In the face of the suffering of others and of loss, our hearts break. Unbidden, tears come. Sadness and anger come. Doubts and fears come. For others, we experience a numbness in our sorrow, and find a fleeting solace in distraction. Grief is not uniform, though it is universal. 

On Thursday night at 7PM, Mother Sarah will be leading an hour of prayer at the church, as an offering of a space to come before the Lord and with others who are hurting in light of the central Texas flooding. Our time itself will be shaped like a psalm of lament. Like the saints before us, we will address God directly, name our grief, call out for His intervention, His help, and together put our trust in Him.

With full confidence in the power of prayer - that God acts and moves in real time, bringing light and life and healing in the midst of traumatic events - I also want to name that our time in prayer is not intended to bring a conclusion to our deep aching and questions. Short of the day when all are raised, how could it? Pat answers and emotional indifference are not what the Spirit of Jesus offers. But he does offer us his presence. We do not grieve alone, and we do not grieve without hope that one day, by his scar-borne hands, all grief will be undone. 

If you'd like to give to relief efforts, I mentioned on Sunday the reputable work of Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN). I have since also learned about the work of Kerr County Flood Relief Fund (commended and well known by the nearby H.E. Butt Foundation) and TEXSAR (Search and Rescue). Consider supporting as you are able.