Hello, Bridgetown Church. In those of you online, my name is Bethany Allen, and this is the

Bridgetown Daily for Friday, June 12. This week, we've been leaning into the space

of lament. And while this is an ancient practice, it is one that for the most part, both our

Western world and Christian tradition has failed to truly integrate into our lives and

spiritual rhythms. And we've never felt that more acutely than in our present moment.

Today is Friday, and for me, it is my Sabbath. It is the day I set aside every week to stop my work

and to embrace the rhythm of rest and play and worship. But this week, it will look a little different.

Today, I will lament. And while to some that may seem contrary to rest, what I am learning

now more than ever is that you can't really have one without the other. To lament is to give

your whole heart, pain, loss, disappointment and confusion to God, to come into his presence and

ask him to do something about it. It is a space we set aside for both petition and grief,

but also for the acknowledgement of the reality of the suffering and pain around us.

Biblically, and even psychologically speaking, lament is a layered reality. As much as it is the

place for petition, it is also a space for God's spirit to move, to confront, to convict,

and to heal us from behaviors that are motivated by our fear and self-protection.

Lament is where we are moved to release our attempt to control or no outcomes,

and instead relax into the reality of both God's goodness and His faithfulness.

To be clear, the heart or essence of lament is not catharsis or healing or self-actualization,

but instead it is a call to bring your presence to the present. And that is and will be impossible

without rest. If we are going to engage fully in this moment, in this season of lament, we will

have to bring our mind and body and soul to a place of rest. Just as it is with any other discipline

or practice, in order to fully give honor to the work that the spirit is doing in and through us,

...