Four hundred and one seconds ago, I bowed my head in prayer. Seeking wisdom. Seeking hope. Seeking words to come forth from a tired mind and weary soul. Seeking the breath of the Holy Spirit to come.

Four hundred and one minutes ago I chatted with my daughter as she made her way to a protest. “Do you have your mask?” “Yes,” she replied, “and water and band-aids and food.”

Four hundred and one hours ago, George Floyd was alive. He lived and breathed, he laughed, he danced, he lived.

Four hundred and one months ago my husband and I sat as the breath of students gave life to music and song. Spring high school music concerts have always been a favorite of mine. 401 months ago - we sat, holding our breath for our daughter’s solo, not holding our breath for our life.

Four hundred and one years ago the ship the White Lion brought 20 African slaves ashore to Jamestown, Virginia. The rank air in which they lived on their journey was hardly suitable for life. They gasped for breath.

401

401 years is too long

for our brothers and sisters to be enslaved.

401 months is too long

to sit in my place of privilege and ignore the cries of my neighbor.

401 hours is too long

to stay silent.

401 minutes is too long

to wait.

401 seconds is too long

without breath. 

Perhaps today you can take 401 seconds to make a difference, in prayer, in song, in hope. 

Perhaps today you can pause and reflect on how 401 minutes could be spent in shared work of healing and justice.

Perhaps today you can think about the hours and years in which we have stayed silent.

Perhaps, in this breath, we can begin anew.

As the disciples gathered that first Pentecost, they waited, with bated breath, to speak the words of Christ that were poured out upon them. 

Let’s not wait a second more to share the same breath of hope, love, justice and peace.

Thanks be to God.

– Pastor Lauren J. Wrightsman

Prayer

Powerful spirit of change,
powerful spirit of hope,
powerful spirit of love,Give us a breath of hope. Give us breath of life. Give us a breath of courage. Breathe upon this second, this hour, this day, this month, this year. Breathe upon us the winds of change, the winds of justice, the winds of peace. Stir within us, the breath of new creation so that all of humanity may know your love. Amen