It's the little things... light
I’m glad we’re focussing on little things in our Virtual Prayer Room this Lenten season. It seems manageable to me and I hope these little prayers will be supportive for you too. I’m finishing this while the rain buckets down outside. It’s just another Friday evening in February and this email will go out in 17 hours at 1pm tomorrow. Usually at this time of year we’re down at the beach for a picnic dinner under the shade of trees, enjoying the warmth and sun of the summer evening after a really hot day. But here I am, having just returned from being outside and getting cold and wet. I have woollen socks on my feet, I’m wearing a cosy winter jumper and fleecy pants, and I’m wondering yet again what happened to summer this year.
The rain warnings are in place and once again we’re expecting one or two month’s worth of rain in overnight here in Auckland. Further down the country in Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti it will be an anxious night and into the day tomorrow as huge amounts of rain are also expected there. The numbers are mind boggling and the recent devastation still fresh. By the time you read this - the news will be carrying the latest stories and images of floods and slips. It’s all a bit too much.
Big things need to happen. This summer Aotearoa is receiving a massive wake up call to action in the face of these climate change created weather events. For sure, as individuals we can be the little voices supporting the big changes, but we can’t do it on our own. It’s going to take leaders and businesses to make, big, bold decisions. It’s going to take big, bold action from everyone. It’s easy to feel a bit small when confronted with the huge challenges.
One of the wonderful things about light is that a little bit of light can make a difference to the darkness around us. When we gather with others, each of us holding a little bit of light the glow gets stronger and brighter. We can celebrate and rejoice in the brightness of the bigger glow, but our focus and work is on keeping our own little light burning.
Holding on to little things in tough times is powerful.
Lent is a solemn time as it builds up to remembering the death of Jesus Christ and celebrating his resurrection. It’s a time of turning back to God, of paying attention to what God is doing and of renewing our faith. It’s a time of giving to others and being gracious and forgiving. It’s a time of putting others and putting God before ourselves. It’s a time of discipline and intention.
And that can sometimes feel all a bit too hard and a bit much.
Until we bring it back down to the little things.
It’s the little things!
Jesus talked of these little things so often in the gospels. He spoke words of how little things offer strength, love, hope and resilience. They empower the individual and they strengthen the community. There is upside down power in little things. Instead of focussing on the big, huge, things, we focus on the little bit of what we can do.
So this Lent, if everything is feeling a bit too hard and a bit much, let’s focus on the little things.
I offer these light prayers to bring hope into hard days. I am once again removing the paywall today. If there are people you know who might be needing a little bit of light right now or in the coming weeks, please feel free to share these prayers with them.
May God be with you
On the journey
Caroline.
You are the light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one lights a lamp and puts it under a clay pot. Instead, it is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so others will see the good you do and will praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 4:14-16 CEV
Little light prayer
Take a small torch or a battery powered candle and find a place to sit in the darkness. Turn your light off. Sit in the dark and concentrate on your breathing. Use your other senses to notice your surroundings. Pay attention to your thoughts and as each comes to mind offer it to God in a wordless prayer. Turn on your torch or battery powered candle. As it shines in the space around you, ponder what it means to be a light to others. Offer yourself to God, to be light to those around you.
Paper bag light prayer
You’ll need a brown paper bag, a craft knife, pencil and cutting board. Draw or stencil simple shapes on the outside of the paper bag. Using the craft knife, carefully cut out the shapes. As you cut out the shapes, think of the shape of your life right now. How does God feature in your life? What impact does your faith have in your daily routines and interactions with others? Turn the battery candle on and place it inside the paper bag. See the light spill out from the shapes cut from the paper bag. Pray that God’s light would spill out from you, to others around you.
Light a candle
Fill a plastic tray with sand and place tealight candles in the sand. Throughout Lent when you are feeling overwhelmed or when you are worried about big things, light a candle and pray a one word or one sentence prayer. Watch the candles burn and enjoy the shining little lights of prayer.