“Don’t just do something, stand there.” A wise friend and colleague used to say this to me often. She always challenged us when people were rushing to judgment or knee-jerk reactions. Another member of our group would respond with, “Be still, and know that I am God!” For him it was always an invitation to prayer, to including God in whatever challenge we were facing.
Despite their many differences they shared a common ground, calling us to stop and take a deep breath before responding when the situation around us threatened to unhinge us. Both of them helped our group to not be captured or imprisoned by fear when “the mountains seemed to be shaking and falling into the sea in tumult.”
We weathered many storms together and their wisdom has stayed with me through the years. Their deep commitment to the common good of the community we served together was inspiring and instructive. When anger and blame would erupt in sideways motion, threatening to take out everything in its path, they would both stop and stand still in the midst of the chaos. Their calmness and grace called us all to join them, as if they were our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” This is how the Psalmist describes God in Psalm 46.
Neither of them was God, one of them did not even believe in God. But they were instruments of God’s kindness and care among us.
This past weekend a group of youth came to stay at our church. They are part of the mission and ministry of Plymouth United Church of Christ, a sister congregation in Des Moines, Iowa.
For 63 years this congregation has gathered youth from 11 high schools in Des Moines, into a Matins Choir. They practice every Wednesday during the school year. They worship together on Sundays. They engage in the spiritual disciplines of prayer and practice that allow them to form life-changing community.
This year they came to our church, stayed in our space and joined us for worship on Sunday. Our sanctuary was filled with song and some of the most amazing music I have ever heard. Afterwards they joined us for our Sunday dinner of tacos and all the fixings. On Tuesday, before they left they gave a concert at the Care Center. They also immersed themselves in the wild and wondrous places of Cook County.
It was a profound gift to all of us, a mutual pouring out of blessing. Every nook and cranny of our building was filled with God’s new creation. In the midst of the rapidly filling busyness of the summer season, we stopped and became still, we listened as one body. The glory of God was poured out upon us and we gave thanks.
This group of around 70 left our church shining with joy, clean and orderly, leaving only blessing behind. These young people invited us to stop and be still. They offered us “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” These young strangers taught us a new song that is more ancient than can be named. Our gratitude and prayers go with them. May their travels be safe and full of joy.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Reverend Beth Benson of the First Congregational Church – UCC in Grand Marais.
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