Do you every find yourself wishing, hoping, praying
That you could figure out just what you should do
With this one precious life you have been given?
Do you ever, like me, feel as if you are lost in a fog,
Discouraged and distracted because you cannot see the next step?
You wonder what you should do.
You look for a path, or for a project.
But the fog clouds your vision and your heart.
And so, you stop and sigh,
And you take in a deep breath, preparing for another sigh.
And, surprisingly that intake of breath is an intake of hope.
You find within your lungs, the fresh whisper of God’s spirit.
You hold it within you for a moment,
And then you breathe it out into the fog.
And pause to see what it might do.
And for several moments you continue that cycle, over and over –
Breathe in the hope
Hold the wonder
Breathe out a blessing
Rejoice in its grace.
Breathe in the hope
Hold the wonder
Breathe out a blessing
Rejoice in its grace.
Breathe in the hope
Hold the wonder
Breathe out a blessing
Rejoice in its grace.
It becomes a wordless prayer.
Repeated with growing joy
Which takes root quietly within your soul
And lifts the fog, just a bit.
Breathe in the hope
Hold the wonder
Breathe out a blessing
Rejoice in its grace.
As the wisps of fog begin to clear
Within your heart
You find, to your surprise,
That there are, indeed, things you know to do.
They are not grand projects or torturous paths to take.
They are kindnesses offered and small tasks accomplished.
They lighten the load for those nearby.
There may be big things for another day.
But today, today, is well spent in kindness.
Those small things that come your way
Are bigger than you think.
And can help to clear the fog.
Today I breath.
I take in your hope
And hold it quietly within my soul.
I breathe out your blessing
And let it do its work.
I think, for just a moment,
That I have found what I should do
With this one day I have been given.
And I smile.
We smile.
Thank you.
Amen.
Quiet Hope 