February meditations

Dusting of Snow
The other day there was a dusting of snow that showed up like the free gift of grace. Robert Frost wrote of a “dust of snow (that) Has given my heart/ A change of mood/ And saved…” The imagery is one of nature’s baptism that changes a heart of stone to one of flesh, and saves us from a rueful day to one of hope and joy. Such transformation is what worship is all about.

Midwinter cold
These are days that chill to the bone. We feel hemmed-in, bounded by the overcoat and scarf that wrap us up. In this midwinter cold our attention narrows to a small circle of protective warmth. Psalm 147 refers to snow like wool melted by God’s word. This word lifts our gaze beyond ourselves that we might partner with God in healing the brokenhearted and lifting up the lowly.

Banking the fires
I like to think of the season of Lent as banking the fires for a new day. In a wood stove the live coal at night is covered by a blanket of ash so that it may breathed into flame the next day. I wonder if the ash of Ash Wednesday is a little like that? Perhaps we are like the live coal that is kept deep and nurtured through the dark to be fanned into flame at Easter.

Lenten Prayer
Lent is a time to find more balance in life. Christians do this through the practice of prayer. FNP (or Friday Night Prayers) is a 20-minute prayer group that meets at 6 p.m. in the baptistery of the church. Karl Barth wrote: “To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” Join us for FNP.