“Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, For the facing of this hour, For the facing of this hour.” from God of Grace, and God of Glory, words by Harry Emerson Fosdick.
Y’all, these are indeed ‘times that try men’s (and women’s) souls’. Underneath every raging sea there are depths that move slowly, that are timeless and unaffected, that tolerate the squalls on the surface of things. Those who are moored in those depths weather the storms, providing anchors for others.
Here’s a few resources for this hour, these days. I offer them to you in hope that they will help you go deep in the reality of God that outlasts any turmoil, and to stay deep in such a way that we are not only unshaken, but also prepared to be responsive when God shows us what is ours to do (meant individually and corporately).
- Last June I wrote, “A Pastoral Word in these Crazy Days”. The practices remain relevant this February, and for months ahead.
- Diana Butler Bass offers 10 Ws that are wise counsel for things to do as good habits to practice for resilience.
- Feeling like there’s a lot of noise in your head? Take a personal retreat at Corhaven to be with God, to feel God’s fresh breath, to put your phone down, to listen, and be held. If not Corhaven, go somewhere to heed the invitation of Jesus, “Come away with me and rest awhile.” (Mark 6.31)
- Join Ken Wettig’s silent retreat – Alone With God, Together at Corhaven on March 7th. Re-watch Ken’s profound and beautiful Space for God on “The Rest of Life”, Jesus’ rhythm of getting away to be with the Father. What are the invitations in that for you?
- Last weekend I put out a Substack, “Breathe Deep, Blaze, and Be Blessed”, with a powerful prayer and blessing from Jan Richardson, worth praying/hearing every day. Here’s another ever/now-green Substack, “In Times of Crisis…Go Deeper”.
The Christian faith is fundamentally about the revelation of the God Who Is Love revealed in Jesus the Christ, who summons his family to keep on incarnating that Love in his name as witness. The only way to do that sustainably is to stay connected to Jesus, such that we bear fruit, fruit that will last (John 15.1-17). So, friends, let’s stay connected.