Scripture tells us to weave prayer and thanksgiving into the fabric of our lives: “pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5:17-18). Listening prayer has been a way I’ve learned to thread the ways and heart of Jesus through my life experiences.
Sunday, January 12, I found out that someone who attended South had died suddenly. Listening prayer has helped me experience God’s comfort in the midst of sadness — shock. As I’ve been processing my emotions, God has brought Scripture and songs to mind. Listening prayer has provided a trellis of support for me in my grief.
I learned that Catherine, a volunteer at the food pantry, had died suddenly of a heart attack. I’m guessing she was only around 40. We had gotten acquainted in brief conversations and had made plans to talk more on the phone. She was quiet and didn’t attract attention to herself, but I felt drawn to her. She had a beautiful smile and was very gentle. She had shared the pressure she was under to make ends meet while having serious health issues which had started last fall. She was hospitalized for three days after Thanksgiving. More recently she had been fired from her job due to missing a deadline.
My thoughts: I hate the greed that crushes people in this society. Profits over people, the strong dominate and destroy kind, good, and vulnerable people. ”You do not grieve like those without hope.” (I Thessalonians 4:13b [paraphrase] ) What do I hear God communicating? Grieving death and emotions of sadness and anger are compatible with faith. I can grieve Catherine’s death and mourn the circumstances, but there’s more to her story than meets the eye. “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud….these three remain, faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:4, 13.)
Catherine radiated love. She experienced such harsh circumstances but she showed love, even in her hardest times. She was of native American descent and could have been a princess. Thank you God, for allowing me to meet such a beautiful and special person.
Woke up with the hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” running through my thoughts:
On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross
The emblem of suff’ring and shame
And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
So I’ll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
Catherine deserved a better life. It was shameful that she was forced to struggle to make ends meet, to the point that her quality of life and health were compromised. It’s wrong that companies can wring every bit of energy out of employees and then discard them on a technicality. In spite of injustice, the cross reminds me how Jesus suffered so much shame on our behalf so that He could redeem us. The cross will always stand, strong and true, and we can cling to it.
There’s been much more to my journey in listening prayer this week. Here are a couple more songs that have come to mind, prompting me to reflection and prayer:
Sons and Daughters (https://youtu.be/Nkym3KC1ok4?feature=shared)
by Sherry Sommer
