Friday July 24, 2020
Andy Bangs
Learn
Let us pray: God, our creator, who in your love and wisdom knows the anxieties and fears of your children: we pray for all people who live in mental darkness and physical disease, praying as well for those whose efforts try to bring light and wholeness, remembering especially their families whose love sensitizes them to the pain and hopelessness in which they live. Grant us, Lord, understanding of our limitations and empathy for their illness, that we may be freed from anger and guilt, and liberated for a new life as we struggle within and among ourselves to find wholeness in our personal and corporate lives so intertwined in sorrow and hope, in fear and gratitude, in anger and love, and so grant us peace through Him who is the Prince of Peace. AMEN.
The prayer above comes from my brother Josiah’s funeral service. I found it powerful and helpful in dealing with my confused feelings about my brother and my father both of whom died of alcoholism. The experience of 80 years teaches me that nearly all of us have been affected by addictions of one kind or another. My hope is that you might derive some comfort and relief from this prayer.
Rob tells me that this week’s word is learning. That’s a broad assignment since we spend our lives learning.
We learn faces and names before we understand the word “learning.” We latch on to habits and family beliefs. We absorb them without noticing what we are doing. This is all easy though not simple.
We learn to read, write and calculate. We learn to compare and contrast ideas, behaviors and beliefs. We become self-aware. This is taught to us and is neither simple nor easy. It takes effort on all involved.
Now comes the hard part. We learn to judge ourselves against others and sometimes find ourselves lacking. As Mother would say “Andy, comparisons are odious. Why can’t you be more like that nice John Livingstone?”
We learn to be judgmental of ourselves as well as others. We do not wish to continue down that path. We want to learn a better way. May God help us all.