have blown dozens of dandelions without a single thought. Today, I cannot even see one without marveling at where it’s seeds might go.

June Stover says that “Dandelions, like all things in nature are beautiful when you take the time to pay attention to them.” She is so right. The dandelion is yet another miraculous creation of our creative God. Perhaps God put dandelions on the earth so that thousands of children can blow them and make wishes. Perhaps they are here to remind us to have a sense of wonder in where the wind might take us.

I don’t really know a dandelion’s eternal purpose, but now I do know it’s beauty and gracefulness in the breeze. I might just make a wish the next time I see one. And I hope that my wishes will be light on the wind and plant themselves everywhere, reborn as dreams on the wind.

Thank you, God, for dandelions.

Even when we’re surrounded by a harsh and heartbreaking world and our own challenges both within and without, we reach for the roots of our faith. And we find just enough faith to pick ourselves up and move forward. So many times we find ourselves struggling to grasp for hope. Against all odds we journey ahead as expressed in Bishop Steven Charleston’s reflection below. We face the tragic silence before us with hope enough to share our song of faith. It’s melody is found in our acts of compassion and works of justice.

You were born to believe. Even if there have been times when you tried to let go of faith, accepting doubts or disappointments as reason to suspend your dreams, you never were able to release that last spark of light within you. It is you. You were born to believe. Against the odds, despite the culture, through the hard work of hope, you have not only kept the faith but given it away. You sing the silence to song. You trust the love around you. You make justice grow. You were born to do this. It is your birthright. It is your calling. It is the part of time entrusted to your care.

– Bishop Steven Charleston

I have found this to be truth. I have, on occasion, sung silence to song, breaking my silent world into one filled with joyful singing to God. It is the way of faith. It is the soul’s melody of praise. And it is a grace-gift for those whose hope has become small. So when times get rough for me, I’ll be singing silence to song.

Each season has its own graces . . . the strong sunlight of summer, the scorching temperatures, the pesky Georgia gnats. In the winter, the breezes are brisk and the sun doesn’t bring its warmth on many days. The spring is new and fresh, with a slight chill in the air, along with the sunlight and showers that bring new buds and young bird families.

But the autumn is chock full of grace . . . cool breezes, leaves changing to brilliant colors, skies clear and blue like the poem says . . . “October’s bright blue weather.”

We’re not to the leaf-changing time yet, but the summer gnats are gone from my face, eyes and ears.

Of all the seasons, autumn has for me the most pleasant graces.

It’s the beginning of football season, after all, and that can’t be a bad thing.

Autumn brings another phenomenon . . . a living room.covered up with fake leaves, grapevine, pumpkins, florist wire, glue guns and lots of stuff. And from that mess emerges brilliant wreaths, table arrangements and all manner of home decor.

My sister-in-law’s house where we are currently crafting is a disaster area. Even her dog, Crosby, gets into the creative corridor, eating every grapevine piece he can find, as well as the artificial berries that inadvertently fall to the floor.

Yes, Autumn has its fair share of seasonal graces. Preparing our homes to celebrate the fall is one of those graces. Last year at this time, I was not healthy enough to enjoy this season. I am so grateful to God that this year I feel like being knee-deep in fake leaves and pumpkins. We must never forget to be grateful for the small things in life.

“When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.”

What a wonderfully positive quote! We definitely focus on the things that aren’t so pleasant most of the time. We dwell on the troubles life throws our way, and refuse to see the silver linings in the storm clouds. We see obstacles as negative barriers that halt our journey because we cannot easily get around them.

We sometimes detest rain, even though we need it. And we sometimes dread the darkness, even though it helps us see the stars better.

It’s all about our outlook on life. It can be pessimistic or it can be filled with optimism. I don’t know about you, but I plan to look for rainbows and stars more.

Have you ever watched an eagle as it was flying? The sight is breathtaking, one of those life events that are not to be missed. Watching the span of those wings gliding through the air is quite an experience.

Yesterday I had a very different kind of experience, breathtaking in its own way, I made a discovery. I should have known it all along, but denial can be a great protector. Anyway, what I learned I saw on a graph, made simple so that even I could understand it. The discovery? There is a researched survival rate for persons on dialysis. To be exact, I saw one-year and three-year stats. The discovery was disconcerting.

Now, the reality is this: we all have survival rates, we just live as if we don’t. Though three years doesn’t seem long enough for me, I know that it’s possible not to even survive the day . . . for any of us. And although I am aware that the mortality study I saw simply uses one year and three-year markers to quantify the study, it reminded me that I am certainly not immortal, that my time on earth is finite, and that I need to learn to live life with a sense of enthusiasm and spontaneity.

Two contemporary examples illuminate this discussion.

The first is “The Bucket List’, a 2007 comedy-drama film starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman which follows two terminally ill men on a road trip with a wish list of things to do before they “kick the bucket.”

The second is an uplifting song written by Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols, and recorded by Tim McGraw, “Live Like You Were Dying.” The songwriters had the inevitable discussion about people who learned that they were dying and how they responded: “Wow, it’s time to get busy,” as opposed to, “I’m going to go lay down in my bed and freak out.”

The lyrics of the song give some suggestions for full-on, “make-the-most-of-life” living, like skydiving, climbing rocky mountains, and riding a bull for 2.7 seconds. If you know me at all, you know that there’s no way I’ll be doing any of those things in the years I have left. But the song includes some things I will do: watch an eagle as it soars, give forgiveness I’ve been denying, love deeper, speak sweeter. Some of the lyrics . . .

I went sky divin’,
I went rocky mountain climbin’,
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fumanchu.
And I loved deeper,
And I spoke sweeter,
And I watched an eagle as it was flyin’.
And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
To live like you were dyin’.
The truth is that all of us should live as if we are dying, bucket lists in hand, forgiveness in our hearts, on the way to the fishing hole!

The song is available on YouTube at this link:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TNWg5DlWVa8&autoplay=1

Some days are just meant for the soul to sing praises to a mighty God. Regardless of what life holds, the soul can sing. This act of praise makes all the difference in my life. Certainly, I can sing with my lips, but when my soul is able to sing, I am fully aware of the greatness of God.The Psalmist expresses it in this way: “My lips will sing with joy when I make music to praise you! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!”  – Psalm 71:23 (Paraphrased)

When the soul sings, the melody inside a person is transformative, making all things new, both in sunshine and in shadow. I cannot help but think of the wonderful hymn of faith “How Great Thou Art,” published as a poem in 1891. Carl Gustaf Boberg was a Swedish pastor and editor. Mr. Boberg was taking a walk when a thunderstorm suddenly appeared and a severe wind began to blow. After the storm, Mr. Boberg looked out over the clear bay and heard a church bell in the distance. It was then that the words to “How Great Thou Art” began to form in his heart.

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My SaviorGod, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

You will enjoy hearing a video of this hymn on YouTube at this link:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?autoplay=1&v=j1hVY7bmqsA

It looks as if today might be an overcast day. I hope that, for you, the sun will spread its rays on your life and that you will be very aware of God’s greatness. Rain or sunlight, whatever comes your way on this day, may your soul sing in awesome wonder of God. When the soul sings, life becomes an act of praise. When the soul sings, your inner being is transformed. You might be thinking, “I can’t sing a note.” But the soul can always sing, and the melody comes from deep within you. You are changed when your soul sings!

God desires to meet us on higher ground, on that plane where we are above the trials of this life. But the reality is, we cannot escape those times that lay us low with concerns and problems.

I have noticed that living life happens a little easier in the daytime. When night comes, my body begins its aching ritual, coupled with regrets from a day that may not have been so productive. The darkness of night can be a time of despondency, when all the cares of life descend on you in the dark. For some people, when the sun goes down, their hope sets with it, and they feel night’s loneliness. And yet, for others, the night brings a refreshing respite from the workings of the day. The world gets quieter and there is finally some time for spiritual contemplation. Those who experiences the stillness of the night in this way are truly blessed.

They feel no fear of the darkness, no sense of being alone, no dread that the night might bring its terrors, no fear that sleep will not come, no belief that the night will be for them a dark night of the soul. Instead, they greet the night sky with hopeful anticipation of quietly being refreshed and re-created. That kind of night is described beautifully by the words of Bishop Steven Charleston.

In the stillness of the night I listen. I listen for the distant sound of quiet voices, all praying in their own way, in their own words, from a need I can recognize, speaking softly in the endless dialects of our human lament, our hope and our ambition, the prayers strung like lanterns against the darkness . . . each honest soul a religion of one, bent but not broken.

If you listen, you can hear it in the night . . .

The truth is that God’s comfort is available to us night and day, whenever our problems overtake us and stop us in our tracks. We need just to be still, to stand before God.

So come stand over here, just a step or two beyond the place you have occupied for so long, where you have worn the earth smooth with your pacing, where you have spent so many hours fighting the problem you cannot seem to solve. Take a break. Catch your breath. Come stand here, where you can catch a freshening breeze and see far into the valley below. Let the distant clouds carry your worry for a while, see how the sun empties the world of shadow. The answer you seek may be just a step beyond, a higher place where the view is clear of all obstructions. (Charleston)

It is my prayer that, in the midst of your pain, God will meet you on higher ground.

You may enjoy hearing the hymn “Higher Ground” at this link:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F2emsPPCH4c

The dictionary describes “brokenhearted” well, “overwhelmed by grief or disappointment,” and includes several synonyms: heartbroken, grief-stricken, desolate, devastated, despondent, inconsolable, disconsolate, miserable, depressed, melancholy, wretched, sorrowful, forlorn, heavy-hearted, woeful, doleful, downcast, woebegone. Not a good emotional place to be!

“What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” is. a song recorded by Jimmy Ruffin and released in the summer of 1966. The song essentially deals with the struggle to overcome intense sadness. It was written by William Weatherspoon, Paul Riser, and James Dean.

The poignant ballad asks what will become of those whose hearts have been broken.

As I walk this land of broken dreams
I have visions of many things
But happiness is just an illusion
Filled with sadness and confusion

What becomes of the brokenhearted
Who have love that’s now departed
I know I’ve got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Maybe

Fruits of love grow all around
But for me they come a-tumbling down
Every day heartaches grow a little stronger
I can’t stand this pain much longer
I walk in shadows searching for light
Cold and alone no comfort in sight
Hoping and praying for someone to care
Always moving and going nowhere.

While there are no remedies for broken hearts in the song lyrics, there are answers in the thirty-fourth Psalm.

The LORD hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.
– Psalm 34:17-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

There are so many people whose spirits are crushed, who are experiencing all kinds of trouble, who are living life with broken hearts. This scripture in Psalm 34 speaks to them and reminds them of the God who hears their cries of lament.

This Psalm, so full of wisdom, also says that “the righteous person faces many troubles.” Bad things do happen to good people. But the promise that God is close to the brokenhearted brings great comfort.

What becomes of the brokenhearted? God hears their cries for help and rescues those with crushed spirits. If you are facing heartbreak, remember this promise.

Who am I these days? My husband says I’m quiet and don’t say much, a huge change from my former gregarious personality. I know I have changed. Certainly, I have changed physically since the onset of my kidney failure.

I have changed spiritually, becoming far more contemplative and far less “share your religious ideas with everybody who will listen.” You might say that I have transformed from a “preacher” to a monastic. Not that bad of a change if you ask me.

Most of all, I have changed emotionally. This change is witnessed and pointed out by everyone I know. I don’t know what caused the change, and I don’t know how to change it back. I simply know that my once social and opinionated personality is now very quiet and shares very few opinions.

If I had to describe my current state of being, I would call it contemplative and introspective. I do know that the “eyes of my heart have been enlightened” and that definitely required some quieting down for me. I often think of the scripture in Ephesians:

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Ephesians 1:18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

If I am learning what is “the hope of God’s calling” and more about “the riches of the glory of His inheritance,” then this quiet phase of my life has been worth it. If my heart is being enlightened, then this change in my personality is for my good. If I am learning who I am, then this time of life is a gift. As I said, I do not understand the reasons for the change. I just know that I am a very different me.

I read a quote today that is somewhat descriptive of what I’ve been sharing in this post. Here it is:

Sometimes the strength within you is not a fiery flame for all to see. It is just a tiny spark that whispers ever so softly, “You got this. Keep going.”

Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist during the Civil War, known as the great emancipator of slaves. She was born into slavery in 1822 in Maryland. She eventually escaped and dedicated her life to freeing other slaves. She did this with her antislavery network which became known as the Underground Railroad. She died on March 10, 1913 at the age of 91.

A wise woman, she had many things to say that are now archived and widely quoted. Here are some things she said that are lessons for our lives.

“I freed a thousand slaves,” Harriet Tubman said. “I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer.” she said. “Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

And she said this, “Lord, I’m going to hold steady on to You and You’ve got to see me through.”

For us, a good place to start is in knowing what we are slaves to. Is it a habit? Another person that is not good for us?Are we slaves to depressive thoughts or destructive actions? If we know we are slaves, we can free ourselves from most any enslavement.

Can we really reach the stars and change the world? Harriet Tubman says we can be dreamers, and by dreaming a great dream, we have within us the passion and the patience to see the dream come to pass.

Finally, she speaks of holding steady on to God, knowing that God will see us through.

Three great life lessons from a remarkable woman. I pray that you will know when you are enslaved, that you will dream of reaching the stars and changing the world, and that, through it all, you will hold steady on to God.