Receive

I read something earlier this week that has stuck with me. Why do we call it "taking" a photo? The camera is receiving an image and preserving it. It does not take anything away. Of course, I can't find what I had been reading - or perhaps it was my own mind, making a leap from what I read to what I needed to hear.

I have been practicing receiving this week, rather than hunting. I have been curious about what I will see, what will be revealed, rather than focused on finding anything in particular (sea stars are my favorite quarry). And I have found so much beauty and peace.

God is speaking. In nature, in literature and art, in silence and music. Other forces are speaking, too. What catches our ear?

This Sunday is the last Sunday (the 5th!) we will consider Jesus saying "I am the bread of life." Dwelling in this bread basket for the past month finally touched me enough that I remembered I can bake bread! And because it is not too hot where I live to turn on the oven in August, I pulled out the family coffeebread recipe and made cinnamon rolls. The smell! The taste! The sweet satisfaction.

This morning I woke up with an ear worm, as I so often do. "Of the Father's Love Begotten." I know, it's a Christmas song, but it is so much more. As I was walking, I was overwhelmed with the knowledge of God's love that created all that is. My receiver was almost overloaded. Particularly when it morphed into "Hope for Resolution," a choral work that juxtaposes the European chant with a song from South Africa, "Thula Sizwe (Nation, Do Not Cry)." Look it up and listen. I dare you not to cry.

I am grateful for what I have received this week. My prayer is to stay open, to watch and listen for what will be revealed, without expectation, without judgment. Will you practice with me?