How's that again???

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if we can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them. –The Dalai Lama

How’s that again??

Every Sunday, we flock to our churches to hear about ways to make a difference. Various churches offer food collections, prison ministry opportunities and chances to work on Habitat houses—all manner of ways to live into Jesus’ commandment to love one another. But then we go home, turn on the TV or internet, and for the other six days we are painfully reminded of how far we have yet to go:
     
--In the past two weeks, seven predominantly Black churches have been targeted by arsonists in Missouri. This is the second recent wave of church burnings.

--A judge in Denver ordered a rescue mission that serves homeless men closed following a complaint lodged by the local neighborhood association.

--Refugees, from Syria and elsewhere, continue to be turned away as they seek a safer place to raise their families.

Do these events sound like love to you?

Two commandments: Love God; love one another (because God loves you). Every path of faith ascribes to these two basic ideals, especially the part about loving one another. Jesus brought grace and healing to those who desired it. Gandhi practiced radical nonviolence, seeking to heal the greater good. The Bible is filled with history and parable of exiles returning home—and finding welcome, not rejection or hatred.

In our United Methodist baptismal vows, we are expected to order our lives after the example of Christ, that our children might learn to live love. How about you? How about today?

Monday Think today about the ways you serve God through your church. (Sunday worship doesn’t count.) Consider adding something more. John 16:33

Tuesday For a brief time today, watch the news on a channel you normally don’t watch. Listen carefully for the news behind the news. Pray for those who bring the news. Psalm 74:10

Wednesday Today, turn off the news altogether. Look around you. If you were reporting on your neighborhood, what would you say? What is your “lead story”? 2 Chronicles 31:10

Thursday Is there a homeless shelter, mission or refugee center nearby? Consider taking a tour, to put actual faces on the news stories. Pray for wisdom. Nehemiah 1:1-4

Friday When was the last time you thought about your ancestors and their journey to this country? Take time today to refresh your memory of your story—and tell it to another. Listen to their story. Matthew 1:1-17

Saturday Remember those who came before, not just family, but people whose bravery or new way of doing things made your life easier or better today. Give thanks. Hosea 1:10

Sunday The freedom to gather to worship God in the United States is often taken for granted. In China and elsewhere, religious persecution really does exist. Pray for those who have chosen The Way. Learn more. Isaiah 25:1

Our future is either nonviolent or there is no future. –Fr. Richard Rohr OSF

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stepping back. . . .

Image
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and with a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever,  even if your whole world seems upset.  –St. Francis de Sales This week, I invite you to simply sit in a quiet space with words of hope and promise, and to remember, as Julian of Norwich knew, that all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well . It has been a long, difficult season. Advent and the coming of the Christ is just around the corner. Peace and comfort to your spirit. Monday   “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Matthew 11:28-30 Tuesday  “Is this not the kind of fast I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6-9 Wednesday  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the
Read more

It's that time again. . . .

When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised changed, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness?  Whatever it is,  it’s welcome. –Kristin Armstrong No matter what part of the world you call home, this time of year brings big changes. While my friends Down Under are watching sings of new growth emerge from the earth as temperatures rise, here in Ohio, the leaves are turning from green to gold and orange, red and brown. The winds have taken on a chill; clouds hang heavy, like soggy cotton, reminding us that soon and very soon, we are going to see the snow . Always different, yet somehow, the same. We depend on God’s eternal ways, and trust that again this year, winter will follow autumn, just like it should. So why is it, as we anticipate and appreciate changes like these, when it comes to so many things in life we pull up short, wrinkle our noses and say No! No change! I like things just the way they are! It’s t
Read more

Starting again

“This, then, is how you should pray:" --Matthew 6:9a I have been really sensing lately that there is another blog inside me, one focused on prayer.  Oh, I know-- those elephants are all about prayer. Heck, they  are  prayer. And I will continue there, as well. But what I've been feeling is that people-- maybe you--  have always been told, "You should pray," or "Pray about that." But maybe you feel your prayers aren't "good enough," or that it's just too hard, too embarrassing, too [fill in the blank] to pray. Maybe it feels like no one really talks about how  to pray-- except, of course, for Jesus, in Matthew 6 and a couple parallel passages where we are given what's come to be known as The Lord's Prayer. And it is a great prayer. And there are other great prayers, and other ways to pray that do not involve rote. So "my plan" here is to share, hopefully on a weekly or semi-regular basis, a lot of
Read more