Category: Examen
Devotion
Centering . . .
What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question?
[A Prairie Home Companion, “Joke Show.” November 1, 2014]
Ponder . . .
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson decide to go on a camping trip. After dinner and a bottle of wine, they lay down for the night, and go to sleep.
Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend.
“Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”
Watson replied, “I see millions of stars.”
“What does that tell you?”
Watson pondered for a minute.
“Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.”
“Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo.”
“Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three.”
“Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful and that we are small and insignificant.”
“Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.”
“What does it tell you, Holmes?”
Holmes was silent for a minute, then spoke: “Watson, you idiot. Someone has stolen our tent!”
[Thomas Cathcart, GoodReads, “Quotes About Sherlock.” http://www.goodreads.com/
Remember . . .
Gracious Lord, we dream of a world free of poverty and oppression, and we yearn for a world free of vengeance and violence. And we pray for Your peace. When our hearts ached for the victims of war and oppression, help us to remember that You healed people simply by touching them. Give us faith in our ability to comfort and heal bodies and minds and spirits that have been broken by violence.
When the injustice of this world seems too much for us to handle, help us remember that Jesus fed five thousand with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Give us hope that what we have to offer will turn out to be enough too.
When fear of the power and opinions of others tempts us not to speak up for the least among us, help us remember that Jesus dared to turn over the tables of moneychangers. Give us the courage to risk following Jesus without counting the cost.
When we feel ourselves fill with anger at those who are violent and oppressive, help us remember that Jesus prayed for those who killed him. Give us compassion for our enemies too.
Give us the miracle of losing a little more of ourselves in serving You, O God, and our neighbors.
Walk with us, Lord, as we answer Your call to be peacemakers. Increase our compassion, our generosity, and our hospitality. Give us the courage, the patience, the serenity, the self-honesty, and the gentleness of spirit that are needed in a world filled with turmoil and terror. Amen.
[Adapted from, “Prayers of the People.” Riverside Church, July 3, 2016]
Devotion
Centering . . .
Ponder . . .
Don’t tug on capes, share them
Shannon Weber decided that there wasn’t enough love, recognition or connection in her world, so she did something about it. When she finds an unsung (don’t say ‘ordinary’ hero) she makes them a cape.
Caping people, catching them doing something right, shining a light on a familiar hero.
It turns out that this is way more difficult than being cynical, or ironic, or bitter. Being closed is a lot easier than being connected. It takes guts.
What kind of impact does one act of kindness make? It can last for years.
Go, cape someone.
[Seth Godin, “Don’t tug on capes, share them.” June 27, 2016]
Remember . . .
A Sending Blessing
It is a strange thing
to be so bound
and so released
all in the same moment,
to feel the heart
open wide
and wider still
even as it turns
to take its leave.
On this day,
let us say
this is simply the way
love moves
in its ceaseless spiraling,
turning us toward
one another,
then sending us
into what waits for us
with arms open wide to us
in welcome
and in hope.
On this day,
in this place
where you have
poured yourself out,
where you have been
emptied
and filled
and emptied again,
may you be aware
more than ever
of what your heart
has opened to
here,
what it has tended
and welcomed
here,
where it has broken
in love and in grief,
where it has given
and received blessing
in the unfathomable mystery
that moves us,
undoes us,
and remakes us
finally
for joy.
This day
may you know
this joy
in full measure.
This day
may you know
this blessing
that gathers you in
and sends you forth
but will not
forget you.
O hear us
as this day
we say
grace;
this day
we say
grateful;
this day
we say
blessing;
this day
we release you
in God’s keeping
and hold you
in gladness
and love.
[Jan Richardson. “This Day We Say Grateful.” June 24, 2016. © Jan Richardson. janrichardson.com.]