Daily Devotions
Meditation, Prayers, and Assorted Stuff for June 16, 2020
Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, “Doing Love”
Often we speak about love as if it were a feeling. But if we wait for a feeling of love before loving, we may never learn to love well. The feeling of love is beautiful and life-giving, but our loving cannot be based in that feeling. To love is to think, speak, and act according to the spiritual knowledge that we are infinitely loved by God and called to make that love visible in this world.
Mostly we know what the loving thing to do is. When we “do” love, even if others are not able to respond with love, we will discover that our feelings catch up with our acts.
Today’s prayers by Michael Quoist is part of a much longer prayer called, “I spoke, Lord.”
Speech, Lord, is a gift, and I have no right to be quiet through pride, cowardice, negligence or apathy.
Others have a right to my words, to my soul, For I have a message from you to give them, And none other than I, Lord, can give it to them. I have something to say—short perhaps, but welling up from my life—from which I cannot turn. But my words must be true words. It would be a breach of trust to seek the attention of another, and under the cover of words not to reveal the truth of the soul. The words that I pour out must be living words, full of the mysteries that my unique soul has grasped, mysteries of the world and of people. The words that I speak must be conveyors of God, for the lips that you have given me, Lord, are made to reveal my soul, and my soul knows you and holds you close.
Forgive me, Lord, for having spoken so badly, Forgive me for having spoken often to no purpose; Forgive me for the days when I tarnished my lips with hollow words, false words, cowardly words, words through which you could not pass. Uphold me when I must speak in a meeting, intervene in a discussion, talk with a sister or brother. Grant above all, Lord, that my words may be like the sowing of seeds, And that those who hear them may look to a fine harvest. Amen.
Dad Jokes:
I’m terrified of elevators. I’m going to start taking steps to avoid them.
Why did the boy smear peanut butter on the road? To go with the traffic jam.
The fattest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Circumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
Today’s links!
https://www.change.org/p/tennessee-state-house-replace-all-confederate-statues-in-tennessee-with-dolly-partonIn these times of disagreement and division, here’s something the whole country can get behind: a Tennessee petition to replace the statues of all Confederate generals with likenesses of Dolly Parton. The petition is here; get more background information here.https://www.upworthy.com/theres-a-movement-in-tennessee-to-replace-confederate-monuments-with-statues-of-dolly-parton
https://www.upworthy.com/an-engineer-came-up-with-a-way-to-make-ventilators-affordableRead about the engineer who came up with a way to manufacture ventilators for 93% less.
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/pandemic-of-love-connects-people-in-need-with-those-who-can-help/ A new website called, “Pandemic of Love” has connected 132,000 people in need of aide with those who can help.
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/drones-will-drop-library-books-for-kids-in-virginia/ Thanks to a librarian’s bright idea, drones will drop library books so kids in Virginia can keep reading.
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/worlds-first-bios-park-for-cremated-remains/You know that relative you think is for the birds? Now, thanks to this “Bios Park,” his or her ashes can be buried so that they grow into trees those birds can perch in.
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/103-year-old-grandma-celebrates-covid-recovery-with-bud-light/Could she be from New Athens? This feisty 103-year-old grandmother celebrated her recovery from COVID-19 by drinking an ice-cold Bud Light.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQcLgAqBanc Finally, enjoy this video of Bruce Springsteen and the Dropkick Murphys singing, “American Land.” (Warning: The Intro to the video has some blue language, but song is great.)
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Sunday worship at 9 AM, with “Doughnut room” time starting at 8:30 AM. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/815064120, Meeting ID: 815 064 120 Dial in to participate at +1 312 626 6799.
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Copies of “Our Daily Bread” have arrived in the church office. Feel free to stop by and pick up a copy, or help distribute them to others.
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Don’t forget communion at Zoom church on July 12! Stop by the church office to get a prefilled cup and wafer set. Help distributing them is much appreciated as well.
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Stay safe and stay well!