Fr. David’s blog of 8/14/2020 — For several months I was offering Daily Morning Prayer on Facebook. Each morning at the time for intercessions I offered prayers for those who had died and would die as well as for those who had tested positive and were either in hospital or recovering from home. I would also pray for loved ones who mourned the loss of their family members and friends. I will resume this daily remembrance once I return from my week-long retreat that I began yesterday and concludes on August 20.
We have been staying at home and the pandemic continues to surge. One of the things that saddens me the most during this time is the lack of empathy from some of our political leaders who seem more concerned about being reelected than in caring for the more than 150,000 citizens of this country who have died so far because of COVID-19. I can’t begin to fathom the trauma that the loss of a loved one during this time has on a spouse and a family. It is hard for me to get my head around this lack of empathy and caring for those who have died.
It would not surprise me at all if people’s faith has begun to waver during this time. I am one whose faith has not wavered. Granted the last six months have been challenging and, as I have said in past reflections, I feel as though I have been on an emotional roller coaster. That said my faith has not lessened even in the midst of so much pain and sorrow.
As I prepared for this week’s retreat, I had a good deal of pre-retreat reading for the week. One of the books was by Richard Rohr, whom I have mentioned many times before this week. In his book, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer, Fr. Rohr speaks of living from our essence rather than living from what I refer to as the external world with all its pressures and temptations.
A couple of weeks ago I asked the vestry to reflect upon their own essence. For me this essence is grounded in God’s love of me and my love of God and my desire to live each day as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is when I live into my true essence I can deal with the heartbreak of what is happening around us today.
So, I invite you this week to take some time this week to take some time to reflect on your essence. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to email me by using the Contact Us form on this website.
Peace,
Fr. David+, OA
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Richard Rohr on Racism:
The Disorder of Dismantling Racism: Blog Post by Richard Rohr, August 18, 2020
