By Kathryn Hunter

Kathryn Hunter is a member of the MWF Dispersed Community and a student in the Anam Cara Spiritual Direction Program.

CHRIST IS RISEN!    
HE IS RISEN, INDEED!
VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH HAS BEEN WON.
LOVE WINS!
WE CELEBRATE THE VICTORY EVEN AS THE BATTLE WAGES ON.  

We are a people of faith. We believe that God's love will always prevail.
 

So, we hear a call to engage in the struggles of this time. Some fight at the bedsides of sick and dying strangers. Some fight against hunger as they hand out food. Some fight by offering encouragement, prayers, and worship over the internet. Some fight as parents educating and keeping our children safe. Some fight against loneliness by offering acts of kindness. 

We fight and we share our common struggles and sufferings. 
 

CHRIST IS RISEN!  LOVE WINS!
 

We also hear a call to move toward God.  And that call is one of consent. No longer a call to fight against, but a call to consent and to let go of ourselves and open to God's presence.  

If we back up in time, we see that the victory of Easter came from the consent and letting go in the Garden of Gethsemane. Perhaps, our victory will only come out of our consent to God.

Six months ago, I was introduced to The Welcoming Prayer, a prayer of consent and letting go which moves one deeper into the transformative presence of God. It is a way of praying, "not my will but thine be done."

The prayer was written, created, by Mary Mrozowski and originally taught by Father Thomas Keating and the Contemplative Outreach Community. 
 

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome
I welcome everything that comes to me today 
because I know it's for my healing.
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, situations, and conditions.
I let go of my desire for power and control.
I let go of my desire for affection, esteem, approval, and pleasure.
I let go of my desire for survival and security.
I let go of my desire to change any situation, condition, person, or myself.
I open to the love and presence of God and God's action within. Amen.

May I invite you to pray this prayer daily this coming week. Next week I will offer some more thoughts and insights into the practice of praying The Welcoming Prayer.  I would love to hear your thoughts and comments. (kohunter@umcsc.org)