Thoughts on Patience

From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough

​Good morning, everyone.  I pray that you all are able to find time  for prayer and/or meditation, and that you are also  finding ways to  balance your work with your home and family life.   Please take some time for recreation if at all possible, and remember that we are praying for the health of you, your communities, and your families. Do let me know when you are ready to explore worshipping with Zoom.  These services can be surprisingly meaningful for all of us.     

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Scripture: Psalm 90 
 from A Book of Psalms, Selected and Adapted from the Hebrew, by Stephen Mitchell 
  
Teach us how short our time is; 
let us know it in the depths of our souls. 
Show us that all things are transient, 
as insubstantial as dreams, 
and that after heaven and earth 
have vanished, there is only you. 
  
Fill us in the morning with your wisdom; 
shine through us all our lives. 
Let our hearts soon grow transparent 
in the radiance of your love.    ​

Meditation

I love the Psalms and it is rare when I do not begin a worship service with a reading from one of them.  At times, however, some of  the old militaristic language of these ancient songs and poems do not bring comfort.  This week has been one of those times, so I have been sitting with Stephen Mitchell's adaptation of this Psalm.    
 
My mother had a phrase that she often declared when she felt she was embroiled in a task or situation that seemed to be taking too long to resolve or complete:  "This is taking longer than a month of Sundays!"   In other words, the usual rhythm and flow of life felt disrupted, and she wondered when things might get back to "normal." 
  
Yet, God is infinite and immeasurable.  Impatience is a reaction of our restless minds.  When we are impatient, we are really being impatient with God.  May we all learn simply to sit in God's presence, and  trust this time.  God is always creating and re-creating.   Let us accept that rhythm as our own and treasure it as the divine inheritance that it is.   
 
Prayer   
If we are having trouble putting words to our prayers, then let us simply and quietly turn to Jesus. Words are not necessary; only a willingness to sit and let God's radiant love and wisdom into our hearts.  May we all linger in our prayers today, and discover the infinite patience that is waiting for us.  

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.  
    
Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus, written by  Helen Howarth Lemmel

Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor
San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ
SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors 

www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com