Grief and the Psalms: Companioning the Moon for 29 Days is the working title of my next book. Using a verse or two from the psalms and moving through the rhythm of the moon's cycles. This was the first chapter I wrote. It's for this time of the month, when we are moving from the New Moon moon (last Friday night) toward the Waxing Moon (next Saturday). Companioning the moon brings a comfort to my times of grieving. It gracefully reminds me that shifts come, and I won't always be feeling what I'm feeling now... Each chapter will have a verse, reflection, breath prayer (breathe in for "time is different" and breathe out for "here") and ends with a prayer for the night. This was actually the first chapter written. About Mom. Not much of a surprise there. She's always close by...let me know what you think and how many books you'd like reserved for you... +++++++++++++++++ Chapter 27 Psalm 90:12 Teach us to count our days that are ours, and we shall come to the heart of wisdom. Time is Different Here A few months after my mother died, I heard her voice as clearly as if she were standing beside me. “Time is different here,” she said. Four words. Simple, clear. Powerful, reassuring. And her words have been a comfort and guide ever since. So much of our days are spent racing against the clock or wishing for time to stand still. We long to be in control of these days we’ve been given. Chronos time is wristwatch time, calendar time, measureable-time. Grief time, God’s time is kairos time. It is the time in-between time. It is the time holding time. Sitting vigil with a loved one who is dying is kairos time. It can be exhausting and also the most precious, most holy time of our lives. We find ourselves breathing with the one who is leaving. There is so much to say and our words feel both so very intimate and yet not enough. Time is different….here. Counting our days and then coming to this time when we find ourselves counting our breaths, draws us unto the presence of the Holy. It is here in this place closest to the heart of wisdom that we draw near to the comforting grace of God. It is here where we catch a glimpse of the lifelove that has held us with each breath and will hold us until our last. And (as I’ve heard from Mom) beyond that. Breath prayer: “time is different” “here” Prayer: Wondrous God, teach us to count our days and to live into the beauty of this day. Draw us closer to you and to the grace and mercy as close to us as our next breath. Amen.
Celeste
6/29/2014 09:16:23 pm
Dear Rev. Brogan:
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Lesley BroganWorking in Family Experience at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Lesley is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. A Candler School of Theology graduate, Lesley has just published her second book, Grief and the Psalms: Companioning the Moon for 29 Days (available on this website). She and her partner, Linda Ellis are raising their two sons, Brogan and Sam in Decatur, GA. Archives
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