Happy May Day! May your day be filled with all the beauty of Spring.

I write this morning after having taken a day off…not intentionally, but because I was in an unusual and challenging space yesterday, and I gave myself permission to allow the day to unfold without expectations. I did, however, hold each of you in my heart and in my prayers as I moved through a very different day. I am grateful to have given myself that grace…of simply being and doing what I was called to. This morning I feel prepared to share some of that experience. In fact, I am directed from within to share…I cannot move forward with my day until I do.

Franciscan contemplative Fr. Richard Rohr has been writing lately about liminal space. The word liminal comes from the Latin word limens, which means threshold. Liminality is the quality of ambiguity or disorientation that occurs in the middle stage of a rite of passage, or in some major life change. Fr. Rohr defines it this way: “… It is when you have left the tried and true, but have not yet been able to replace it with anything else.  It is when you are between your old comfort zone and any possible new answer. If you are not trained in how to hold anxiety, how to live with ambiguity, how to entrust and wait, you will run…anything to flee this terrible cloud of unknowing.”

It was my experience yesterday, and my reflections of Fr. Rohr’s blog post this morning that called me to share this with you. He said that we “need to embrace our tears as well as our triumphs. Without standing on the threshold for much longer than we’re comfortable, we won’t be able to see beyond ourselves to the broader and more inclusive world that lies before us. In liminal space, we must leave business as usual and voluntarily enter a world where the rules and expectations are quite different.”

I spoke last Sunday about how we, in New Thought, can move…sometimes too quickly…to seeing the Good. In our discomfort with liminal space, we move to seeing things the way we would like them to be. I am going to walk a fine line this morning, as I trust you to understand what I am saying…and I trust that you know that I speak from my heart. I trust you to assume the highest intention. I would be doing a disservice as a Spiritual Leader, would be remiss in my duty, if I did not draw our attention to the fact that in order to find a silver lining, we must first acknowledge the cloud.

I am an optimist, have always been an optimist, and will likely forever remain one who searches for the blessing until I find it. I am the kid who finds the huge pile of horse manure and says, “There’s got to be a pony here somewhere!” But in order to find the pony, we have to notice, acknowledge, and follow the trail of manure. We are in the midst of a dark cloud right now. We are experiencing an unprecedented global crisis. And it is taking its toll on all of us, whether we’re aware of it or not. I do not pretend to understand the relative level truth behind what is happening. There is far too much conflicting information being presented for me to get a clear picture. I do sense that there is a lot happening that has not come to the forefront, but that is not my business or my purpose for writing. I have absolute faith in Spiritual Law, and so I can allow the process to unfold without my having to know the facts.  My purpose today is to invite us all to prayer for those unintentional and unnoticed victims of this crisis.

I have been reading Rev. Wayne Muller’s  beautiful interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer. He begins with the phrase Our Father, specifically the word Our, and encourages us to expand our prayer to those in need…friends, family, communities, nations…whomever would benefit from our prayer today. He says that we never pray alone, as we are all one in God. And so, today I invite us to pray together for all those who have contracted the Corona Virus…those who have carried it without symptoms, those  who have endured the illness and recovered, those who are still recovering, and those who have made their transition with the virus present in their bodies. I pray for the family members who have been affected by this experience, as well.

But in addition, let us add to our prayers all of those across the country, and around the world, who are in need of medical care for other conditions, but who are either afraid to step into a doctor’s office or unable to find transportation or open medical facilities. Certainly, these conditions are potentially as detrimental to their lives as the virus is to those who experience it.

Let us pray for all those who, due to the mandate to shelter at home, coupled with already-tenuous coping skills, relational skills, mental health issues, and addictions, are experiencing an increased level of abuse, and even suicide. These experiences are life-changing for those involved.

Let us pray for those who have lost jobs and businesses, and who do not have the luxury of a comfortable cushion to sustain them.

Let us pray for those children whose only nutrition comes from the breakfast and lunch they receive at school, and whose only positive adult role models come from teachers and other school employees.

Let us pray for those who have no home in which to shelter.

And let us extend our prayer to all who are suffering at this time.

We must do what is asked of us in this liminal space, in this time of challenge and great transition. But as Light Workers in the world, we must not bury our heads in the sand and pretend that the virus itself is our only concern. May we be open-minded in our attempt to navigate these troubled waters. May our leaders be clear of mind and pure of intention in their decision-making. May our medical community and first responders remain strong and willing to serve. May we all be free of the fear that has the potential to blind us to the full picture. And may we bring our whole hearts…the fullness of compassion…to our prayer this morning.

I have absolute faith that there are many more silver linings to be discovered as we move through this compelling time. And I willingly take this time to recognize and acknowledge the darkness that this particular cloud offers. Thank you for opening your hearts…thank you for listening…thank you for praying. We are a beautiful and powerful community. We practice the possible through prayer. We make a difference in the world.

May we be aware of all we have been given…may we count our blessings.

May we all be well…stay in touch…know our unity…and thrive!

And may we know the Absolute Beauty and Wonder of this Grace-filled, once-in-a lifetime day…