Blessed Is The Lord

Blessed is the Lord.

Today in Red Cedar Friends Meeting I, for the first time, saw, heard, experienced the Lord working in his people. This morning was an answer to my prayers. This morning he sent me an angel I had asked for. The angel came in the beautiful voice of a woman who began a hymn and, after the first stanza, was joined by the young woman sitting in front of her. 

I heard the voices of Friends who witnessed pain, one physical, one emotional; the latter most poignant. It was a witness of acknowledging barriers that divide and finding a way to overcome them.

One rejoiced in the finding within his English family a paper written in George Fox's hand. But he also lamented the unmarked graves of early Quakers because finding ancestors was difficult.

I heard more Friends than I have ever heard any where witnessing acknowledgement of barriers toward people who didn't vote in the election the same as they did and rethinking their judgment of those others because some were family, friends, or co-workers.

Such beautiful witnesses. When I realized what I was hearing and experiencing, all I could think was, this is the Lord working in them. This is the Lord opening their hearts as he was opening mine. He let me see that he was over them; they were in his hands; my work was done.

Will I stop praying for them? No. Will I stop speaking truth? No. But their hearts were tender this morning--at least some of them. And my heart was made tender as I listened. I believe it's a beginning, a joyous beginning, as long as I pray for his guidance and trust in my Lord, no matter where he sends me.