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| "Strong Roots" - Photo by Trista Wynne |
My heart is downcast within me. I miss my time with my grandma, and I long for encouraging interactions with the elder generations around me. You graciously have provided me with several neighbors with whom I am interacting on a regular basis who are in the generation before me, and we learn so much from one another. I do, however, long for the wisdom and encouragement that came from my grandma. With her I felt safe and accepted for who I was. I was never afraid to admit a wrongdoing or a mistake, for we could often laugh together about something similar she had done when she was my age. She had many stories to tell me that brought history to life. I always learned something new when we were together. She deeply valued our relationship as well.
My stories and adventures brought her great joy and she was always delighted to hear about the new things that I tried. We even had many adventures where we tried new things together. New recipes and outdoor exploring sites came forth out of our mutual desire to learn and to grow. She saw You in me, and she listened attentively as I explored the truths that Your Spirit was speaking. We prayed together often, and she opened up Scriptures to me in exciting, tangible ways through her life stories. We were respected, valued and loved. Perhaps this is why, even though we didn’t see one another every week, when we were together, it was as though we had never parted. I look forward to the time when we will be reunited together in Your Holy Kingdom, when all things are made new in the fullness of time.
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| "New Breath" - Photo by Trista Wynne |
My heart is downcast, though, because relationships like this are hard to come by in Your Church today. The elder members neglect to encourage the younger generations and neither group respects the other. I see the need for something new for Your Church to enter into the future, but know that You have not equipped me for building or sustaining; You have created me as a visionary, a dreamer, a creative spirit whose exuberance and delight in You might inspire others to bring forth this new thing that is percolating on the edges of the present day. And so, dear Lord, I invite others to join me in the following prayer so that we might enter into this glorious future well-equipped for the mission work that You have given Your peoples to accomplish. We pray for unity and healing so that the world may know that You are Love!
We pray, dear Lord, that you might bring the generations throughout your Church together so that the younger generations might receive encouragement and mentoring, and the older generations might feel appreciated and valued. We pray for healing of the wounds which each party has inflicted upon the other. Wherever we have contributed to these wounds, we pray for grace and forgiveness. Grant us the wisdom and the courage to join together, to share our stories and to listen prayerfully to one another so that together we can enter into the blessed future that You are preparing for your worldwide Church. We pray for denominational and generational borders to gently fade so that a new, vibrant, united Church might be seen and that, as Your Beloved Son prayed, we might be known by our love of one another.  |
| "Beauty in New Life" - Photo by Trista Wynne |
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we pray this in the name of Jesus the Christ, and we desire Your glory above our own. Amen.
1 comment:
Missing our grands and moms is a huge part of life. This generation needs much more interaction with the older generation. Sometimes we all hurry too much; need to slow down and listen. There is so much wisdom we are missing out on. As a senior myself, I have a joyful duty to encourage and delight in the younger generations, and continue to learn from them. Well written and insightful.
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