An (un)Expected Blessing

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” – John 16:24

On the evening of September 9th Pastor Mary’s Young Adult Group had their prayers answered. They were meeting at the church discussing possible service opportunities. At about that precise moment Pastor David rushed to the door calling for help with emergency flooding in the new cottage. The group sprang into action and were amazing in their salvage efforts.

Ask and you shall receive. Or as some might say, be careful what you ask for.
In thinking about disruption and prayer I was reminded of a prayer by Sister Ruth Fox. At a college graduation breakfast Sister Fox offered this blessing over the graduates.

“May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really can make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

If you have the courage to accept these blessings, then God will also bless you with: happiness—because you will know that you have made life better for others; inner peace—because you will have worked to secure an outer peace for others; laughter—because your heart will be light; faithful friends—because they will recognize your worth as a person.

These blessings are yours—not for the asking, but for the giving—from One who wants to be your companion, our God, who lives and reigns, forever and ever. Amen”