Do Not Be Afraid

In the Bible, there are 365 invitations to not be afraid. "Fear not!" and "Do not be afraid!" 

Yet, fear is real. It happens. And we seem to enjoy it... From Halloween haunted houses to horror films to thriller novels ... there is an industry of fear, to keep our pulses racing.

And aside from those adrenaline-raising earthly experiences, there are other realities. Sure, we can name our individual  fears: snakes, for me, or for some the ghoulies and night-bumping unknowns of the traditional Scottish prayer pictured here. 

Society has fears, too: COVID-19 is scary, as is threat of conflict or financial collapse or ... The list continues.

And in each of these fears, we are invited to reflect that they are earthly. They are worldly. And they are (humanly so!) instinctive. Fear is a biological response, one that can keep us healthy. Fear can be a very good and helpful thing (in moderation!)

So where does the biblical mandate fit in to that? Well, if we look at the context of these... In each time, there's a reason (either present or rapidly approaching!) for fear. Ethereal other-worldly messengers popping in to this realm usually signify significt change... Danger is at hand... The biological desire for health and safety is about to be threatened... 

And yet: do not be afraid. 

Notice, it never says "be fearless!" nor "nothing to worry about!". Rather, it gives a moment for intentional reflection and introspection, a time for careful analysis of the circumstance, an opportunity to prepare a response instead of a reaction. 

And, a reminder of the covenental commitment that whatever is about to happen, we will not face it alone: for God is with us. 

So: whatever may come at us on earth, we have God giving us the spiritual grace to pause and pray, to prepare our souls for whatever may come, and to rest in the sustaining peace of Christ. 

So truly, we ought not be afraid. 

Coffee, Oatmeal, and Prayer

            I tend to start my days with coffee. This surprises no one who's met me - I've got coffee jokes and memes on social media, and anyone who visits the office sees the carafe and smells that blissful aroma of ethically sourced, locally roasted, freshly ground beans. It's more than just a caffeine hit; it's a psychological comfort.

            It's not unlike my typical breakfast of oatmeal. I jazz up my oats with variations of nuts and seeds and fruit, but the base remains the same. Sustaining, healthy, and oh-so-tasty, oatmeal is such a regular component of my day that when I choose other options, the day can feel disjointed somehow.

            These two daily starters help to give structure to my day, but when I'm reflecting at night about the best parts of my day- I don't tend to think about them. I would seldom consider my cup of coffee to be particularly edifying; the oatmeal is unlikely to be the most satisfying part of my day.

            Yet, they are fairly standard in my routine, and without them the day feels incomplete.

            For me, prayer can be like that. It is spiritually nourishing, it is a practice that is predictable, it is foundational to my day. While a recent study on spiritual wellness indicated that prayer is not rated high on the life satisfaction scale, I believe that it is necessary for a well-balanced and healthy life. Even in prayer dry-spells, it continues to comfort; even when hastily practiced it provides benefit, even when it feels routine it consistently supports.

            Prayer, like oatmeal and coffee (and even moreso!), is sustaining beyond the ordinary. 

Nourishing Body and Soul

One large box of yumminess!

Nourish Your Roots is a fantastic fundraiser; boxes of fresh produce are pre-ordered and provided by local farms, and proceeds go to local schools. It's fantastic as a program, supporting school food programs and local farmers, and it's yummy, food I would be buying anyway. Talk about nourishing!

This year I ordered 2 boxes - and ended up with 4, as through a miscommunication, both my friend and I picked up my 2 boxes.

Whoops!

It was simple enough to rectify: I called through to Nourish and explained the situation, we all had a good laugh, and I paid for the other 2 boxes.

It was so easy - a simple communication, and a desire to make things right, and voila! I have more vegetables than planned. So: time to adjust the plans!

My kitchen has, for the past 10 days, smelled *heavenly*, as I have cooked and preserved and canned... the potatoes are stored, the apples sauced, the pears buttered, the red peppers roasted (for soup and in a creamy goat-cheesey sauce). The soup pot has been simmering, the dehydrated humming, the freezer is full, and my recipe file is expanding.

And, throughout the winter, I'll be able to pull out tasty treats and meals from the freezer and pantry, and I will be nourished! And as I am doing all this food prep, it is also nourishing me - in an emotional way, as the kitchen is a happy place.

It's also nourishing to my heart to know that the food is local, the economy benefits, and that my local schools will receive the benefits.

We have choices we can make: and especially in COVID time I find we're choosing to focus a bit closer to home, a bit closer to the earth, a bit closer to each other... and, I expect, a bit closer to God.

How wonderful to engage in God's creation in this part of the world, in such a nourishing and meaningful way!

*Nourish Boxes are still available at https://www.nourishns.ca/nourish-your-roots

Who Inspires You?

        I am so blessed to have amazing friends - near and far - who continue to inspire me day after day. These are formidable people who make my life better, who find ways to reach out to their communities and make the world a better place.

         One of these friends makes an effort to extend grace whenever she can, realising that a little bit of positivity can go a long way - and usually the folks we don't feel like extending grace to are the ones who need it the most.

         One will send an occasional text saying "I appreciate you - I'm glad you're in my life."

         One makes sure to really listen to the people he's with; knowing that a simple "how are you" without the commitment to engage in conversation isn't fair.

         One is intentional about eye contact in conversation.

         One will always express "you're welcome" to a "thank you".

         One mails amusing cards, for no occasion, because the post shouldn't just be bills and flyers.

...You get the idea. These aren't the types of things that will be recorded in the history books, but they are the types of things that make my story better. And they inspire me to be better: a better friend, neighbour, Christian, human! And for them, I am grateful!

         This Thanksgiving weekend, who are you grateful for in your life? Who inspires you to be the best version of yourself? Who really sees you, and delights in that connection? And how can you honour their gifts to you?

    

Balancing St. Francis

     Today is the feast of St. Francis, and so many places are finding ways to do animal blessings and blessing of pets! The Anglican and Lutheran parishes here in Lunenburg will share an online prayer and blessing service, with the video being a compilation of pets shared by members of the parishes. It's fun!

    Francis, however, was about a lot more than just pets. He respected the animals, of course, as part of the natural world. He was a man of balance, recognising the interconnection of species as a Divine network that was gifted to the planet. His prayers and writings celebrate the celestial bodies, the earthly flora and fauna, the lifecycles that collectively offer ceaseless praise.

    The gift of Francis' writings was not just that we have a convenient saint of the day for the Season of Creation and Love-Your-Pets festivities, but that we are called to a deeper understanding of where we are and how we are: we are here as a part of the whole. We are blessed, as self-reflective creatures, to appreciate and enjoy the world around us: to be awed by a bird, and inspired by a sunset, and intrigued by a spider's web... 

    Francis invites us to be intentional about how we think of ourselves within this earthly context. He anthropomorphised the natural world to encourage us to have a more personal and respectful relationship with the environment. He elevated the 'status' of the inanimate, as equal to us, so that we would realise the beauty of God's intricate plans. He highlights the lives of animals, sentient beings like us, so we would not perceive ourselves as more special or loved by the Creator. In all things, Francis shows us the presence of the Divine - it's right there!... and there, and there... it is, truly, in all things. 

    Let's celebrate St. Francis today by truly appreciating - and caring for - the world around us. Let's bless the animals... and the trees, and sunsets, and hummingbirds, and rocks, and.....