paravanes:meditations

I hope all of you are enjoying and learning something you can apply from my series on the Lord's Prayer. I have enjoyed sharing ideas about the prayer Jesus taught us. This week, I'm taking a break from the series. It will continue next week. This week, I'm sharing some things I've learned---meaning things I know to be true--since my life began to change as a result of the pandemic. These lessons began to appear in mid-March of this year. 1. Wishing doesn't  lead anywhere . A wish only has meaning when accountability, motivation, purpose, and energy are attached. Without these things, wishes become drugs. They make us feel good for a while, but nothing has really changed. 2.  People can't be counted on to see their best interests or act in their best interests . Time is needed to clear the mind and see the true landscape during times of panic or uncertainty. You may not be clear. Those around you may not be clear. 3.  Tragedy or loss can be a cal...

If you're going to pray about the coronavirus, or COVID19, situation, go big. Pray big. Pray without limits. Pray for the virus to be turned away from the earth. Don't pray only for your family, your town, your state, your country. Pray for the virus to be turned away. What does this mean? It means you will pray for government leaders and for business leaders. Your politics don't matter. Their politics don't matter. Pray they will make wise, compassionate, effective decisions. Pray for the health workers who are risking their lives each hour and each day. Pray for law enforcement and first responders who go into spaces the rest of us avoid at all costs. Pray for unemployed workers and struggling  business owners  who don't know what the next thirty days will bring. Pray for the children and families who struggle to stay safe and well in homes that are dominated by domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and sexual abuse. Pray for those who ar...

I shared with a friend my new twice daily prayer practice: one prayer in the morning, and one prayer in the evening. This practice began when I started to feel overwhelmed by the constant news reporting on COVID19, or the coronavirus. It's not a hoax, a phase, or a media manipulation. I like to be informed, because fact based information makes us smarter. Smart is good. The prayer practice I shared involves a morning prayer of worship, followed by requests for insight, courage, faith, and understanding. Finally, I pray health for all people and wisdom and courage for all leaders. Informed medical counsel says our bodies and minds need several hours of sleep every 24 hours. My second prayer of the day is for restful, healing sleep. No matter what happens tomorrow, we will handle it better if we get a good night's sleep. This prayer features gently closed eyes, and slow, deep breathing for about 5 to 7 minutes. At this time of challenge, I urge you to find and commi...