Bright Spots
Glenna Henry of Columbia, MO, USA
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. -1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 26, 27
The fall leaves are beautiful this year! It always amazes me how, within some patches of woods, the trees seem to glow with a life of their own! During the summer we can’t see into the heart of the woods. But when leaves turn in the fall, the brilliance once hidden stands out with remarkable clarity bringing a new awareness of what is within the depths of the grove!
As I appreciate those places of beauty, I am reminded that we often miss the beauty in the lives of people because the surface of their lives hides what’s inside…until some change brings the inner person to our attention.
I am reminded that, like leaves, the formula for beauty is already held within the God-given cells of our beings. As a change in temperature triggers the beauty of leaf color, so the beauty in people is often triggered by some change.
It seems as if COVID-19 has been like those leafy, green bushes and trees, blocking our view and clouding our vision with fear and anxiety. It has, by necessity, required us to change our behavior. We now view others with caution or even suspicion, and our lives are filled with worry.
If we look closely, we can find bright spots reminding us that we are not abandoned by those who care or by our God who loves us beyond measure. Our bright spots have been the neighbor who left a package of toilet paper on our porch, another who called to see if we needed anything from the store, and our family across the country that stays in close contact so we don’t feel so isolated.
Despite that encouragement, nothing can quite relieve the grief and pain of loss that comes from losing beloved friends over the past months. Comfort has only come from God’s word and from loving conversations with those who share our pain. These are bright spots in the midst of the maze of fear and anxiety that blocks our vision.
Prayer Phrase
Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful One?
Spiritual Practice
Breathing God’s Compassion
Light a candle and sit quietly, reflecting on the fire and light of God. Pay attention to your breathing and let it become calmer and deeper as you focus on God’s presence. Ask God to breathe in you. Image each breath carrying the light of God into your lungs, bloodstream, and every cell in your body until God’s Spirit fills you. Now imagine breathing out God’s compassion and grace each time you exhale. Pray to have the Spirit of Christ radiate from your life like the gentle flame of a candle.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
