In awe of the First Bible...

"The first act of divine revelation is creation itself. The first Bible is the Bible of nature."

Fr. Richard Rohr, Daily Meditation, 2/28/16

 

Today being Earth Day, I thought I'd go back and read a bit about God's First Bible...Creation.  Fr. Richard Rohr says if we don't appreciate God's First Bible, we will never understand the Second Bible.  As I sit and look outside into my backyard, there is a small bird pecking at the grass, under the emerging, baby-leaf lilacs.  God's work, God's words in my very backyard! Today, let's be especially aware of nature around us...God's words to us of life, death, renewal. If we can't sit in awe of the beauty in nature how can we ever grasp the Bible of Genesis to Revelation?  Happy Earth Day!  Love, heidi

Set aside to...

..."the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul'"...
Acts 13:2

Pray-As-You-Go invites us to prayerfully consider what WE might be set apart for today.  Being set apart means there are special tasks for us, such as people we can help or inspire. Maybe someone needs a kind smile or encouraging word. It doesn't necessarily mean that we are to move mountains, it can be as simple as being kinder to people than we were yesterday.  That's what it means to me today.  I was impatient and short-tempered yesterday...today I feel set apart to be more kind and gentle. This stuff isn't rocket science, but it sure seems hard, doesn't it?  Gracious God, thank you for giving me today so I can try to do better than I did yesterday in the tasks you have set me aside to do! With your help, I can be kinder! Love, heidi

Look for the Helpers

"God will always bring yet more life and wholeness out of seeming chaos and death."
Fr. Richard Rohr, Daily Meditation

I read that and immediately my mind went to how? How does God bring life and wholeness to chaos?  God works in the world how God has always worked in the world--through people.  I remember an old meme of Mr. Rogers, reassuring children after the 9/11 tragedies. "Look for the Helpers," he advised and that has stuck with me.  That's how God works to bring wholeness to chaos--through the Helpers.  God works through the people in our lives to show us love. We may feel the presence of God while in nature, but it is through the arms of another human that we feel God's embrace. God is manifested in so many ways in our lives, but it is through our fellow human beings that God acts, so vividly in our days.  Today, as we go about our April Tuesday, let's be especially aware of God's presence and actions through the love we experience from others.  That smile from a stranger, that young child hugging our knees, that helpful hand offered by a coworker.  All are our God touching our lives in a very personal way.  Love, heidi

Whose voice is that?

“My sheep hear my voice…”

John 10:27

How do we recognize our Shepherd’s voice, exactly? I mean, of all the voices we hear in a day, Jesus’ voice may not be the loudest. So how do we know it’s really Jesus?  I have some filters I sift the voices I hear through, just to make sure. Believe me, when you spend much time in silence, your head can be full of voices! First, I ask myself, does the voice sound like Jesus? If we read and study scripture we know what Jesus said while he walked the earth. Does what we’re hearing sound like something Jesus said before? Also, does what we’re hearing sound loving? Inclusive? Embracing? Jesus was all about going to the fringes and gathering those whom others rejected. Does what we’re hearing call us to stretch beyond ourselves and our personal little realms?  Is what we’re hearing encouraging? Supportive? Is it calling us to joy? Jesus was very good at celebrating and treasuring those surrounding him. Does what we’re hearing call us to live joyfully, with gratitude? Does what we’re hearing call us to care for each other and wash others’ feet? Jesus not only told us but showed us how to do that! When deciding whose voice we are hearing, all we need to ask is, Does it sound like Jesus? If we know Jesus, we will recognize his voice.  Love, heidi