Daily Devotion - May 7
I will send a brief message each day (except Mondays)
while we are pausing gathering in person.
- Kara
while we are pausing gathering in person.
- Kara
(If you don't have the time or attention span today to read this whole thing - jump down to #5 and watch the video).
I woke up to a lot of outrage on social media - anger, fear and hopelessness breeding more anger, fear and hopelessness, and it's on full display today. A friend reminded me that social media is not real life, and that is true.
In real life I went for a glorious walk with my daughter and dog, and we explored alleyways we hadn't before, noticed fascinating front doors, and ridiculously plentiful buds on trees and shrubs positively glowing with color (see above!).
I think today is a good day for some reminders. These are things we've talked about before--in passing, in person, in worship, and in these daily devotions.
1-
"There is grace for what already is, not for what might be." Living in dread and apprehension about what might come and how we will handle it, or not, is not living in the present, the one real life we have - where God is already here caring for us.
"There is grace for what already is, not for what might be." Living in dread and apprehension about what might come and how we will handle it, or not, is not living in the present, the one real life we have - where God is already here caring for us.
2-
Fear asks "What if?" Hope answers, "Even if..." Fear dwells on all the terrible things that could happen, and hope says, Even if the very worst things happens, still... God is God, you are loved, there is enough, you will be ok, etc.
Fear asks "What if?" Hope answers, "Even if..." Fear dwells on all the terrible things that could happen, and hope says, Even if the very worst things happens, still... God is God, you are loved, there is enough, you will be ok, etc.
3-
Anxiety is a reasonable response. Anxiety a normal part of life. Resisting anxiety is what causes damage. The movement into new life is always anxious. We can feel it, let it pass through us, and if we have energy for more, wonder about what new life may end up coming from this. The way to freedom is always through the anxiety, not by trying to avoid it.
Anxiety is a reasonable response. Anxiety a normal part of life. Resisting anxiety is what causes damage. The movement into new life is always anxious. We can feel it, let it pass through us, and if we have energy for more, wonder about what new life may end up coming from this. The way to freedom is always through the anxiety, not by trying to avoid it.
4-
"This is part of the story. This is not the whole story. The world belongs to God." When something terrible happens, we rally our attention to it. We say things like, "If you're not outraged you're not paying attention." Sustained outrage and perpetual anger is no way to live, and it is a false response to the world's complexity. If you are always outraged, you are not paying attention. So how to respond when tragedy feels so overwhelming?? We are limited creatures, bound by space and time, given to specific people in specific places, with one specific life to live. If we try to hold the whole whole world's suffering, we will break. If we try to solve the whole nation's brokenness, we will buckle. It's impossible. Thankfully, that's not our job, it's God's.
We can - and should - look squarely at evil, and suffering, and injustice and call it what it is, "This is part of the story." Then we can pull back and remember there is more - there is beauty and love and hope and truth. "This is not the whole story."
And maybe we need to spend some time looking for examples of other parts of the story - the ones where redemption and hope are breaking in, and people are conscious of their belonging to each other and God. Or maybe we need to return consciously to our own life, the people around us, the community we are in and do something concrete right here that contributes to the wholeness, justice and good God is bringing everywhere. Both these options can help return us to trust. "The world belongs to God."
"This is part of the story. This is not the whole story. The world belongs to God." When something terrible happens, we rally our attention to it. We say things like, "If you're not outraged you're not paying attention." Sustained outrage and perpetual anger is no way to live, and it is a false response to the world's complexity. If you are always outraged, you are not paying attention. So how to respond when tragedy feels so overwhelming?? We are limited creatures, bound by space and time, given to specific people in specific places, with one specific life to live. If we try to hold the whole whole world's suffering, we will break. If we try to solve the whole nation's brokenness, we will buckle. It's impossible. Thankfully, that's not our job, it's God's.
We can - and should - look squarely at evil, and suffering, and injustice and call it what it is, "This is part of the story." Then we can pull back and remember there is more - there is beauty and love and hope and truth. "This is not the whole story."
And maybe we need to spend some time looking for examples of other parts of the story - the ones where redemption and hope are breaking in, and people are conscious of their belonging to each other and God. Or maybe we need to return consciously to our own life, the people around us, the community we are in and do something concrete right here that contributes to the wholeness, justice and good God is bringing everywhere. Both these options can help return us to trust. "The world belongs to God."
5-
Finally, we are people with a further horizon - the people of "eschatological imagination." We know the end of the story: wholeness, belonging, peace, justice and rest for all - for the whole of the earth and all its humans and creatures. We trust that what will be is already leaking into what is. And we know we can watch for it and join in it now. We live into a different story than the loud ones about fear, division and hopelessness. We live into a different future than the one shaped by dread.
Finally, we are people with a further horizon - the people of "eschatological imagination." We know the end of the story: wholeness, belonging, peace, justice and rest for all - for the whole of the earth and all its humans and creatures. We trust that what will be is already leaking into what is. And we know we can watch for it and join in it now. We live into a different story than the loud ones about fear, division and hopelessness. We live into a different future than the one shaped by dread.
I am putting here a video to spark your eschatological imagination. (It made me ugly cry hopeful tears and helped me remember God's relentless agenda always unfolding). If you can't view it below, please click this link and please watch the video).
CONNECTING RITUAL:
WORLD PEACE PRAYER
by Marty Haugen
Lead us from death to life
from falsehood to truth
from despair to hope
from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love
from war to peace
let peace fill our hearts
let peace fill our world
let peace fill our universe.
from falsehood to truth
from despair to hope
from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love
from war to peace
let peace fill our hearts
let peace fill our world
let peace fill our universe.
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