Can you imagine what the mothers and fathers in Bethlehem thought as the soldiers went from house to house carrying out their orders? I am not just taking about the terror and grief of each parent, but the desperation. The helplessness. Trying to keep their children silent so as to avoid being discovered. . .
Think about how those same parents would return to God when it was over?
What could they possibly say to God? How would they express themselves? Tears? Sadness? Rage? Feelings of abandonment? I imagine the responses were as diverse as the people of Bethlehem. I wouldn't have the words to speak to God in that moment; it might take me a while. I know that I would want to talk to God, I would know that I need to talk to God, but what could I possibly say?
How could I express myself?
How could I find "thy will be done" when I hurt so much? Ache so much? Want to curl up in a ball and disappear?
And while we have not experienced the torment those parents did on that horrible day, we do experience our own pain each day that we might know is too much. Even as Christmas is still so close to our hearts and minds, we might find that we do not have the words for God today.
If that is you, then I offer you a short little practice today to help:
Find a quiet moment, a quiet space (even if that space is in a crowded room), and sit. . . Breath.
Begin with a prayer, something like: "God, it's me again, And here's the messy, unsettling truth of it all. . ."
Take time to unpack the whole of it with God, every detail you feel is important, don't leave anything out, until you experience the 'sigh.' . . Finally a word of grace: be patient with yourself, 'the sigh' will find you.
Blessings
Rev. Derek
Amen, good morning 🙏🏻
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