What has not changed

Dear Friends

English Priest William Law, who died on this day in 1761 said,

“If we are to follow Christ, it must be in our common way of spending every day. If we are to live unto God at any time or in any place, we are to live unto him in all times and in all places. If we are to use anything as the gift of God, we are to use everything as his gift.”

I share these words because it is so easy, in these present circumstances, to focus on things which have changed and forget what has not changed. We are still following Christ. We are still loving God and our neighbor as ourselves. We are still trying to live forward, day by day, for the one who is loving and guiding us through this wilderness to a new land. We are still God’s beloved, without condition, beyond measure; knowing that can put this extraordinary time in perspective.

So on this Maundy Thursday, when we are, among other things, re-imagining what Eucharist is and can be, I would just offer this prayer “To be Thankful”, by Avery Brook from his book, "Plain Prayers in a Complicated World”, remembering that the word “eucharist” means thanksgiving:

We have many things to be thankful for, God. And sometimes we remember them, and other times we forget. When something large or small goes wrong, it fills our minds and we forget those things for which---when we remember---we are thankful. Help us to remember the good things, God (especially during this time). To name them; savor them; and be thankful to you.  AMEN.

John

P.S. Picture is from my office, in my home away from home. No buffalo roaming, but the wildflowers are blooming!