Good morning…
In these wee hours I am drawn to a poem, a poem widening a very sacred space in us.
******
The Great Reframe by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Let this sorrow
that has opened me
to love
be like a frame
that has no photo—
so I might know
how to be this broken open,
this tender, this compassionate
with anything,
not only toward the one
who first filled the frame.
Let me not try to control
what is worthy of framing.
Let me trust everything
is worthy of prayer,
of consideration.
Let sorrow continue
to teach me generosity.
Let the frame be big enough
to hold it all.
******
Somewhere along life’s way, sorrow opens us to love. Then once we know how to be this broken open, this tender, this compassion, we can love anyone with the love of God. Might we allow our seasoned sorrow to teach us generosity? Dear living, loving Lord, please let our frame be big enough to hold all of life’s sorrows. Every form of grief is worthy of our prayer.
Into my heart’s open frame, I now place a snapshot of a 22-year-old who died on March 30th at Columbia University. A graduate of The Lovett School, McLeod Buckham-White was just four months older than our youngest son. A well-loved son himself, brother and friend, McLeod was a talented athlete, a top student, an amazing singer, an inspiration to many.
Last night, at the request of a few parents of alumni, my husband Steve, the school chaplain, welcomed friends and family to the Lovett football for a candlelight vigil in honor of McLeod. With news spreading word-of-mouth through our community, about 150 came together to pray and to share their favorite memories of this one gentle soul, who is so deeply missed. Please join me as I pray for God to open wide a space for healing love to move in the broken hearts of loved ones who will gather to celebrate McLeod’s life at Peachtree Presbyterian Church at 2:00 pm today.
Make this your common practice: . . . pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed (James 5:16, MSG).
…Sue…
