between, day 1

Come to Stillness:

Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:

O Lord, our God, so much of this life is lived in between; between the now and the not yet, between arriving and departing, between birth and death and rebirth, between growing up and growing old, between questions and answers.  Help us not to live only for some distant day when the in between will be no more, but help us to step into the mystery of that sacred space here and now—knowing that it will be a place of genuine change and true transformation. (JLB)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 46

Scripture for the Day: Matthew 14:22-33

Reading for Reflection:

Recently I have found myself captured by a gospel passage that has come to life for me…again.  It is the coming of Jesus to the disciples on the sea (in Matthew 14:22-33).  It is a truly incredible story—one that has spoken to me often through the years in a multitude of ways.  But there has been one particular aspect of this story that has been a wonderful source of reflection for me lately.  It involves that sacred space that Jesus invites Simon Peter to step out into.  It is the space between…between the boat and Jesus… between letting go and being taken hold of…between the old and familiar and the new and unknown…between control and agenda and dependence and detachment.  It is a space that is both completely terrifying and unbelievably exciting.  It is the space before your answer has come or your problem has been fixed.  It is the space where you must trust the heart of God alone for your life.  It is the space of genuine transformation.

                                                                                        ~Jim Branch

                                                                                      October 2005

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: Cleft of the Mountain

I will run to the cleft of the mountain and wait for You
Will you come and meet with me?
I will wait in the cleft of the mountain for You to pass by
Will you come and meet with me?

Oh, what a joy it would be
Just for a moment to lay at the feet of the Lord
Oh more than anything that’s what I long for
Oh, what a change it would bring
Just to look deep in the face of the King Who gave all
You gave everything so You could meet with me
Will You meet with me?

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Help me to trust you fully in the midst of this life that seems so chaotic and unsure at times.  Give me, this day, a firm place to set my feet as I walk toward you through this ever-changing world.  Amen.   (JLB)