Weekly Reflections

To you I lift up my eyes,
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

Psalm 123:1

Of course we no longer believe that God lives in sky and only visits the earth on occasion. Nevertheless, the images in this Psalm point to important truths. Life is sometimes so all-consuming that we forget to look up (or away) from the things and activities that surround us; we forget there is something else, something bigger. We miss the person in need, we miss the beauty in nature, we fail to appreciate the simple grace of a child or loved one who trusts us without question.

Prayer

God of the heavens and the earth: We ask you to slow our steps and quiet our hearts that we may notice what is going on around us—instead of storming through our busy lives. Open our hearts to the one in need; open our souls to the beauty of the world around us. As we breathe in crisp, cool air make us mindful that the rest that creation takes in the winter calls us to rest from our own labours and renew ourselves. Help us to lift up our hearts and rejoice! Amen.

by Beth W Johnston