To Pray is to Breathe

Matthew 6:7-13  

In Matthew 6 Jesus is teaching the church the importance of caring for the most vulnerable by giving to the needy, not worrying about our investments, food, clothing, or our everyday living.  Luke also shares these verses in the first four verses of chapter 11.  In the preceding chapter, Luke talks about the importance of being in communion with God and then our neighbor. Communication is key to a relationship with God and our neighbor.  Jesus taught communion as a way for  His church to love Him and each other fully is possible when we focus on what He has already done for us.  This Lenten season we have a unique opportunity to praise Him and leave our current concerns and fears about the future in His hands empowering us to share His love with our needy neighbor.

In a time where the simple act of breathing brings anxiety, it is life-giving to breathe deeply in prayer.  The COVID19 crisis has forced us to be still during this lenten season.  The unusual sacrifice of normal living replaces our typical token sacrifice that is traditional during lent and brings us to a place of openness and surrender at the foot of His cross and ours. As we grieve the loss of the normal we have known we must seek His will for what our new normal will be and four our future hope. Here in this strange in-between place the Kingdoms of heaven and earth meet and we Hope for His will to be done and rest in the joy of knowing His good is far better than our dreams.

As we struggle through the difficulties of reconciling an earthly kingdom to God let us work this Lent to open ourselves to God and His will for our happiness.  The Lenten practices of prayer fasting and giving alms to help others will also help us find His hope during this anxious time.  Let us often pray to God in our own words, from deep within our beings. Jesus understood that there would be times when we wouldn't have words to express our fears and dreams.  (John 16:33, Romans 8:26) In times like this we can pray as He taught us: The Lord's Prayer Song

Their Father's Name

“What’s their Father’s name?”
I never knew what their Father’s name was, I was focused on my friend. I knew you would ask the question and despite my annoyance there was a certain amount of peace that came in knowing you were stepping in.
None of my friends had Dad’s like mine.  Most of them had a healthy fear of you – which I liked and didn’t let on that really behind the stern look and growly voice there was always a twinkle in the eyes we share.  They never got close enough to see and I liked that too.
Their Father’s name didn’t carry the honor and respect mine did and it wasn’t so much for his name but Our Father’s name that he carried in his heart and in the cross around his neck and in his cool red change purse.
Their Father’s didn’t laugh like mine or dance and jingle like mine either.  I didn’t hear any stories from their Dad’s that were timeless and true.  Fathers mean family and mine is big and gentle, fiercely loving, and my constant quiet strength.
None else had a Dad that were taller than our doors and loved to play on the floor.  I have a love of driving and hunting and fishing and big red trucks with just one seat for six.  My seat was the best even though it was near ‘the pits’ because it was warm, safe and smelled good even after cutting wood and catching salamanders all afternoon.
I have grown and I married a man, after I knew ‘his Father’s name’ so you would know it too.  The Father’s name that was most important – he shares with you.  He is a good Dad and asks our kids often the same questions you asked of me.  Our Father has taught us well and we continue to learn more about Him as we watch you walk.
I love to sing and songs mean the world to me.  Short little jingles, favorite hymns, Psalms and nursery rhymes.  “I love to tell the story.” “Amazing Grace” “Gum on your bed post”.  “Girls brush your pearls”  “Little house on the prairie”  Thank you for all the songs you put in my heart and encouraging me to sing.
“What’s my Father’s Name?”  Family.  Respect. Peace. Comfort.  Quiet. Provider. Truth.  Dad.
David Warren Hotchkiss – I share him because he is good enough too