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.