A Call to Lament: Memorial Day Lessons

Authenticity

It's one of my most important core values.

But on that day, I felt like an imposter showing up to teach my Soul Flow class. 

As a yoga teacher, I often feel like I need to bring inspiration, but sometimes there are just no words.

I was distraught by the news of another fatal school shooting in Uvalde, Texas and the senseless loss of 19 innocent students and two teachers.

I wondered if I might transmit my own pain rather than be a conduit for God’s transformative power through our individual tears and sorrow.

Have you ever felt that way as a yoga teacher?

Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when he said,

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.  The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.” Matthew 6:6  from The Message

Jesus demonstrated a consistent practice of showing up simply and authentically before the Father through prayer and meditation.

In Hebrews 5:7, we discover that Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane was deeply honest: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”

How do we live the tension between suffering and joy, weeping and laughter, death and life?

Much like in the practice of Yin Yoga, we experience both the tension of our growth in the longer holds, while letting go to time and gravity.

It is at this place where we begin to sense God's grace.

Consider lament, a form of ancient Christian prayer meditation.

In the middle of the Bible is a prayer book called The Psalms. It is there to teach us how to pray.

Did you know that over two-thirds of the Psalms are prayers of lament?

These prayers of lament are a meditation and placeholder for venting anger and rage, disillusionment and confusion. The ancient writer asks questions and exhales frustrated longing to God.

Yet as you read the Psalms meditations, they are spoken words of worship, not whining cries. 

Dan Allender writes, “Lament cuts through insecurity, strips pretense, and reveals the raw nerve of trust that angrily approaches the throne of grace and then kneels in awed, robust wonder.”

In laments, we cry out our story and our sadness. 

Like the father of the son brought to Jesus for healing, we claim, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”

Lament isn’t the only answer, nor is it the final word. But it is an important and necessary step to finding healing – individually, as a church, as a nation, and as the people of God.

It’s time all of us stop pretending and start living authentically and honestly.

Jesus wept. You can too. If you need someone to weep with you, He’s there.

So am I. 

Today I invite you to a free 40 minute yin practice. 

It is my hope that you take this opportunity to enter into the tension of the physical holds.

In this yoga Christian practice receive the invitation to weep, release, practice compassion, receive grace, and let your compassion move you to action to act on God’s behalf off the mat and into your life.

Call on Christ in this breath prayer meditation:

Inhale - Lord I believe

Exhale - Help my unbelief

Welcome

Simply click on the play button below.