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Across the Pastor’s Desk by Trish Reedstrom

In a blog post I was reading the other day, the writer offered this blessing from “A Black Rock Prayer Book.” It seemed appropriate in our rather precarious world these days, so I share it with you as well:

“The world now is too dangerous and too beautiful for anything but love. May your eyes be so blessed you see God in everyone. Your ears, so you hear the cry of the poor. May your hands be so blessed that everything you touch is a sacrament. Your lips, so you speak nothing but the truth with love. May your feet be so blessed you run to those who need you. And may your heart be so opened, so set on fire, that your love, your love, changes everything.”

In today’s world it’s easy to see the chaos, the hatred, the prejudice and the injustices around us. It’s much harder to see the acts of compassion, peacemaking or any kind of love in action.

But those things — those acts of kindness and love — are also happening. We just have to look for them. Look for them, and practice them.

Many of our churches are currently hearing scripture readings from the gospel of Luke on Sundays, and there Jesus reminds us of the work we are called to practice alongside him:

“Bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, letting the oppressed go free.” — Luke 4:18

Jesus’ coming brought a new way of being into the world, but it’s a way of being that requires our participation. In fact, as people of faith, we understand that Jesus depends on us to join him in this work. And there are no excuses, are there?

We are called to do what we can, where we can and when we can to offer God’s love to those around us. Even when it’s hard — especially when it’s hard.

When confronted with hatred or outright evil, it’s tempting to want to respond in kind. It might make us feel better, momentarily, but we know from experience it does nothing to mend relationships or bring us closer to kindness, truth and love.

Instead, as hard as it is, we are called to respond with the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, patience, self-control, faithfulness and goodness.

This is our calling, and this is what the world desperately needs more of in this moment.

That same little prayer book also has a dismissal appropriate for us all, and I pray this for you. May you:

“Go out into the world in peace, have courage, hold on to what is good, return no one evil for evil, strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering, honor everyone, love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.”

Trish Reedstrom is the interim pastor at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.