Message from the Pastor: A Prayer of Loving-Kindness March 18, 2020

I have a practice to share with you in this stressful time. I have endeavored to do this daily for a long time and find it personally meaningful. It is an adaptation from a traditional meditation technique called “The Meditation on Loving-kindness” I offer it to you as one of many ways we can be meaningfully engaged with the world in this time.

Close your eyes in prayer. Take a long breath in, and out. In and out. Feel yourself sitting here, feel God’s peace and contentment touch you. Think of a blessing God holds for you: May I feel safe; May I feel content; May I feel strong; May I live with ease.
Bring into your mind someone that you love tremendously: a parent, a partner, a child, a sibling, someone that when you think of them it brings you delight. You probably have more than one, but pick one for this moment. Imagine them right in front of you. Imagine they can feel you praying for them as you make this prayer in your mind for this person: May you feel safe; May you feel content; May you feel strong; May you live with ease.

Think about another person that you love a lot. Imagine them and pray for them: May you feel safe; May you feel content; May you feel strong; May you live with ease.

Let your body stay relaxed and easy, and continue steady, even breathing.

Think of another person that you know but don’t think about often, a person that’s a familiar stranger, perhaps the person who cuts your hair or a neighbor down the street. Send this person your prayer of blessing: May you feel safe; May you feel content; May you feel strong; May you live with ease.

Think about all the unfamiliar strangers, near and far, people in your neighborhood, in this country, all around this globe: all people just like us with their own lives who the same fears and hopes and dreams that we have as human beings, to come home to their family and be able to take care of their loved ones, celebrate birthdays. Pray for all those people, all beings near and far: May you feel safe; May you feel content; May you feel strong; May you live with ease.

Let your focus step out a bit more and pray that all of us everywhere feel safe and content and strong and live with ease. Before you open your eyes, imagine God’s Spirit radiating out these blessings to others: May you feel safe; May you feel content; May you feel strong; May you live with ease.

Sit a bit more in silence, feeling deeply the gracious presence of God holding you and all creation. When you are ready offer a word of thanksgiving to God. Amen.

Know I hold you in my prayers. May you feel safe; May you feel content; May you feel strong; May you live with ease.