Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP 124)

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When I travel, I am fortunate to travel with colleagues most of the time. We enjoy eating dinner together as we discuss the coming day’s meetings and demos.

Last night, however, the meal I shared with a sales executive and our vice president took on a holier tone.

One of the other sales executives in our region lost his 24-year old daughter in a car accident just over a week ago. As he and his family struggle with their grief, our VP has been close by to comfort his longtime friend. The company’s CEO and our President also visited him this week to demonstrate our concern and support for him.

Over dinner last night, our VP spoke about how God has been visibly present in our colleague’s life these past several days. His grief is forging in him a new resolve to make a difference, and his sense of God’s presence gives him hope that he can endure and honor his daughter’s memory.

The circle of light over our dinner table, the low murmur of our voices as we talked, might just as well have been a candlelit church filled with the sound of praying.

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Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen. (BCP 124)