Ordinary Time

Pause

Pause. Breathe in. Where are you? Let it go. Breathe out.

Pause. Breathe in. What do you need to do today? Let it go. Breathe out.

Pause. Breathe in. God is here. Breathe out. Be here. 

Be. Be you.

Let the you be.

Listen

Then she made this promise: “Lord of heavenly forces, just look at your servant’s pain and remember me! Don’t forget your servant! Give her a boy! Then I’ll give him to the Lord for his entire life. No razor will ever touch his head.”

As she kept praying before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah was praying in her heart; her lips were moving, but her voice was silent, so Eli thought she was drunk.

“How long will you act like a drunk? Sober up!” Eli told her.

“No sir!” Hannah replied. “I’m just a very sad woman. I haven’t had any wine or beer but have been pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don’t think your servant is some good-for-nothing woman. This whole time I’ve been praying out of my great worry and trouble!”

1 Samuel 1:11-16

Think

Nobody knows what it means to be me. They can guess, but they usually get it wrong. Being me can me difficult. But it is all I can be.

God knows who I am. God doesn’t make assumptions or misconstrue the situation. God knows who I am and loves me for it. Even in my darkness. Even when I am misunderstood by everyone else. God knows me.

God knows. And God is there.

Dan Shoemake

Pray

God, you are here in the middle of my need. You know who I am and what I need in my life. I often do not know how to be. Let your love pour over me and fill me with confidence. Amen.

Go

Go. Breathe in. Where are you? Be there. Breathe out.

Go. Breathe in. What do you need to do today? Do it boldly. Breathe out.

Go. Breathe in. God is here. Be here. Breathe out.

Be. Be you.

Let the you be.