A reflection by Danny Nelson Schweers for July 16, 2023.
Saint Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing”.
To me that only makes sense if somehow prayer is as much a part of our lives as breathing. I have a sketchy idea of how it might work. Perhaps it is something like your idea.
Last Monday, I hosted a visit by seventeen people to the non-profit Chris White Art Gallery. In some ways, my role was simple — unlock the gallery, welcome the visitors from St. Patrick Senior Center, and close up afterwards. Since many of these folks were on walkers, I needed to get to the gallery early to set up chairs. Simple!
More complicated was my role as host, as emcee, as spokesperson for the gallery. What would I say? How would it be received? Wanting someone more knowledgeable to speak, I had invited curator Shameka Jones, hoping she would do most of the talking. Sister Mary Ellen and social worker Linda Brennan-Jones would be there escorting their flock from the Senior Center, but I had never met any of them before. What would happen? I cannot say I was praying words silently or aloud. I was not petitioning God. I was open to whatever might happen, confident that God would be in it. I was ready to let God’s future unfold. I would do my part and let others do theirs. That kind of prayer, that kind of welcoming the future is something I can do even while breathing.
The two buses arrived early. People walked in and sat down, ready for the program to begin. The curator was not there, so I stood up and talked, ready to talk for the next half hour. The future arrives and we step into it. When that happens, when I am at my best, I am eager to see what blessings God will provide. At my best, I do not feel that I am in charge. My job is to be open to what happens next.
In this case, I welcomed everyone and said a bit about the gallery and about the artist, Edward Loper Jr. To my relief, the curator arrived and she became the focal point of the event. I could step back. Then, even better, the artist’s son arrived, Jaime Loper. I had not expected him. He is an engaging speaker who is passionate about his father’s paintings and how they relate to the history of Wilmington, Delaware. The audience loved his stories about his father’s 88 years, about the art, and about how racial relations have changed over the last eight decades.
It was a wonderful program! I received many compliments even though I did so little. Folks want to come back for every exhibit. They were delighted to have been there! Everything had fallen into place. Had I prayed without ceasing? I had, in the sense of constantly looking for something Good to happen, looking for something God to happen. In this case, it did.
In the photo, curator Shameka Jones talks about the artwork of Edward Loper Jr.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Danny Nelson Schweers chairs SsAM’s Communication Committee. He is an active photographer and writer. Click here to visit his website and make a comment.
