Simply Soul Searching
HOW IS GOD LOVING ME – AND WHERE IS GOD LEADING ME?
A REASON TO SENSE, A REASON TO SHINE
CHRISTMAS DAY, December 25th
(All the Senses of the Season)
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. ~ Luke 2:8-20 (NRSV)
Happy Christmas! On this day, A Season to Sense, A Season to Shine becomes A Reason to Sense, A Reason to Shine! Jesus is born – and born anew in our hearts. May we continue to keep our senses in tune and attentive to the presence of Christ. May we continue to absorb his goodness and shine with the light of his love – through all of our days to come.
Welcome, dear Jesus. Welcome.
A Reason to Sense…
Infinite and present God, help us…
to watch over your sheep
to hear the voices of angels in the night
to savor the scent of humble love
to treasure and to tell the story
to hold Jesus forever in our hearts.
A Reason to Shine…
Infinite and present Christ Jesus,
help us to become…
guiding beacons of your hope
gentle rays of your peace
glistening sparks of your joy
glowing embers of your love.
Amen and amen.
Photo by Dan Kiefer on Unsplash
Bible verses found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
20. TOUCH WITH HEALING LOVE
Friday, December 24th (Christmas Eve)
(HANDS)
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. ~ Mark 9:27 (NRSV)
He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ~ Matthew 8:3 (NRSV)
He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. ~ Matthew 8:15 (NRSV)
No other form of communication is as universally understood as touch. The compassionate touch of a hand or a reassuring hug can take away our fears, soothe our anxieties, and fill the emptiness of being lonely.
~ Randi G. Fine
We are nearly to the end of our Advent journey, approaching the humble manger on this Christmas Eve. Our Advent invitation for this holy and precious time is to touch with healing love. This invitation feels especially dear as we continue to deal with the ongoing pandemic, doesn’t it? Even those of us who are fully vaccinated may be hesitant to touch or draw close to others as the contagion evolves and continues. We especially long for and need the healing touch of Jesus when our fear, grief, weariness, loneliness, heartache, or disappointment come upon us during these times.
And Jesus comes! He comes to touch, to hold, and to heal. He comes, in our best of times and in our worst. He comes, in spite of our circumstances and because of them. His healing touch is for everyone; for the child with seizures, for the suffering leper, for the fevered mother-in-law, and for all of us. Jesus answers every prayer with, “I do choose!” He wants to touch us with his healing love.
On this Christmas Eve, we can know and trust that even as we do not feel his physical touch, we DO feel his loving presence with us. We sense his guiding nudge, his warm embrace, his tender caress, and his comforting nearness through his Spirit and through those around us. We can feel his companionship and healing love through all of our days, here and now. Jesus comes – and Jesus remains!
And we can do the same. Even when we may need to refrain from physical nearness, we can still touch others with the loving and healing presence of Christ. We can comfort with words of consolation, we can uplift with gifts that brighten spirits, we can tend with pots of warm soup, we can guide with notes of encouragement. We can be the healing touch of Christ for these trying times and weary people.
Touch. Where do you most need Jesus’s loving touch? Who may need the loving touch of Christ from you today?
Today, may we deeply sense the healing power of the love of Christ, the power that began with tiny, delicate, healing, human hands. May we glow with his love while we reach out to all who need a healing touch today.
And as we come to the end of our Advent journey, may we fully embrace this infant Jesus and hold him close for all eternity.
Prayer: Loving and healing God, through our dear Jesus, you chose to come low and live among and within us. You know our every pain and heartache, so you know best how to help and heal us through every trial. Thank you for coming and for your healing touch in my life. Guide and help me to be your loving presence, your healing touch, for all who long for relief, peace, comfort, or companionship. I DO choose! Amen.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Bible verses found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
19. TURN WITH DEFIANT LOVE
Thursday, December 23rd
(NOSE – CHEEK)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. ~ Matthew 5:38-42 (NRSV)
Turning the other cheek isn’t submissive. It’s defiant. ~ Roy H. Williams
Love people who hate you. Pray for people who have wronged you. It won’t just change their life…it’ll change yours. ~ Mandy Hale (The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass)
Our Advent invitation today is to once again turn our noses, but this time we turn our noses by offering our cheeks and lifting our chins with defiant love. I don’t generally link “defiant” with “love”, but this post took on new meaning when I found this profound and beautiful poem:
Who’s the saint, who’s the tyrant,
Is not determined by the show of strength.
Real mark of human character,
Lies in your gentleness radiant.
The strongest souls on earth,
Keep their strength hidden unless needed,
Whereas the shallow and the entitled,
Walk around trotting over the hearts of the helpless.
Turning the other cheek to the oppressor,
May work in a world of fairies.
In our primitive world of organic apes,
Turning the other cheek means aiding inhumanities.
Love is the only answer, there is no question,
But it is a lover’s duty to stand up to oppression.
~ Abhijit Naskar
(Giants in Jeans: 100 Sonnets of United Earth)
“The strongest souls on earth keep their strength hidden unless needed…” Jesus demonstrated the incredible strength of his love through his acts of radical defiance against injustice, hypocrisy, oppression, greed, and even death. What seemed to be acts of submission or surrender were truly his most defiant acts against the evils of the world:
~ After his arrest, Jesus stood before the high priest and council. According to Mark’s account, when Jesus was questioned, there were no “buts” or protests or arguments, but only silence and facts. He defied their malicious interrogation by initially remaining silent and then speaking only a few words of truth (Mark 14: 53-62).
~ We are told that as Jesus agonized in Gethsemane, he asked God to “remove this cup” of pain and suffering he knew was coming. But we see the deep love in the strength of his surrender as he continued, “but not what I want, but what you want” (Mark 14:32-36).
~ Finally, through his greatest act of defiant love, Jesus asked God to “forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” (Luke 23:33-34) as he was dying on the cross!
These acts of defiant love, shown through what we would normally regard as weakness or surrender, have drawn us to love and follow Christ Jesus all these years later.
We love defiantly when we turn our cheeks – to return forgiveness for hurtful wounds, silence for stinging remarks, truth for accusations. We love defiantly when we humbly choose to be the first to initiate reconciliation, the first to apologize, the first to break through the barriers of pride and stubbornness. Our strength of integrity and character are demonstrated each time we turn the other cheek, each time we hold our chins up and our heads high, standing in the strength and integrity of Christ.
But the poem also warns us of those times when “turning the other cheek means aiding inhumanities.” We must be mindful that we are not turning the other cheek to cower in fear, or to back away in defeat, or to ignore in denial. Our acts of submission must be acts of love that confront and address. Defiant love is to shine our gentleness radiant while standing up against oppression and injustice for those who cannot. Defiant love is to do what is right for the sake of Christ – in defiance of what others think or perceive.
Turn. Where might we turn our nose, offer our cheek, and lift our chin, as we defiantly return goodness against all inhumanities?
Prayer: God, this defiant love seems so difficult, so contrary to my natural inclinations and reactions. Today, let me glow with your defiant love. Show me how and where to turn in defiance, so that I may stand against all that is wrong or hurtful – while shining your love with gentleness radiant. Amen.
Photo by Weston MacKinnon on Unsplash (cropped by Karen)
Bible verses found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
18. GUARD WITH GENTLE LOVE
Wednesday, December 22nd
(MOUTH)
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
~ Psalm 141:3 (NRSV)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
~ Psalm 19: 14 (NRSV)
The true test of a man’s spirituality is not his ability to speak, as we are apt to think, but rather his ability to bridle his tongue. ~ R. Kent Hughes
Better a little caution than a great regret. ~ unknown
“You have the right to remain silent…” These are the familiar words of the Miranda warning, the first words an officer is to say when making an arrest. Accused suspects are warned to be mindful of their words, that they may not later regret what they have said. Today we are cautioned to do the same; to keep from saying words that we will later regret. We are invited to choose the words that are more loving – and to choose to remain silent when those words won’t come. We demonstrate gentle love when we share gracious words but also when we refrain from spewing hurtful ones.
It seems we have a natural tendency to recall negative words more than positive ones. As I was researching information for this post, I found that anywhere from two to seven positive words are needed to negate or soften negative words. Coach Dave at Lifesource Coaches explains:
Neuroscience is now teaching us that when we face criticism, rejection or fear, when we feel marginalized or minimized, our bodies produce higher levels of cortisol, a hormone triggered by the hypothalamus causing a fight or flight reaction. Cortisol shuts down our reasoning ability and can cause us to either freeze or appease” according to Dr. Richard and Judith Glasser of The CreatingWE Institute (HBR June 2014). On the other hand, positive comments and conversations produce a chemical reaction too. They stir the production of oxytocin impacting our prefrontal cortex. This feel-good hormone elevates our ability to communicate, collaborate and trust others. Yet, because oxytocin metabolizes more quickly than cortisol, its effects are less powerful and long-lasting. That’s why it takes more positive conversation to overcome the chemical reactions of a negative one.1
Today, may we be aware of the power of negative words; may we be mindful to use our mouths only to bless. May we guard our words and “bite our tongues” before we say hurtful things. May we bear in mind the THINK acronym and discern whether our words are True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind before we allow them to pass from our mouths. May we continue to glow with steadfast love through the words we say – and the words we swallow.
Guard. How will you choose your words and your silences to be more loving today?
Prayer: Guiding and guarding God, I ask that you especially guide and guard my words today. May I say only words that are pleasing to you and uplifting for others. I also ask that you keep me mindful of the words I may say to my inner self. May your loving presence fill me with every good word and thought, that I may glow with gentle love within and without. Amen.
1http://www.lifesourcecoaches.com/chemistry-of-leadership/
Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash
Bible verses found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
17. LISTEN WITH UNDERSTANDING LOVE
Tuesday, December 21st
(EARS)
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. ~ Philippians 2:1-4 (NRSV)
Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
~ 1 Peter 3:8 (NRSV)
Deep listening is the kind of listening that can help relieve the suffering of another person. You can call it compassionate listening. You listen with only one purpose: to help him or her empty his heart. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self. ~ Dean Jackson
At age 96, my mom is doing remarkably well, but she struggles with memory loss. This is difficult for her because her memory is good enough to realize that she has forgotten something. When she expresses her annoyance and frustration, I usually try to encourage her. I assure her that she is doing very well, and that we understand that this just happens as we age (I share that I have forgetful moments, too). But one day, as she was lamenting her recent forgetfulness, I replied, “That must be so frustrating!” Her eyes widened, and she sat up straighter in her chair as she replied, “It IS!” She looked so relieved, so grateful that this time I had heard her, that I didn’t discount her feelings but truly understood and accepted them.
Today, our Advent invitation is to listen well – to listen with empathy and understanding. May we remember to use our ears, perhaps more than our mouths, as we listen for the deeper meanings and the unspoken feelings. May we set aside our need to respond, react, or reply until we have fully received and understood the message. May we listen with understanding love.
Understand. Who may need you to truly and lovingly listen today?
Prayer: Listening God, you always hear our true intentions, our deeper meanings, our genuine desires. Open my ears and my heart to listen and to clarify so that I listen well. Keep me from making someone’s story mine, keep me from assuming or perceiving incorrectly, keep me from jumping to conclusions or remedies or reactions. Help me to listen well. Amen.
Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
Bible verses found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
16. WEEP WITH COMPASSIONATE LOVE
Monday, December 20th
(EYES)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NRSV)
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. ~ Colossians 3:12 (NRSV)
Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears. Compassion requires us to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable, and powerless with the powerless. Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human. ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
Our Advent invitation for today is a reminder to be attentive to those who are hurting and who need our compassion. We may not have the opportunity or circumstance to actually weep with compassion today, but we can be mindful to see others with care and concern, to notice someone who is quietly hurting, and to love them with compassion. Let’s be attentive to any prompting of the Spirit and to the needs of others – so that we do not miss a moment in which we might bless.
Tears can make us uncomfortable, can’t they? When I encounter someone crying, my first reaction is to help them stop. At times I try to encourage and uplift them, at times I try to comfort them, and at times I even try to get them to smile or laugh. These can all be helpful acts of kindness and love. But I will always treasure those times when a dear one came alongside to cry with me and for me. There is deep consolation in knowing one’s grief and sadness are shared and deeply felt by another.
I know of two times in which the Bible records that Jesus wept. Jesus cried when his friend Lazarus died, even when he knew that he would make him live again (John 11:33-36). Jesus also cried over Jerusalem, feeling sadness and compassion for the people who did not recognize “the things that make for peace” and who would soon turn against him (Luke 19:41-42). Even in his fear and frustration, Jesus wept with compassion for the people he loved.
Today, let’s be mindful to love with concern, comfort, and consolation. Let’s be mindful to love with compassion, to share in the grief and sorrow; to help others know that they are not alone in their sadness. May our tears become tender and visible acts of genuine, compassionate love for those who are in need.
Weep. Who needs our tears of loving compassion today?
Prayer: Compassionate God, through the life and the tears of Jesus, you have shown us how deeply you love and care for us. Open my eyes today to notice those who need tender care, to weep with those who grieve, and to seek your loving, compassionate presence in every moment. May I continue to glow with your steadfast love as I live and serve today. Amen
Photo by Külli Kittus on Unsplash
Bible verses found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
WEEK FOUR: EMBERS OF ADVENT LOVE
Sunday, December 12th
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends… ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NRSV)
Let all that you do be done in love. ~ 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NRSV)
Light the four candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.
~ Psalm 26:1-3 (NRSV)
I grew up near Toledo, Ohio, within about an hour’s drive from Lake Erie. On hot summer days, my parents would sometimes take our family to the beach for a cookout and swim time. My dad would grill burgers or hot dogs over a charcoal fire, but with all of us gathered at the picnic table impatiently waiting for our lunch, he would often grill while the coals were still flaming hot, before they had settled to a more constant, radiant heat. In later years, my siblings and I would laughingly recall how he would often say – a few hours after we had eaten – “The coals are just right for grilling now.”
This week we will be mindful to glow with embers of Advent Love that God shares with us through Christ. As the Psalm describes, God’s love is a steadfast love, one that is steady, true, unwavering, unchanging. That is our invitation for this week, to live with a love that is steady and true. We are called to live in a love that remains constant and unwavering even when we are challenged by trying times or testy people. We are called to live with that same steadfast love that is even-tempered; a love that is patient and kind… a love that bears all things… a love that never ends. There are times when our love can be demonstrated with unwavering mercy, compassion, and forgiveness, even when it is necessary for us to keep our distance, set boundaries, or stand for justice.
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. ~ John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
Light the Christ candle.
Just before Jesus gave this new commandment to love one another, he washed his disciples’ feet – including the feet of Judas, the one who was to betray him. His love was the steadfast love of God, a love that continued to serve in humility and compassion, even in desperate times. This week, may we follow his example, as we absorb his abiding and ever-present love, then share that love with others. May we glow as loving embers of Christ, radiating his love with warmth and light that is steadfast and constant.
Listen with ears of tolerance; see through eyes of compassion; speak with the language of love. ~ Rumi
How will we glow with the steadfast love of Christ this week? Let’s use our senses more fully to seek and receive his love all around us. Let’s allow his love to mellow within us; allow his love to mature and refine ours. May we become his embers of love for everyone we encounter.
A Definition Prayer of Love
God-With-Us,
Empty my heart with your love, so that I may yearn for you with a deep desire and holy longing.
Expand my heart with your love, so that I may care for others with sincere affection and kind endearment.
Ease my heart with your love, so that I may heal the world with soothing tenderness and comforting warmth.
Enlarge my heart with your love, so that I may praise you with full adoration and genuine worship.
Amen.
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
15. CLAP WITH APPRECIATIVE JOY
Friday, December 17th
(HANDS)
Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with loud songs of joy.
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.
Psalm 47:1-2 (NRSV)
For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12 (NRSV)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands… ~ Well-known children’s song
Applause is not opinion. Applause is a feeling of love for the artist. ~ Vaslav Nijinsky
I have attended a few worship services in which clapping has been discouraged. The intention is that the musicians and speakers are not performing but using their gifts to praise and serve God. They want the gratitude and glory to go to God, not to them. But oh my, there have been times when a certain song or message has overwhelmed the listeners with joy and awe, and everyone has spontaneously applauded. Joy is difficult to contain! And I imagine God loves to see and hear our “inappropriate” joy, don’t you?
There have been times when I have clapped my hands, not to applaud a performance, but simply out of the sheer joy of the moment. I have clapped when movie heroes appeared, after reading a happy ending to a book, as I stood before glorious sunsets, upon hearing good news, at the presence of dear ones at our door, when reaching the summit of a hiking hill. Each time, my impromptu applause broke out because I had been overwhelmed with the joy of excitement, awe, wonder, or relief!
Today we are invited to use our hands to clap for joy, to praise and thank God, and to share a “feeling of love for the artist,” as Vaslav Nijinsky says. Let’s be mindful to notice the miracle in the moments, to appreciate something that we might normally take for granted or let go unnoticed. Let’s display our exuberance for God’s incredible goodness as we shine with joy, as we stand in awe, as we applaud with deep gratitude! Let’s clap with that feeling of deep love for the artist, our Artist, who has created all good things for us to appreciate and enjoy.
Applaud. Where will you behold the goodness of God today and clap with joy and love?
Prayer: God, you are our source of deepest joy, you are the creator of all that is good. May I especially feel overwhelmed by the joy of knowing and loving YOU this day. May my spirit and my heart break out with gleeful and joyful applause even for the gift of life itself. Thank you, God, for your exuberant joy that uplifts and surprises. May the joy you bring within me keep sparking joy for others, too. Amen.
Photo by Guillermo Latorre on Unsplash
Bible verses found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
14. SPREAD THE FRAGRANT JOY
Thursday, December 16th
(NOSE)
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (NRSV)
When the petals of the heart unfold fragrance spreads across the valley. ~ Amit Ray
Among the most joyful people I have known have been some who seem to have had no human reason for joy. The sweet fragrance of Christ has shown through their lives. ~ Elizabeth Elliot
Today we are invited to breathe in the aroma of Christ and become that aroma for others. Just for fun, let’s take a moment to imagine what the aroma of Christ might smell like. As we think about the realities of Jesus’s life, perhaps we should include the smells of dusty feet and strong sweat that come from walking, working, and serving! But today, could his loving and abiding presence be like the warm, gentle scent of a wax candle burning? The sweet aroma of sugar cookies baking? The delightful fragrance of lovely flowers unfolding? The crisp clean sense of fresh air blowing?
Can you feel the joy welling up inside as you imagine these scents? These fragrant smells can remind us of special people or places, delightful memories, and significant moments, too. For example, I love the scent of a certain hand cream just because my dear grandmother used it. The musty smell of old books brings happy thoughts of reading and exploring library shelves. The waxy smell of a newly opened box of crayons reminds me of my excitement for a new school year. The soft, warm scent of a candle burning creates an atmosphere of coziness and sacredness to our home.
How might we remain mindful of being and sharing the aroma of Christ today? Perhaps we can light some incense, or put on our favorite fragrance, or set out some essential oils. We might be mindful while we are baking sweet treats, simmering spicy soups, or laundering with freshly scented detergent. We might breathe in the warm smell of a fire burning, or the crisp, clear air of a new snowfall.
Let’s notice and appreciate the scents we encounter as we go through our day, letting them remind us of the fragrant love of Christ that brings our joy. Let’s become like that fragrant love in delightful ways with those near and dear to us, too. The quote by Amit Ray is a good one for us to keep in mind, that as “the petals of the heart unfold fragrance spreads…” How might we gently open our hearts in new ways, so that the joyful fragrance of Christ may be released?
Absorb. What scents will remind you of the joy of Christ today?
Prayer: Joy-giving God, thank you for your fragrant presence in my life. Let me become your joyful presence by opening my heart to you and to those around me. May I breathe in your goodness while spreading your joy with delightful moments throughout this day. Amen
Photo by James Lee on Unsplash
Bible verses found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
13. TASTE THE FLAVORFUL JOY
Wednesday, December 15th
(MOUTH)
I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.
The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,
for those who fear him have no want.
The young lions suffer want and hunger,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:4-10 (NRSV)
Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart;
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.
Jeremiah 15:16 (NRSV)
The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
What are some of the tastes that bring you joy? The tastes that come to my mind are a mug of hot hazelnut coffee early in the morning; a pint of fresh strawberries from a roadside stand in early summer; a handful of salty cashews and a glass of sparkling water as my afternoon snack; our favorite taco soup recipe on a cool autumn day; and my once-a-year sweet treat: frosted cut-out cookies at Christmastime! These delicious tastes, along with the special moments, bring me such inner contentment and joy.
I lost my sense of taste in the later months of my chemotherapy. The lack of taste didn’t affect me as much as the sudden awareness and prominence of the textures of foods! When the taste is lacking, the texture really overwhelms, and I could barely swallow some foods that felt rubbery or lumpy. I needed to keep up my strength and health, so I ate solely to nourish my body, finding no pleasure in doing so.
Life without the taste of joy can feel like that. We may go on surviving, tending, or maintaining, but we receive no enjoyment or pleasure. The tastes of life – sweet relationships, refreshing experiences, satisfying purposes – are diminished, while the textures of life – mundane tasks, tedious chores, burdensome responsibilities – become difficult to swallow. We may go through the motions of the day, unable to find the meaning or the mission in them, unable to find the purposes and promises that bring us joy in doing them.
Today we are invited to “taste and see” the goodness of the Lord. Jesus comes to give us life that is rich, full, and satisfying. He comes, not just to sustain but to season our lives. He comes, not just to help us survive, but to help us savor our days. And we can taste the goodness of God in Christ through absorbing his wonderful presence in the word, in the bread and wine, in the sharing of community, and most of all, in his Spirit that dwells within us. The inner joy of Christ can bring taste to the textures of our days.*
Taste. How might God in Christ flavor your day today?
Prayer: Loving God, in Christ you long to give us abundant life; a life that is meant to be savored and relished. Help me to turn to you when my soul is lacking, that you may supply your joy – and restore mine. Thank you for all the ways you have brought zest, flavor, and richness to my life. Today, as I eat and drink, let me be mindful of your sweet joy. Let me also be mindful of those who may not be experiencing your joy today and show me how to help. Amen.
*As i write this, I am mindful of the realities of deep discouragement or depression, of terrible hardship or grief, of physical or mental illness. There are times when “the joy of the Lord” will be difficult to find or feel; times when we will benefit from medicines, therapies, counseling, and other sources of help. Jesus has known anxiety, grief, and weariness, too. You may find comfort in reading about Jesus at this beautiful site, https://hegetsus.com/.
Photo by Anna Kumpan on Unsplash
Bible verses found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Simply Soul Searching 