Liturgy 082: Open Skies and Angry Pastors

Fifth Week of Eastertide

Lectio Divina

The LORD is near to all who call on him
Psalm 145

You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption.
Romans 8

He will take great delight in you;
he will quiet you with his love.
Zephaniah 3

The Spirit does not coerce;
she invites.
Unknown

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Prayer

God of quiet clarity,
you are not anxious.

The preacher
yelled. Agitated,
as if grace
were a product not yet
moving off the shelf.

Amusement and empathy
like beach waters
that knew not to stay long
lapped the edges
of my soul.

And then.
I looked out the window.

A bird landed on the sill.
It paused.
Looked around.
And floated off.
Free. Unassuming.

There was no rush.
No message to decode.
Only the soft hush
of something true,
passing through.

---

Blessing

May you find your breath this morning.
May you pause, notice, and float
into the open skies of grace.

May you enjoy God.
May you find your soul happy in the LORD.
May every millstone of religion be laid down.

In the Name of the One
Whose Kingdom Belongs
to the Meek

Amen