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Heavy, 
Mary Oliver from her book, Thirst

That time
I thought I could not
go any closer to grief
without dying
I went closer,
and I did not die.
Surely God
had his hand in this,
as well as friends.
Still, I was bent,
and my laughter,
as the poet said,
was nowhere to be found.
Then said my friend Daniel,
(brave even among lions),
"It's not the weight you carry
but how you carry it,
books, bricks, grief,
it's all in the way
you embrace it, balance it, carry it
when you cannot, and would not,
put it down."
So I went practicing.
Have you noticed?
Have you heard
the laughter
that comes, now and again,
out of my startled mouth?
How I linger
to admire, admire, admire
the things of this world
that are kind, and maybe
also troubled,
roses in the wind,
the sea geese on the steep waves,
a love
to which there is no reply?

These are unprecedented anxious times. And, yesterday, we awoke to the tragic news of a mass shooting in Nova Scotia.
I do so hope you are taking special care of yourself and reaching out for regular conversation, support, and love.
I have been pondering our Easter story and finding there a message much needed in my daily living.
"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"
Why are you weeping? I see this question as an invitation, to share your feelings, your truth, and to join with God who is with you. 
I trust that God's ministering angels still ask that question to us today as an invitation to share in our pain, to comfort us in all our losses, and to give us the courage to live with the "heavy," the weightiness and consider the poet's brilliant grief care:

"It's not the weight you carry
but how you carry it,
books, bricks, grief,
it's all in the way
you embrace it, balance it, carry it
when you cannot, and would not,
put it down."
So I went practicing."

Today, I saw a pole with red paper hearts broken down the centre and words of love beneath them from a CBC Nova Scotia broadcast. The image and the words spoke volumes.
I'll end this post with a hymn:
​
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time
Of your fear, I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh I'll
Laugh with you; I will share your joy and sorrow,
Till we've seen this journey through.

​BREATH PRAYER
 
Breath prayers are an ancient practice.  Breath prayers are shaped by the action most essential to our living – our breath!  When we are in our homes and practicing physical distancing, this form of prayer can be a simple gift, practiced often, while listening to the news, getting ready to call a family member or friend, when you wake and when you lay your head down on your pillow.
 
Matching the quiet or silent repetition of a simple prayer with our breathing can aid in emptying the mind of worries and opening us to God’s presence. 
 
Spend a few moments sitting quietly, with your eyes closed, breathing in and out slowly, focusing on each breath. 
 
Perhaps, a familiar hymn like “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” can enter:
 
“Breathe on me, breath of God, fill me with life anew,
That I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.” Edwin Hatch
 
Perhaps sing through this gracious verse once.  Then, breathe in and say “breathe on me” and breathe out “breath of God” …. Continue through the verses and allow this invitation to lead you to silent prayer or to other thoughts and phrases.  All the while, paying close attention to your breathing.
 
Here is a scripture practice:  [You can choose a psalm or other scripture reading, saying one phrase as you breathe in, and the next phrase as you breathe out]
 
Keep me safe, O God ** for in you I take refuge.
I bless the Lord ** who gives me counsel;
Therefore my heart is glad ** and my soul rejoices.
You show me the path of life ** in your presence there is joy.
Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way.
[ from Psalm 16]
 
A CREATIVE PROCESS
Write a short personal prayer, of one or two sentences long, with words that say something that you hope for, delight in, or are thankful for. Craft each phrase at least five to eight syllables long, to encourage relaxed breathing.  Here’s an example, 
 
Today God, open my mind to peace ** open my heart to love.
God, be with me today ** in what I do, in what I say.

On Sunday, you will be invited to participate in and even write your own breath prayer!
Here's a word on prayer that has been on my mind a lot lately.  I find it both challenging and freeing.
 
Here's Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen ... 
Perhaps prayer is not a way to get what we want to happen. I think prayer may be less about asking for the things we are attached to than it is about letting go of our attachments in some way. Prayer can take us beyond fear, which is an attachment, and beyond hope, which is another form of attachment. It can help us remember the nature of the world and the nature of life, not on an intellectual level, but in a deep and experiential way. When we pray we don’t change the world, we change ourselves. We change our consciousness. We move from an individual, isolated, making-things-happen kind of consciousness to an intimate connection with the Mystery at the heart of the world. Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen
​

We begin with Christine reading at sunrise from her property near the Rideau River. Next, we are blessed with the musical abilities of Colleen, Dan, and later on Elizabeth. Marnie reads a poem for us and Christine offers her unique and engaging reflections, readings, and contemporary references. Thank you for joining us and celebrating this special time together.  

To view video, click here.