The music during communion yesterday was, “Let Us Break Bread Together on Our Knees”. It was a beautiful duet performed on the piano and flute. The song, which was originally an African-American spiritual, always brings tears to my eyes. Yesterday was no exception.
It affected me because as I looked around at the people in the congregation, I realized that at one time or another life has brought every single one of us to our knees. A lot of the people with whom we worship have lost parents. Some have lost spouses, and some have lost children. Every week we all face the challenges that come with being alive and being interconnected with others. Every day our faith is tested – sometimes it’s tested in small ways and sometimes our challenges bring us to our knees.
After the service, Roxane, the woman who played the flute solo, told me that her husband has stage 4 lung cancer. The chemo hasn’t worked, and the doctor said there is nothing more that can be done.
We don’t always get the results for which we pray. Even so, I find comfort being on my knees in a sacred space with other people who are giving thanks for their blessings and asking for the strength, courage and grace to face their current life challenge.
If you are dealing with a problem or concern that is bringing you to your knees, I hope you will take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. You may not be able to fix, solve or change the situation right now. You may not see a way up or a way out, but if you can trust that God will be with you, you will eventually recover from this state of brokenness and you will once again be whole.
