Last Friday morning as thirty-some balloons filled the sky on my drive to work I was awestruck. I felt my heart arise with them. Then while on the job with a grieving family, I asked, “Have you gone outside to see the balloons. Immediately, the “yes” of this family showed clearly that they had felt what I had felt in seeing many balloons fill the sky that early morning. Changes in their words, tone of voices and their eyes said it all. They, too, had felt their hearts uplifted at the sight of the seemingly motionless, splendor of the balloons.

Last Friday morning as thirty-some balloons filled the sky on my drive to work I was awestruck. I felt my heart arise with them. Then while on the job with a grieving family, I asked, “Have you gone outside to see the balloons. Immediately, the “yes” of this family showed clearly that they had felt what I had felt in seeing many balloons fill the sky that early morning. Changes in their words, tone of voices and their eyes said it all. They, too, had felt their hearts uplifted at the sight of the seemingly motionless, splendor of the balloons.

For many of us, prayer lifts our hearts above the fears, dreads and deficits–the disappointments–that come as we do our days within the COVID experience. Shortages remind us “it is real.” We can’t deny it. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 55:6, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”

Then, in verse 16, the tone changes as David exclaims,” As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.”

His prayer of lament continues, then David arises in his spirit as he writes for others what he has found to be true for himself, “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

No matter what happens in our bodies—and no matter how many changes we must endure, we were created to transcend. Our spirits are meant to arise above it all as we realize that meaning and purpose hold a hiding place for our souls.

We are loving beings. As we love we transcend. We “go up” in our hearts like the balloons. Even a few minutes of counting our blessings and thanking God for each of them sees us arise in our spirits. Seeing a new born baby does it for us, too. We are reminded of the gift of life and how precious it is.

Life is such a mystery! We come into this earth experience not knowing how long we will have, here. So, we set our minds on living long, into old age. Then when it doesn’t work that way for a loved one—or when we are told by our doctor “it could end soon” the bottom falls out for our hopes, our dreams. Reality hits like a sucker-punch in the gut.

Sometimes we are like the Psalmist. When times get hard we want to “fly away”. . . somehow, we want to “get high”—above it all. There is only one good way. And, that is through prayer.

Andrew Newberg, a medical scientist, wrote, Why God Won’t Go Away along with two other scientists. Through using SPECT MRI within their research, the results of their efforts revealed what happens physically when we pray or meditate for 12 minutes. (Yes, of course. Scientists measure everything!) These medical researchers demonstrate how there is a specific place within the brain that lights up “like fireworks” while the subjects they study are praying.

 A front page newspaper headline recently read, “Piloting a balloon is an ‘art.’” Prayer is also an art form. It takes setting a time and preparing a place to be alone with God—expecting to quiet our minds, talk to God—and listen. Then, when we do hear words in our hearts from Him, it is important to write them down.

Prayer helps us learn how to give our burdens to God so we can let go our fears and take on His peace. Reading Scripture tells us a lot about God and what His hopes are for us. When we make a practice of this, worshiping God comes natural as we learn of God’s great love for us. God’s presence in our lives enriches us. Though prayer, we learn to trust His guidance—and, much joy comes into our lives. We were made to transcend. Joy and transcendence go together.

The beauty of the balloons reminds me of the meaning and purpose God held for us while creating us. As, we were intended to be in relationship with Him. Adam and Eve walked and talked with God, as shown in the Book of Genesis. Within our days on earth, we can do so, as well.

We are made to love: God, self and others. As we embrace His purpose for us, we live meaningfully. While praying our way through our difficulties—we live ABOVE IT ALL.

Gabriel Faure’s Requiem Opus 48, bespeaks of rest and consolation that comes to us in death. Thanks be to God, we can also have it as we live out this life!

By Joy Le page Smith, MA, BCC

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It took this pandemic for us to get a grasp of what it means to see a full face. Clearly, we know half-a-face is not enough. We feel cheated in only seeing the eyes of the person coming toward us. When a person’s eyes search for our eyes we naturally look to the person’s mouth for the rest of the message he or she may be trying to send.

We are getting more used to living with the truth that a life-threatening disease is alive among us. Time has passed and a good share of us have stepped up to trusting the vaccines. We have more of a sense of safety, now, while being around others. Yet, for some of us there is a definite discomfort when a stranger moves in “to close for comfort.”

One day, when the COVID virus is faced down by the vaccine and herd immunity truly exists, we will gain an increased appreciation for life, and for one another—especially the enjoyment of seeing the full face of others.

Ideally, we will also value the fact that life is tenuous. Not one of us knows how long we will be alive. What we can know is that “there is a God ” and there is life after this experience on earth.

Meanwhile, the most healthy way to live is extended in Scripture, “ Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,” (1^st Thessalonians 5:16-18). We can only do this through embracing the mystery that lies within life: we have no control over the fact our lives will end. And—we have no way of knowing the “when.” Some may get a medical diagnosis that says “time is short,” and old age also hands us the opportunity to “get ready to leave.” So, when Scripture tells us to “rejoice always” there is a secret in that: A built in reward of better health. A field of medicine, psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), holds research bearing this out. Studies in SPECT MRI have proven our brain makes significant changes when we pray. This indicates we were made to transcend. People who pray consistently know prayer greatly relieves the most difficult types of angst that life can bring.

God has taken care of our need for emotional help and healing. After talking with God in prayer, take some moments thinking (or journaling) about all there is for which to be thankful. Notice how you feel when you finish. Mostly, this lifts a person’s mind and emotions bringing reassurance, transcendence and empowerment to get past the hard stuff.  

Working our way through a heavy heart comes with the package of being a human who loves. Tears and talking about the despair of missing someone we formerly looked forward to seeing, hearing, touching is one of the hardest burdens we bear. Often remorse, anger and hurt bring questions that plague: “Why did this have to be!? What help is there for my loss?”

We can get depressed, particularly if we fail to feel our anguish and communicate it to loved ones who can listen. Counseling is sometimes a must. This was true for me when my close friend, many years ago, was murdered by her 14-year-old son . . . shock knocked my life apart for he was a good student, involved in sports and seemed oh-so-normal. And, then—my friend was gone! A deadly influence resulted in the tragedy of taking his mother’s life.

Time has lessened the pain, but I still hurt when this terrible memory returns, but, thankfully, I was given an opportunity to make a difference in his young life—once I could forgive him. I had to work through such a hideous thing, so unnatural and impossible to comprehend. What touches me today is knowing I will see my friend again in the eternal realms as she was a believer in our Lord Jesus. And, I will see her son again, as he chose to let Christ become master of his life after serving time in a closed treatment center.

The shortest verse in the Bible is “Jesus wept” as He came to terms with the death of His close friend, Lazarus. He, being God, raised his friend up out of death. Knowing our limits, we cannot do that very often. So we look to the Great Healer in the hour of our exceedingly painful losses. He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. For I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For, My yoke is easy and My burden is light,” (Matthew 11:28-30). It is the Light of Christ that will help us through our darkest moments.

By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, MA

Years ago my friend Marge’s teenage son was killed while skiing with friends and classmates at Bogus Basin Ski Resort. He ran into a tree and was killed instantly.

That night after my friend received the news in her home I witnessed astounding faith.

“Tommy is with God,” she said through her tears. “He is now praying for us.”

She was suffering all the feelings of shock and unbelief that Tom could be taken from their home so suddenly, but the overriding theme flowing from Marge that night was one of trust and assurance that God would bring meaning to Tom’s death.

A Mass was scheduled the following morning at Bishop Kelly High School for a grieving student body, along with the family. Marge said, “Jim and I cannot go. But it would make me happy if you would go.”

The gymnasium was filled with students, friends and faculty. Tom had been designated “Outstanding Sophomore of the year.” He was a treasured person. That fact of his distinctive acumen was born out by more than words.

People gathered. Words were said. And, comfort came as compassion was felt. No doubt each came away with some nugget of truth. For me it was Father William Dodgson’s words: “This is a time when Tom would want you to make your faith work.”

We all grapple with the meaning of life and death–and come away like Jacob of the Old Testament, injured but blessed. We have a new appreciation for life’s essence. We find ourselves blessed in the realization that each one of us is mortal, reminded not to take people for granted.

Grief is torture. It strikes us cruelly, ripping away the peripherals, giving us a long look at our nakedness. It is human life that is at stake. Time seems to stand still while we grieve. It is a time for “verbal thinking” and “notional beliefs” to make that long journey from head to heart. Often faith is weighed in the balance and found wanting as we cry out, “Lord I believe . . . help my unbelief!”

While caught in the throes of grief sometimes we cling to God for our strength and solace and other times we throw our anger like into His face, attempting to empty ourselves of the burden. But if we refrain from turning our backs on Go—if we wait, watch and listen instead of running – we will encounter His response, the long loving gaze of a Father who also has suffered. A Father who understands.

John 14:1-2, tells us, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. ”

How wonderful are the truths of Scripture.

About the author: Joy Le page Smith, MA is a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain. Visit Healing-with-Joy.com for Joy’s blog along with many helpful articles addressing life’s difficulties. Her books and blogs are read in up to 32 countries. Her second site is at Healingwithjoy.blogspot.com