Community Of Christ Church

By John Rawson of Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Luke 4:16–19

[Excerpted from “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” John Rawson, Australia Herald, July 2021, pp. 24–25]

Way back in the 1960s I first heard and learned to love the music of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. In 1970, they released the song, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” I love the tune, the way the song is sung, but I especially love the words. Let’s look at just the first verse:

“When you’re weary,
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes,
I’ll dry them all
I’m on your side,
Oh, when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down.” —Paul Simon “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” © 1969 Paul Simon Music

This song promises one’s body will be laid down; one’s life will be given for another. Whenever I think of those words, my mind immediately turns to Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28–30: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

I think too of more recent counsel from Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a: “Open your ears to hear the pleading of mothers and fathers in all nations who desperately seek a future of hope for their children. Do not turn away from them. For in their welfare resides your welfare.”

The song begins: “When you’re weary, feeling small, When tears are in your eyes, I’ll dry them all.” For me, this song is about being a healing presence. It’s about reaching out to another who has need. It’s about bringing God’s love, Jesus’ love, into another’s life who at that moment is crying for help. It’s about being vulnerable to Divine grace! It’s about being ready, as a healing presence, to lay down your life for another, just as Jesus gave his life, laying it down for us, just like a bridge over troubled waters.

Prayer Phrase

Let your Spirit of peace breathe in and through us and guide our way.

Spiritual Practice

Time with God

Sit quietly and let your breathing become calm and deep. Ask God’s Spirit to rest on you. See or sense the Spirit anointing you in the form of light, a dove, wind, color, or other images that might come. Ask to become aware of God’s love. Listen to the ways in which God wants to flow from your heart as living water. Give thanks that your name is “beloved,” that our name is Community of Christ.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.