Minister's Musings

Hello Friends,

One of my favourite “summer joy” memories is: sitting around the bonfire with my family next to the lake at my grandparents’ cottage. We would sing songs, tell stories, look at the fire, and look at the sky. I loved when sparks would fly from the wood as we moved it. My parents told us that those were fire fairies freed by the flames to flit into the world. What are your summer joy memories?

This month our theme for worship is: summer blessings. This series is inspired by a resource from Prayer Bench written by Janice MacLean. I will include a devotional that Janice MacLean wrote each week. This week: Fireflies.

Blessings, Rev Kirsty

FIREFLIES: Praying for Others 

READ MARK 2:1-6

“Then some people came,

bringing to him a paralyzed man,

carried by four of them.”

Mark 2:3

PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

Fireflies speak a language of love. They communicate with each other through flash patterns of yellowish light, the result of a chemical reaction in their lower abdomen. Each one has a unique flash and they find each other through their twinkling conversation.

The flashes of these tiny beetles, native to Canada, take me back to childhood and warm summer evenings. 

PAUSE FOR REFLECTION
Fireflies speak a language of love. They communicate with each other through flash patterns of yellowish light, the result of a chemical reaction in their lower abdomen. Each one has a unique flash and they find each other through their twinkling conversation.

The flashes of these tiny beetles, native to Canada, take me back to childhood and warm summer evenings. My siblings and I would rush out with a mason jar and capture a few to take inside as a natural night light. I’m not sure that ever worked. I regret now interrupting their conversation.

The beauty of a field of fireflies is an awesome sight. Fireflies are a lovely invention of summer. They are Mystery. They are Presence. They are Prayer.

A scene in the movie, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood” moved me. It’s where Mr. Rogers is kneeling by his bed with a small black notebook in hand and praying the names of people. It’s a simple practice. It is first mentioned by Mrs. Rogers when she tells the reporter that Fred isn’t perfect (he gets angry) and praying for people is one of the ways he deals with anger.

We pray for others sometimes because it is the only way we can cope with our own fear or anger or sense of uselessness. Prayer gives us a space to bring this and to leave it with God so we may rise and act in considered ways.

“I’ll pray for you.” These aren’t just words. This is the offering of the gift of carrying the other, of interceding for them. It is a language of love.

The gospel story in Mark tells of four people who were literally carrying their friend and placing him before Jesus. Isn’t that a great image of praying for others with body and soul?

Our firefly prayers bring others into Presence. We do so with intention and trust. We hold space. We carry others in prayer. We embody our intercessions with prayer-filled action. It got Jesus’ attention. And it was their faith that brought healing.

BREATH PRAYER
“We are here but a little while to learn to bear the beams of love.”
William Blake