Lord, teach me. . . .

  There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand  to someone in the dark.  --Helen Keller   The last time. . . .   When was the last time you set aside some time to spend alone with God? I’m not talking about a few fleeting seconds of pleading for a break, or a cry of desperation during a tough time. No—I mean more than a quick Thank God when something goes your way. If you have those moments regularly (and recognize them as prayer), good for you.   But God desires more. And frankly, you need more. A prayer life that consists of nibbling and noshing, and never settling down for a real meal, can leave our souls feeling malnourished and longing for more .   When was the last time? And—when will be the next time?   Fall is on its way in our part of the world. The weather will soon begin to cool; trees and bushes are cloaking themselves in autumn. Everything seems to whisper of change . What about your spirit? Could you use a lift?

  Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others? –Martin Luther King, Jr.   A great man died recently, and left a legacy that would fill the Grand Canyon, at least. John Lewis, small of stature and big of heart, determined to leave the world a better place than when he arrived, reminded us all not to be afraid to get in good trouble . What he didn’t need to say was, Get in good trouble together . The path we journey in Life is made for companionship. When we sing, it’s the mingling of voices that raises the roof—even as that one beautiful voice rises high above (or bellows deeply below) the rest. When we weep, we find solace and healing in the arms, real or virtual, of a friend. Even when we choose time alone, the Presence of the Holy Spirit makes sure we are never truly by ourselves. This has been a tough season. We have been told not to gather, not to hug— not to sing. We yearn for a physical touch from a friend we no longer see regular

  Oh, we’re halfway there, livin’ on a prayer! Take my hand and we’ll make it—I swear. –Jon Bon Jovi   I have never counted, but “they” say the words fear not or don’t be afraid appear 365 times in the Bible, once for each day of a year. It’s the principle of this idea that I love so much.   All around us, there are folks trying to scare us. Many of them even claim the label Christian (but they’re not following Jesus). Using their bully pulpits, they tell us we shouldn’t trust someone who doesn’t look like them, or talk like them—or believe like they do. They proclaim a god so small (and yes, fearful ) that he could be hurt by a mere human being!   Don’t fall for that garbage. Almighty God will never fit in their teeny tiny box!   In the big picture? There is nothing to be afraid of, because God is still and always in control, even when it doesn’t feel much like it. God has a much longer view of history than we can ever pretend to know. Focusing our lives around G

  Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny. --Steve Maraboli   It’s summer. It’s hot in my part of the world, and crazy weird the world over. This week, I simply want to share a prayer from Charles de Foucauld, and invite you to meditate on the words daily. See what happens in your soul.   Father, I abandon myself into your hands. Do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you; I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, And in all your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord.   Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, For I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself, To surrender myself into your hands without reserve, And with boundless confidence, for you are my Father. Amen   Now pause. Rest. Listen. Give thanks. And—let go. . . .   Monday  Grab a hat and head outdoors. Pause, tip your

Let your days become a fragrant song where heaven and earth continually collide. –John Crowder   Many preachers (including moi) try to preach the lectionary, which is a three-year cycle that helps us to preach a fuller scope of Scripture, rather than returning again and again to our favorite passages. It requires discipline I usually appreciate. Recently, there’s been a focus on Matthew’s parables about the Kingdom of Heaven . The Kingdom of Heaven is like . . . a mustard seed. Yeast. A pearl of great price. Good seed widely sown. All these parables that might not be relevant to us , today, in the western world of the 21 st century. I wonder: are there similes that might work better today? How do you relate to the Kingdom of Heaven? Maybe the Kingdom of Heaven is like kudzu or loosestrife, a crazy invasive weed that takes over entire fields, covering over houses in record time. Beautiful, wild—unpredictable. Maybe even a little frightening.  Or like an ice cream cone on a