Simply Soul Searching

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Friday, March 26th

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
Hebrews 4:14 (NRSV)

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering,
for he who has promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 (NRSV)

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going…”*

This well-known expression has been said during challenging times to inspire and encourage people to keep trying, to not give up, and to remain tough. At the time this letter to the Hebrew people was written, Jewish Christians were being badly persecuted for their faith; the going WAS incredibly tough. But instead of imploring them to remain tough and keep up the fight, here the writer encourages the Hebrews to hold fast to their confession.

In fact, earlier in chapter 4, he is calling the people to keep the practice of sabbath rest – to cease from their labors and enter into the rest of God. He reminds them that the practice of sabbath rest is a sample of the eternal rest in the goodness of God they will enjoy one day. These are great words of comfort and hope for those who were facing hardship, persecution, and even death because of their faith.

When do we need to hold fast to our confession? I find it easy to confess my faith through my written or spoken words when life is good, when I am among like-minded people, when blessings abound. But if trials come, or my faith and integrity are challenged, or if I were to be criticized or threatened (as the Hebrews were), I need to hold fast to that confession. I must cling to my faith as my stronghold and rest in the goodness of God.

Imagine ourselves floundering in a sea of trouble. We may thrash, yell, swim, tread water, fall below the surface, gulp for air, struggle, become exhausted. Jesus offers us his life-saving help, reaching out and calling us to take his hand. As soon as we take hold, we can stop floundering and rest. We allow Jesus to pull us closer, out of the waters, into his arms. Every morning during a particularly difficult time in my life, I sat on the edge of my bed, held out my hand, and asked Jesus to hold it and go with me through the day. That ‘holding fast’ helped me to cope and to hope.

If we read on in chapter 4, we are assured that we can come with boldness to the One who has ‘passed through the heavens’ and has experienced and endured as much or more than we ever will. We can rest in the One who sympathizes with our weaknesses and showers upon us mercy and grace to help in (our) time of need. Christ Jesus knows and understands our struggles very well. And he reaches out his hand and invites us to hold it fast.

~~~~~

May we hold fast to our confession of everything we know of Jesus and need of him – especially our love for him, and his for us. He who has promised is faithful. In him, we have our stronghold for every trial.

~~~~~

There will be a daily devotional for all of Holy Week. Our reading for Palm Sunday will be Luke 19:35-42.

*The original quote has been attributed to several people, including John F. Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy, and Knute Rockne.

Photo by Roan Lavery on Unsplash

Bible verses found at https://classic.biblegateway.com

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Thursday, March 25th

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
1 John 3:18 (NSRV)

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God;
everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7 (NRSV)

Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 (NRSV)

Very early in our relationship, I knew I had deep feelings for Jim but I was nervous about sharing them with him, wondering how he would react. But one day I was overwhelmed with affection, and I asked him, “Is it okay if I love you a little bit?”

Our spiritual invitation today is to Let us love. We are called to love others with an agape love, a love that is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return.¹

Maybe the secret to loving greatly is by loving in little bits. Jesus loved the world, but most often he reached out with love to one person at a time. I found some thoughts on agape love that speak to this idea of loving in small ways…

~ “Agape’s object is always the concrete individual, not some abstraction called humanity. Love of humanity does not surprise you with inconvenient demands. You never find humanity on your doorstep, stinking and begging.” ― Peter Kreeft, ‘Love’, ‘Fundamentals of the Faith: Essays in Christian Apologetics’, 1988.  

Isn’t this so true? Oh, we can sincerely pray for, care about, and suffer with all of humanity. But loving the individual is more difficult, more demanding of us. We grieve for the two million people worldwide who have died from this pandemic, but our grief becomes raw when we hear the personal stories of victims or lose a loved one ourselves. We donate to World Hunger, but hesitate to feed the man on the street corner. I speak and write to support LGTBQ students, but I hesitate to offer a much-needed support group for them. Loving others on a personal level requires more of us.

~ “Just as God, above all, is free of every need and self-interest, the spiritual man who has the Spirit struggles and becomes perfected in the love according to Christ, love that is delivered of all need and self-interest.” ― John Romanides.

Loving generously comes easily when we hope to be loved in return. Our loving acts may even be an effort to persuade someone to like us or do something for us. When we love others with agape love, we love with no expectation, no self-interest. We then love better, because we can love with the right amount of love to make good differences in the lives of others. We love best when we can reach out but also know when to leave alone. Help but not enable. Care but not smother. Raise up and let go. We love with a selfless love that is not about us, but genuinely about the good of others.

 “Agape doesn’t love somebody because they’re worthy. Agape makes them worthy by the strength and power of its love. Agape doesn’t love somebody because they’re beautiful. Agape loves in such a way that it makes them beautiful.” ― Rob Bell.

There are people we find so easy to love, and there are those we find difficult to love, even a little bit. We are called to love the undeserving, the difficult, the enemy, the one who hates us. These are the ones we try to convince ourselves, “don’t even matter to us.” They matter to God. They matter to God as much as we matter to God. We learn to love them with agape love, when we realize that we are “little bits” greatly loved by God, too. God’s love is what makes us worthy and beautiful. Sharing God’s love will offer the same for others.

~~~~~

May we remember all the ways Jesus has loved us greatly, by loving us with every little bit. May we then share that love with everyone – individually, selflessly, and graciously.

~~~~~

Our reading for tomorrow will be Hebrews 4:14 and 10:23.

¹What Does Agape Love Really Mean in the Bible? (christianity.com)

Quotes found at 30+ Best Agape Love Quotes About Unconditional Love by Kidadl

Photo by Will O on Unsplash

Bible verses found at https://classic.biblegateway.com

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Wednesday, March 24th

Read Galatians 6:7-9.

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right,
for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (NRSV)

Sydney Harris was my favorite newspaper columnist when I was a young adult. I have an old book that contains the best of his “Strictly Personal” columns, but I treasure one particular story:

“I walked with my friend, a Quaker, to the newsstand the other night, and he bought a paper, thanking the newsie politely. The newsie didn’t even acknowledge it.
“A sullen fellow, isn’t he? I commented. “Oh, he’s that way every night,” shrugged my friend. “Then why do you continue being polite to him?” I asked. “Why not?” inquired my friend. “Why should I let him decide how I’m going to act?”
As I thought about this little incident later, it occurred to me that the operating word was “act.” My friend acts toward people; most of us react toward them. He has a sense of inner balance lacking in most of us frail and uncertain creatures: he knows who he is, what he stands for, and how he should behave…¹

I imagine we have all asked ourselves at least once, “Why do I even bother?” We enthusiastically teach a class, then at the end of the year discover how little the students learned (or cared). We keep offering to help a neighbor, but our help is never accepted. We ask for forgiveness but receive only silence. We long to befriend someone but it is not returned. We clean up trash along our road, but soon more trash reappears. We do our best to bring good to our corner of the world, but see no lasting results. Are we making any difference at all?

But Jim has a similar story with a different ending. On his early morning walks, he greets a gentleman who sits in the low light of dawn to have a cigarette. For over a year, the man had never replied, but Jim continued to be friendly. Then one day, the man returned the greeting! Since then, the gentleman has introduced himself – and his wife – to both of us! A new friendship has been formed.

Let us not grow weary in doing what is right. Let us keep doing all the good and right things we can, leaving the results to God. Let us keep doing what is right through our calling and our desire to become more Christlike – even if for that reason alone. We may never know what good might come when we do what is right, but we are blessed in the doing, in the integrity of spirit that comes from living this way.

And Jesus will help us to not grow weary. Hebrews 12:3 reminds us to Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. Jesus knows how we feel. Jesus has experienced frustrations, futility, and even hostility for doing what is right. We are in good company with the one who can help us endure and continue.

~~~~~

May we not grow weary in doing what is right, but ask the Spirit to help us persevere, trust that Jesus goes with us, and let every action demonstrate our gratitude to God.

~~~~~

Our readings for tomorrow are 1 John 3:18 and 4:7, 1 Corinthians 16:14.

¹Harris, Sydney J. The Best of Sydney J. Harris. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1976. Print.

Photo by Wan Chen on Unsplash

Bible verses found at https://classic.biblegateway.com

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Tuesday, March 23rd

Read Philippians 2:1-11 and 4:5.

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…
Philippians 2:4-5 (NRSV)

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5 (NRSV)

To gentleness belongs ability to bear reproaches and slights with moderation,
and not to embark on revenge quickly, and not to be easily provoked to anger,
but free from bitterness and contentiousness, having tranquility and stability in the spirit.
~ Aristotle

Today our spiritual invitation is to Let our gentleness be known to everyone. Gentleness is a sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love.¹ Why is our gentleness essential as we seek to show and share the love of Christ Jesus?

Gentleness is not timidity or weakness; gentleness is built on inner strength and love. Our gentleness comes from centering ourselves in God, trusting we are infinitely beloved, and finding an inner strength to withstand hostility, insults, criticisms, or blame from others. When we are wounded, we need the strength of the Spirit to keep from wounding back; to respond instead with grace, mercy, and dignity. Gentleness is choosing to act with the “sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior” that comes from our love for God and humanity.

The gentleness of Jesus in the Philippians 2 passage helps us understand why he was so compelling – why people were willing to drop everything and follow him. Jesus emptied himself, looked to the interests of others, and only sought to humbly and obediently serve God and God’s people. This sense of gentleness and acceptance in his presence certainly beckoned people to come and follow him.

Today I fondly recall a small chapel on the campus of Lourdes University, a Franciscan university sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio. Portiuncula Chapel is modeled after the 12th century chapel in Assisi, Italy, in which Francis received his first followers. When Jim and I lived in the area, we loved to go to the chapel for prayer and reflection.

The quiet chapel rests at the back of the campus, humbly welcoming guests to come inside and pray, light a candle, kneel at the altar rail, or sit and reflect. As soon as we entered the door, we were embraced by a warm, sacred, cloistered atmosphere. We were comforted by the soft fragrance of burning candles. We were hushed by the dim glow of lamplight and the reverence of lingering prayers from those who had been there before us. I have found that even without intentional prayer, my time in the chapel brought great peace and stillness to my soul.

When we are gentle in spirit, we become like this chapel – a haven of peace and stillness. Our gentleness makes us more approachable, less intimidating. Those who have been wounded themselves will find in us a safe sanctuary where they are received with kindness and invited to drop their burdens. Standing in the strength of God, we become both the refuge and the open door. In us, people will see the Christ who welcomes them in, embraces them in warmth, comforts their wounds, and provides sanctuary for their souls.

~~~~~

May we Let our gentleness be known to everyone, as we trust that Christ Jesus warmly welcomes us into his presence and grace. Our Lord is near.

~~~~~

Our reading for tomorrow is Galatians 6:7-9.

¹Gentleness Definition and Meaning – Bible Dictionary (biblestudytools.com)

Photo by Reign Abarintos on Unsplash

Bible verses found at https://classic.biblegateway.com

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Monday, March 22nd

Read Ephesians 4:22-32.

Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger…
Ephesians 4:26

I wish I could wrap up all my concerns at the end of the day and place them into God’s care. I would sleep much more soundly, wouldn’t you? God also wants this for us. All through the Bible we are invited to trust God instead of holding on to worry, fear, guilt, resentment, or yes, anger. These issues are hurtful to others, but they hurt our own souls as well. God is ready to help us with our anger and other provocations.

What an inspirational message this chapter from Ephesians holds for us! Our spiritual invitation for today is “do not let the sun go down on our anger,” but there are three other LET verses that clearly contribute to this instruction. Let’s look at the other Let verses in this passage for some other helpful suggestions. We will also look at the helpful verses Paul then uses to close out the passage.

~ So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another (verse 25). 

Today I am moved by the word, “speak” in this verse. There have been a few times when I have shared concerns or dismay with another person through a text, note, or an email. Seldom has this communication gone very well. It takes courage to speak directly with someone about a disagreement or an issue, but when we share an honest and humble conversation, take time to listen and clarify, watch facial expressions and nonverbal gestures, we communicate so much better! And if we can hold this posture of “we are members of one another” we can approach our disagreements with mutual love and willingness to work together.

~ Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil (verses 26-27). 

Jesus was angry at times. We also can claim that righteous anger to stand against wrongdoing, oppose injustice, or fight oppression. We are right to be angry when we have been hurt or mistreated. This verse reminds us though, that we are not to cling to our anger. When we do, we “make room for the devil.” When we cling, we allow ourselves time to fester, then plot a retaliation, think of a perfect retort, or decide to have nothing more to do with someone. When I hang on to anger, my soul becomes more distraught, my wounds grow deeper, and my recollection of the hurt becomes exaggerated. Today we are reminded to address and work to resolve our anger as soon as we can.

~ Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy (verse 28). 

I can easily assume that those of you who are reading this today do not steal. You probably strive to work for an honest living and to share with the needy. But as we consider this verse for our own instruction, we know that some thievery occurs as people struggle to survive without the opportunity for decent education or employment. I wonder how much anger and resentment could be diminished – in both the thief and the victim – if we all worked for the betterment of one another.

~ Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear (verse 29).

Words have an incredible power to hurt. I imagine we all have heard words that we will never forget – words that have pierced our souls and left sensitive scars. May we ask the Spirit to guard our tongues, to pause our replies, and to grace us with mercy, compassion, and tenderness in our thoughts and words. May our words heal rather than wound, comfort rather than harm, soothe rather than irritate.

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Finally, may we let the Spirit guide us to: Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you (verses 31-32). Amen. May this be so.

~~~~~

Our reading for tomorrow will be Philippians 2:1-11; 4:5.

Photo by Karen at Ft. Myers Beach, FL

Bible verses taken from https://classic.biblegateway.com/

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Friday, March 19th

So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all,
and especially for those of the family of faith.
Galatians 6:10 (NRSV)

Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Romans 14:19 (NRSV)

What should be done then, my friends?
When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. 
Let all things be done for building up.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NRSV)

These three verses are all parts of larger passages that describe how we are to build up one another. In Galatians, Paul is instructing the people (and us) to help one another especially in times of trial or sin – to not judge, to be gentle with our words, to regard ourselves with humility, to bear one another’s burdens. Romans 14 addresses the issue at that time of what food was acceptable to eat – what was forbidden and what was holy. Paul tells us not to judge others by what they eat, not to cause another to stumble, and to remember that the kingdom is more than food or drink; the kingdom is righteousness and peace (17). And in 1 Corinthians, he is actually talking about the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues but also warning of its shortcomings. He invites us all to share our unique spiritual gifts and together, build up one another.

Our spiritual invitation for today then is to Let us build up one another. I don’t find this very timely for today, do you? 😉 Dear goodness, we can so easily become divisive over any number of issues in which we disagree! I am a bit relieved and comforted to know that people were divisive back in Paul’s time as well.

Perhaps it is human nature, but we know it is not the nature of Christ Jesus. As his followers, we are called to a higher nature. We are called to build up one another – even when we disagree. We are meant to live as a faithful community of people who love, uplift, and regard one another in such a way that others will be drawn to Jesus. How might we do so?

Paul gives us several instructions to help foster our mutual upbuilding. We are to be gentle, humble, gracious, compassionate. We are to pursue and regard the gifts of the kingdom over the laws of the religious. We are to share what will bless and not burden. All of these have a connecting quality – that we see one another as equals; equally broken, equally blessed, equally beloved. We will all stumble at one time or another. We will all need a helping hand. Let us offer the good help, the uplifting word, the tender kindness when we can.

~~~~~

May God let us build up one another today. May we refrain from judgment or ridicule, and strive for grace and compassion. May we refrain from petty quarrels, and strive for the joy of the kingdom. May we refrain from reacting in anger, and strive to speak the truth in love.

~~~~~

Our reading for Monday will be Ephesians 4:22-32.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Bible verses taken from https://classic.biblegateway.com/

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Wednesday, March 17th

Read Luke 5:1-11.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
Luke 5:4 (NRSV)

Today, we are invited to Let down our nets for a catch. We are invited to spread our souls out and let God fill them with all good things… except we are not to cast them into our usual places. We may be even invited to put out into deeper water. Where might Jesus be calling us to drop our nets? What new and surprising places might he have in mind for us? What good things will we discover there?

In this story from Luke, Jesus was surrounded by crowds “pressing in on him.” When he saw two boats on the shore, he climbed into Simon’s boat and asked him to go out on the lake so he could teach from there. When he finished, he surprised Simon by instructing him to go into the deeper water and put his nets down. Simon had been fishing all night long and had caught nothing! Jesus’s words did not make sense to Simon, but he must have sensed that Jesus was to be trusted, and so he obeyed. He and the fishermen caught so many fish that Simon fell to his knees! From that moment on, Simon Peter and his partners followed Jesus.

Today let’s consider how we might move into deeper water in our relationship with God in Christ, whether through prayer, worship, contemplation, journaling, study, or service. How might Jesus be calling us to spend time with him in new ways? Have your prayers become stale, rote? These months of social distancing from one another may cause us to feel separated from God, too. For many of us, our way of worshiping has changed significantly. Are you finding new ways to spend time with God and others? When you cast out the net of your soul, is it being filled with all of the goodness of God?

Our invitation for today is to change our way of drawing near to God, especially if we have been merely skimming the surface or wading in the shallows. Changing our routine can refresh our souls, our outlook, and our perspective. We can try a meaningful prayer practice, begin a new spiritual book, praise God as we walk outdoors, create a cozy corner just for prayer, or listen to inspirational music or podcasts. We can even reposition ourselves through our approach – through our spirit – by letting our guard down, changing our expectations, or silencing our requests.

Like Simon, we may have our doubts about moving into deeper waters, and we may feel a bit of uncertainty and discomfort. What do these feelings reveal in us, teach us? How are we being stretched? These revelations can also be embraced as gifts of discovery as we move more deeply into God.

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God is always at work within us. God always wants to fill our nets with abundant goodness and love. Today, let’s ask God to show us where and how we are to cast our nets. When we eventually draw them in, may we glean all that is nourishing, worthy, and fruitful, as we thank Jesus for calling us into deeper waters.

~~~~~

Our readings for tomorrow will be Hebrews 12:1-2 and James 1:2-4.

Photo by Romain HUNEAU on Unsplash

Bible verses taken from https://classic.biblegateway.com/

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Tuesday, March 16th

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38 NRSV)

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. (Revelation 22:17 NRSV)

I love this spiritual invitation that Jesus gives us! First, he perfectly describes our longing for him as being “thirsty.” Our need for Jesus is like thirst, for we need him to quench our deepest yearnings, to refresh our dry spirits, to replenish our withered souls. Then he calls us to freely come, to take the water of life as a gift! We are given this holy thirst, and we are given the answer to our thirst. Jesus is our source and sustenance of life.

I have felt this thirst for Jesus, haven’t you? I want to come to him when I’m worried, when I’m thankful, when I need direction, and even when I’m content. I cannot recall a time when I thought, “Okay, I have had my fill of Jesus now.” These words today bless this holy longing. Jesus invites us to freely come and drink.

Then we have this verse that confuses me a bit: Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”¹ Jesus abides in us always. He fills us with his goodness and love forever. In him, we have everything we need for life.

But I’m still thirsty… I still want more of Jesus. Am I missing something? Where is this thirst coming from, if Jesus has already filled me?

I found my answer by learning more about sponges. 😀

HOW DOES A SPONGE WORK? The key to functionality when speaking of sponges, is a little scientific concept known as surface tension. All of those nooks, crannies and holes are not just for looks, and they are actually integral to how this tool works. The increased surface tension created by this inner structure will actually draw in moisture and cause it to cling to the surface of the sponge, and then absorb into the material… In general, the more holes there are, the more surface area there is, and therefore, the more moisture the sponge can hold…

When dry, these holes are larger and more rigid, but as the block begins to saturate, the holes will shrink as the rest of the sponge swells. A dry sponge allows water to flow in quickly, but will also cause more water to escape due to the big holes. As the holes shrink, the water has a more difficult time leaving due to the narrowed passageways, but it will also begin sticking to the other water molecules as well. This is why a wet sponge will soak up more water than a dry one. The holes of a sponge act as absorption points as well as storage areas, and when water begins to enter, it will both cling to the vast surface area as well as absorb into the material.²

We are like the sponge in our thirst for Christ. When we create more space for time with God, these spaces increase our ‘surface area’ to receive and absorb more of the water of life. God increases our soul’s capacity – much like the spaces in a sponge expand – so we can take in even more precious water. As additional water begins to shrink the spaces, these spaces become both absorption points and storage areas.

Wet sponges can absorb more liquid than dry ones!

Let us keep seeking, keep thirsting for this water of life. As we become more saturated, may we let God continue to expand our spaces and increase our absorption. May we also remember to generously and freely pour out the water of life for others, for we can trust Jesus’s promise to keep filling us – always!

~~~~~

May we respond to Jesus’s invitation to us, “Let anyone who is thirsty, come,” with joyful and open hearts to absorb every drop!

~~~~~

Our reading for tomorrow is Luke 5:1-11.

 ¹John 6:35 (NRSV)

²Read more at: What Type Of Sponge Is Most Absorbent? – Simply Good Tips (simplygoodstuff.com)

Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash

Bible verses are found at https://classic.biblegateway.com/

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Monday, March 15th

Read Matthew 20:29-34.

They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”
Matthew 20:33 (NRSV)

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them;
for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”
Matthew 19:14 (NRSV)

Our spiritual invitation for today, “Let our eyes be opened,” is our invitation to a fresh new way of regarding life.

When the blind men had their sight restored, they not only saw the world with clarity, we can imagine they also saw the world with gratitude and wonder! They could look at the beauty of nature, the faces of loved ones, even the ordinary things of life as fresh, new, and exciting. Their vision would help them become more mobile and free. They could more readily discover and explore the rich abundance of life with grateful and joyful exuberance.

How might those of us who already have our sight become blinded to the rich fullness of life? I think of my days spent worrying over needless concerns while I am missing out on precious moments. The times when my setbacks keep me from seeing my small successes. When the routine monotony of pandemic life diminishes my sense of adventure. When I begin to believe that my age prohibits my dreaming or imagining greater goals or exciting escapades. These daily blinders can keep me from seeing all that life with God offers us. I can miss finding so much goodness, simply because I have limited my view.

The second verse must be included, for what better way is there to see anew, than to see through the eyes of a child?

A while back, I posted this photo on my Facebook page. My two-year old granddaughter had refused to put the yellow stickers on the outlines, because the outlines were blue. Instead, she chose the photos that more closely resembled the stickers! My friend Julie then commented, “Oh those kids. They have a whole new way of looking at things. Maybe that’s why Jesus said what he did about children.” Her words soon became my inspiration for today’s reflection. (Thank you, Julie!)

Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children and people like them. Today, let’s be attentive to God in the world by looking around us with fresh eyes. Let’s look at life anew with the innocence and joy of a child. When was the last time you inspected a blade of grass with wonder? Looked at the clouds and thought of heaven? Sat in a sanctuary and truly felt small? Romped playfully with your dog? Regarded a loved one as your hero?

When was the last time you stopped to thank God for creating this everyday miracle of life? When have you thanked God for remaining with us and delighting in our enjoyment of its goodness?

~~~~~

May we let God open our eyes to see the beauty, wonder, awe, and joy of everyday life – and God’s loving presence within it all.

~~~~~

Our readings for tomorrow will be John 7:37-38 and Revelation 22:17.

Photo by Karen

Bible verses found at https://classic.biblegateway.com/