Nurturing Faith

Today’s Readings:

AM Psalm 31; Haggai 1:1-15; Rev. 2:18-29; Matt. 23:27-39

Today’s Reflection

The first parish I served after seminary was The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Alabaster, Alabama; a small, diverse, dedicated congregation. One Lent we invited the youth to lead compline at the conclusion of each of our Wednesday night programs. It was my joy to meet with the youth to plan worship. Since most of them had gone to summer camp at Camp McDowell, they were very familiar with the compline service.

During one of the planning sessions, I sat next to a then-middle school girl, and asked her which of the psalms she would like for us to pray. Immediately she said, "I love Psalm 31. That's the one I always pray--let's do that one." Inherent in her answer was a habit of praying compline, and familiarity with her choices. The portion of Psalm 31 assigned as an option for this service is:

1  In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;

      let me never be put to shame: *

      deliver me in your righteousness.

2  Incline your ear to me; *

      make haste to deliver me.

3  Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, 

      for you are my crag and my stronghold; *

      for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

4  Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *

      for you are my tower of strength.

5  Into your hands I commend my spirit, *

      for you have redeemed me,

      O LORD, O God of truth.

I knew from this child's mother that there was great stress in her home. Somehow, in the chaos of her life, praying compline, ascribing Psalm 31 to her heart, gave her comfort and peace.

Imagine what had to happen for this one child to have a relationship with the Book of Common Prayer and scripture in a way that she had the kind of relationship with God that was a ballast in the storms. Her parents chose to find a way for her to be connected to a faith community. That community chose to feed its young people not only with kid-friendly food and entertainment, but also food for the soul. Camp McDowell staff and counselors chose to take seriously the formation of the campers.

Surely most, if not all, of those persons who poured their time and love and faith out for this child and many others, had no idea the depth of the gift they had provided. In that moment, when I heard her immediately, enthusiastically respond to which psalm we should pray, I witnessed the faithfulness of so many others coming to fruition. As I recall this experience I am grateful to the many volunteers here at St. Stephen's, Camp McDowell, and persons of faith everywhere who sacrificially pass the torch of the tradition down to the next generation so they can faithfully pray for God to deliver them, redeem them, strengthen them. I'm also wondering, is there anything you or I are being nudged to do to support the faith life of a young person in our lives?

Yours in Christ,

Mary Bea+

Questions for reflection:

Who has passed the tradition on to you? How are you sharing your faith and encouraging others in the faith?