I think of the impact Jesus Christ has had
On human history….
And on my life.
Then I dialogue with him.
I tell him what it is about him
That appeals to me the most
And listen to what he says in reply.
I tell him which of his words
Had the greatest impact on me
And how those words have influenced my life.
His disciples sometimes speak
Of his presence in their lives.
I think of when I first felt His presence in my life.
-Marianne Dreyspring
“Long have I waited for your coming back to me and living deeply our new life.”
We sing these touching words and again I am astonished at the image of our God wanting me with Him for all time… wanting us all and keeping His eye on our journey. Watching for us, even searching for us when we get lost along the way, like Jesus describes the good shepherd does.
In the prodigal son parable Jesus tells a story with this same image of a waiting father watching the horizon for his estranged son. In my lonely wanderings away from God, I was not abandoned, but felt forgotten. I look back and see depression’s distorted thinking clouded everything that could have helped me see God’s love for me.
Don’t let me close my eyes to other depressed souls who feel lonely and forgotten by God. They may sit down by me at church this Sunday or they may move into Episcopal Place this week. Let me look beyond myself to them, like You do, Jesus.
“All those days you felt like dust, like dirt, as if all you had to do was turn your face toward the wind and be scattered to the four corners or swept away by the smallest breath as insubstantial— Did you not know what the Holy One can do with dust?
Continue reading Beloved Lenten Reflection: Blessing the Dust
It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. –Hebrews 2.10;17-18
In the scripture readings of Holy Week, I take the part of someone in Christ’s life. Perhaps Peter, John, or Mary Magdalene.
This year, if I have the courage, I want to be the angel in Gethsemane.
On Holy Thursday I will get to comfort Jesus in his difficult hours in the Garden before he is taken into custody. (Luke:22) Walking the path of Christ’s life, leading to Calvary.
Knowing the profound love that led my Creator to do the unthinkable: To become the son of man, joining us in our suffering, this veil of tears, when He could have stayed in the eternal light. When the reality of this enters my soul, I weep.
When I do a role from scripture I experience Christ’s humanity. It does bring me closer to Jesus.
-Marianne Dreyspring
IN GOD ALONE IS MY SOUL AT REST
I remember discovering as a child that I could float on my back if I got in water that was over my head. What a relief when I got tired of swimming just to turn over and rest on my back. I still need to rest when I get in the deep waters of life.
I am grateful that Lent comes along every year so I can get relief from the world’s pressures. I get to go for six weeks to another plane of existence, that of the spirit. There someone waits to hold me up. My Father knows and accepts me just as I am, a relief from the judging physical world.
During the Season of Lent I will take some quiet moments to pray every morning before rising:
“My soul finds rest in God alone…
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
(Psalm 62)
And I will refresh myself at regular intervals during the day with this psalm.
-Marianne Dreyspring
I came to Lent this year with my usual expectation, yearning for intimacy with Jesus. Walking through Lent with Jesus brings me an encounter with the reality of my earthly experience, both the meanness and the sweetness of it all wrapped together.
When Jesus prays in the garden to “Let this cup pass from me” I feel so close to him I would love to just hold him. What I do hold is the image of the angel with him, a strengthening presence. How comforting, not to be alone in our trials, to have support, to have grace. I am so glad that Luke’s gospel features an angel with Jesus in the garden (chapter 22, 42-46), especially since his closest friends did not stay awake to comfort him.
I love thinking of God’s grace being available especially if no other souls stay by our side when we are in our hardest experiences.
Later when Jesus cries out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” I want to say, Yes, Lord, I have been there. Now I can believe for sure that You do know my distress, for you were there too in your earthly experience.
What would I do without Jesus. How amazing to me to have a God who would leave the comfort of heaven to have personal knowledge of what it is to be a human being. I can take absolutely anything to God. How can I thank my God for loving me that much?
-Marianne Dreyspring
A Divine Morning
I walked out on the balcony this morning
to douse the thirsty yaupon holly.
I stood gaping in surprise for there you were
covering the pear tree, all white and fluffy.
Is it time for your blossoming glory?
There again you are doing your slow pirouettes on the telephone wire,
with no thought of falling.
I turned and looked down the alley
in time to see you creeping on your precious little paws, surveying a piece of your world with slow leisure steps. I want to go down and scoop you up in my arms,
cradling you like a baby. I feel You
want to cradle me too.
One day, in the by and by…
One day
-Marianne Dreyspring
Oh, how I love Lent,
My time to get close to Jesus,
Reading scripture, praying.
The intimacy of his embrace
during centering prayer
and holy communion.
Walking the path through his life,
leading to Calvary.
Knowing the profound love that led
my Creator to do the unthinkable,
To become the son of man, joining us
In the suffering of this veil of tears,
when He could have stayed in the eternal light.
When the reality of this enters my soul,
I weep.
In holy week, I take the part of someone
in Christ’s life.
My favorites are Peter, John, and Mary Magdalene.
Choose someone that there is adequate scripture about.
That gives you more to work with.
If I have the courage, I want to be the angel
In the Garden of Gethsemane this Holy Week.
(Luke’s gospel, Chapter 22)
I will have the opportunity to comfort Jesus
in his difficult hours before he is taken
into custody.
Depressed people, do not do this.
I do this kind of meditation to feel Christ’s humanity.
It does bring me close to Jesus, the comfort of His love,
His accepting embrace,
the assurance that our God knows well
what we go through here.
-Marianne Dreyspring
