While staying at a retreat center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina I saw a sign posted in the lobby: “There is increased bear activity in the area. Use extra vigilance when hiking, running or jogging. Dogs must be kept on a leash.”

Before sunrise I took my morning walk, not realizing that I was walking at the edge of the increased bear activity! While I was in no real danger, I’ll be more on future walks, needless to say.

I got to thinking, though, of something the prophet Hosea wrote centuries ago; God is as protective as a mother bear is of her cubs (13:8).  God loves each of us as if we were an only child. All of us are precious. All of us. When we hurt one another, God feels a mother’s pain. And God will respond to redress the wrong. The greater the wrong, the greater the response we will be. 

It is up to we who take Jesus seriously to not only speak out for the voiceless but to act for the defenseless. Our action, though, must never be in the spirit of anger but with a resolute sense of justice. When this happens, we become glimpses of living grace.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.  Amen. (Attributed to St. Francis)

“Pop, do you want to play 500 with me?” one of my grandsons asked.

“Sure”. It was just the two of us, but when I was his age, I’d play “500” with anywhere between two and a dozen kids. Generally, 500 is a game associated with baseball. One person is the “hitter” and everyone else are “fielders”.  Points are accumulated by catching the hit ball; 100 for a fly ball, 50 for a one hop, 25 for a 2 hopper, 10 for a grounder, and none for a dead ball. Conversely, if you “call” a catch and miss, the equivalent points are deducted.

That’s the way WE played, but that’s not the way it’s played in my grandson’s schoolyard! Point structure varies with each hit (batter’s descretion) and there is something called “Freeze”! The batter tells one of the fielders to “freeze” and not move, thus eliminating that player from that hit ball!

Early on I realized that I’m old and that there is a new twist to 500. So, I decided to enjoy the moment, to embrace the “chaos” and just enjoy. (That’s one of the perks of growing older, though too few of us take advantage of it!)  After all, isn’t that the purpose of “play”?

And now that I think about it, isn’t life much more fun if we just embrace the chaos and look for what God is doing? Therein lies a glimpse of grace. 

Lord, the world is changing and it scares me at times, confuses me at other times. Remind me that You’re large and in charge. My life is in Your hands. Amen. 

One of  scribes came near and asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the first of all?” (v.28 in Mark 12:28-34)

What’s the most important thing that you can do? What will give you the greatest ROI? 

Ans. Love God with your whole being and love God’s children–all of them, even the ones who frustrate you, aggravate you, and threaten you.  Love ‘me. 

How do you do that that? Ask yourself “What’s the loving thing to do? 

After a very very difficult morning, a staff member at the church I serve decided to buy the whole office and preschool staff pizza. “They needed a mood picked-upper!” She was a genius. She put herself in their shoes and did something that was simultaneously simple and totally unexpected. 

You may not be able to buy pizza for ci-workers but you can say a kind word, let someone into the line of traffic, be a little slower at being “judgey”, or offer a sincere real prayer asking God to bless the ones that you would rather not be blessed. 

Lord, I don’t know how to pray. Teach me. Open my heart to live You and demonstrate that love by loving all of Your children. Amen

A Story of a Ten Dollar Bill & a Quarter

One morning as I took the clear inexpensive cover off of a pair of trousers fresh from the dry cleaners there was a sealed envelop stapled around the hanger. In bold letters were the words, OPEN IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT THROW AWAY. 

When I opened the envelop I found a folded ten dollar bill! Evidently I had left it in a pocket by accident. I was impressed by the values of the cleaners and the honesty of whoever checked my trousers before cleaning.

That evening my wife told me that when she took my grandson with her to get her car washed, they saw something that they had never seen before. An employee was riding in the car as it was pulled through the wash. He appeared to be doing something in the car, largely unnoticed, except by my grandson and wife!

When my grandson and wife got in the car she saw that a quarter that she keeps in a tray was missing. She asked the assistant and then manager of the car wash about it. They asked the employee who rode through the car wash and no quarter was found. She was even made to feel a liar.

As she told me what happened I couldn’t help but to remember Jesus’ words;  One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. (v. Luke 16:10)

That $10 bill and that quarter, said it all. 

Lord, make be faithful of a little do I will be seen in Your eyes as worthy as being faithful over a lot. Amen

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Mark 9:42-50

Text: If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. (v. 42)

Do you know the name of your server in a restaurant? Nine times out of ten I introduce myself to them. I think that it is simply a polite thing to do. And then, if I need something I can ask them by name and thank them. 

I do this because a long time ago I learned that everything we do is educative. Everything. People learn about our character by the way we act and things we say. We, too, learn about others in the same way.

Jesus warned His disciples to be careful what they say and do because their actions or comments may push people away from Jesus! I’ve known too many people who have been wounded by those who say they are followers of Jesus. A missionary once told me that everyone lives Jesus, it’s just Christians they can’t stand! Christians are seen as being judgmental, prejudiced and closed-minded. This is too bad because Jesus was none of these things!

So, if you decide to take Jesus seriously be careful. Others may judge Him by you!

Lord, let me be humble enough to allow You to speak through me and act through me. Let me be transparent enough that when they see me, they see You. Amen

Devotional Readings my from the Daily Common Lectionary: Mark 15:1-13

Text: May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another (v. 5)

Yesterday we saw the face of evil in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was ugly and scary and intimidating. It is the dark side of our common humanity. It reminded me of something that Martin Niemoller wrote in the aftermath of the dark side of humanity.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

A follower of Jesus cannot remain silent. 

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Mark 9:30-41

Text: (Jesus) sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”

Greatness is not found in salary, position or pedigree. Nor is it found in gender, skin tone, Zip Code or diploma. Those things may be signs of greatness as “the world” measures greatness but not in the Kingdom’s measure.

Jesus overheard the disciples measuring their own greatness against one another. He told them that greatness, true Kingdom greatness, is found in service; more specifically, in serving one another.

The only competition that Jesus’ followers participate in is “out-serveing one another and God’s world.

And come to think of it, doesn’t the world give accolades to those who unselfishly serve the least, the  last and the lost?

Lord, let me not get caught up in the world’s definition of greatness. Lead me in humble serve to others. Amen.

Devotional Reading from the Daily Common Lectionary: Mark 9: 1-13

Text: He (Peter) did not know what to say, for they were terrified. (v. 6)

When we don’t know what to say, why is it that too often we insist on saying something?! “It’s for the best.” (It usually doesn’t feel like and is generally not!) ” “God needed another angel…or flower…or whatever.” (An especially terrible thing to say about God when a child’s mommy or daddy died.) I could go on, but you get the idea. 

In today’s reading Peter, James & John had seen something that theologians call “The Transfiguration” and have difficulty explaining. Not knowing what to say, Peter said something “silly”, simply because he didn’t know what else to say. 

A voice from a cloud corrected Peter essentially saying that in Jesus God was doing a new thing, pulling aside for a moment, the curtain between the Temporal and Eternal, thus revealing the essential nature of God.

Sometimes when we don’t know what to say the most profound thing to say is to say nothing at all. Just being there says it all.

Lord God, teach me the eloquence of silence. Amen.