Light in the Window - November 16, 2023

Dear Covenant Family,

Sometimes when the world feels heavy, I seek out quiet spaces - the lake at dawn, the backyard at nightfall, a book in front of a fireplace. I’m not purposefully looking for joy, but it finds me. I begin to imagine again or remember a moment of lightness in the day. 

Kate Bowler’s words of blessing are feeding my spirit right now, and I hope they feed you too. Because everyone needs joy and fun, even when the world feels heavy, and you don’t quite know how to pray. Let those moments of joy linger long enough to sink down to your roots like your toes sink in the sand on a beach. Maybe you’ll even wake up with joy in the morning.

Peace,

Pastor Jessie

pastor@covenantweb.org

A blessing for when you want to wake up to joy

by Kate Bowler

Blessed are you for feeling the pull,

that tug back toward a part of yourself

so easily ignored.

Yourself at ease.

Yourself in the flow.

Yourself at play.

Pain or boredom or business has sucked up all the energy.

But wait. Aren’t you more than a crisis firefighter?

Blessed are you when you relax.

When you feel young again

When you LAY THE STRESS DOWN.

Blessed are you when you remember

That you used to be pretty good at guitar

Or piano, or actually you’re a terrible singer but, wait for it, you’re going to bring out the showtunes.

Blessed are you who put the words FUN in the calendar

Even when you have no idea what you might actually do.

You are more than a list of things to do, people to love, problems to survive.

You are a big, loud laugh. Or a quiet, study of wonder.

Extroverted or introverted.

Splashy or contained.

May the joy of fun be poured back in your roots,

And may you watch yourself come back to life.

Church of the Covenant | Website | Covenant Life