A Mother Teresa Story
One day Mother Teresa was writing a letter to her fellow laborers in Calcutta, the Missionaries of Charity and their Co-Workers. Her goal was to inspire the workers as they performed their acts of mercy with people in need. She quoted from one of Cardinal Newman’s prayers and added her own thoughts. Pray with me today:
“Help me to spread thy fragrance everywhere I go—
let me preach thee without preaching, not by words but by example—
by the catching force;
let the sympathetic influence of what I do
be evidence of the full love my heart feels to thee.” (Newman)
She then continued saying, “Our works of love are nothing but works of peace. Let us do them with greater love and efficiency—each in her or his daily work both in your home and with your neighbor. Listen to the cry: I was hungry – not only for food, but for peace that comes from a pure heart; I was thirsty – not for water, but for peace that satiates the passionate thirst of passion for war; I was naked – not for clothes, but for that beautiful dignity of people for their bodies; I was homeless – not for a shelter made of bricks, but for a heart that understands, that covers, that loves.”
A prayer: God, may I act with mercy today. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.30.11
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, June 29
New Opportunities
“May God be gracious to us and bless us,
may the face of the Lord shine upon us
and all the ends of the earth will honor our God.”
--From a Psalm of God’s people,
Chapter 67, selected verses
God’s grace comes to us in a variety of ways. As new opportunities come our way, we gain new understanding about the awesome nature of God’s holy presence among us. Recently I was privileged to enjoy the opening festivities at our newest campus, the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA. There are many folks around our nation who are intrigued with this new adventure into the world of healthcare and physical fitness. I do believe we are on the growing edge of something wonderful.
As the YMCA develops, new jobs will be created and we will have expanded opportunities to “treat people better”. It will be important that we help welcome and integrate these folks into this health care community. As these new folks with their hopes, dreams and goals blend with the “seasoned” staff, we will all discover God gracing us and blessing us in refreshing ways.
A prayer: Gracious God, continue to bless the work of our hands as we join together in providing health care services. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.29.11
“May God be gracious to us and bless us,
may the face of the Lord shine upon us
and all the ends of the earth will honor our God.”
--From a Psalm of God’s people,
Chapter 67, selected verses
God’s grace comes to us in a variety of ways. As new opportunities come our way, we gain new understanding about the awesome nature of God’s holy presence among us. Recently I was privileged to enjoy the opening festivities at our newest campus, the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA. There are many folks around our nation who are intrigued with this new adventure into the world of healthcare and physical fitness. I do believe we are on the growing edge of something wonderful.
As the YMCA develops, new jobs will be created and we will have expanded opportunities to “treat people better”. It will be important that we help welcome and integrate these folks into this health care community. As these new folks with their hopes, dreams and goals blend with the “seasoned” staff, we will all discover God gracing us and blessing us in refreshing ways.
A prayer: Gracious God, continue to bless the work of our hands as we join together in providing health care services. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.29.11
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, June 28
Vertical Listening
“God said to Moses,
I AM who I AM.”
--From the life of Moses, Exodus 3:14
Yesterday we examined the theme of listening, talking about the horizontal nature of active listening. By that I mean the listening we do when relating to others whether they be family members, friends or persons we meet in our work. Today I want to encourage us to spend a few moments thinking about the vertical nature of active listening. By that I mean the listening we do as we practice our spirituality, regardless of our religious background.
When Moses heard the words, “I AM who I AM” he probably spent the rest of his life struggling with understanding the fullness of those words. Active listening to divine leading can empower us in the tasks and routines of the day. Several months ago I wanted to grab a CD to listen to on the way to work. I grabbed one, but after taking a couple of steps, was compelled to go back and pick up a different one. While listening to this a capella group, my pager went off and I called the hospital. As I listened (horizontally) to the staff person, I realized that I had received a vertical prompting in my choice of CD for the morning. Coincidence? Listening to my gut? Maybe.
To take time with the great “I AM”, to actively listen to the inner prompting and to respond without needing all the answers is what vertical listening is all about. Henri Nouwen writes these words about our horizontal and vertical listening: “As long as we live on this earth, our lives will be marked by compassion.”
Enjoy listening to the great “I AM.”
--Ben Keckler
06.28.11
“God said to Moses,
I AM who I AM.”
--From the life of Moses, Exodus 3:14
Yesterday we examined the theme of listening, talking about the horizontal nature of active listening. By that I mean the listening we do when relating to others whether they be family members, friends or persons we meet in our work. Today I want to encourage us to spend a few moments thinking about the vertical nature of active listening. By that I mean the listening we do as we practice our spirituality, regardless of our religious background.
When Moses heard the words, “I AM who I AM” he probably spent the rest of his life struggling with understanding the fullness of those words. Active listening to divine leading can empower us in the tasks and routines of the day. Several months ago I wanted to grab a CD to listen to on the way to work. I grabbed one, but after taking a couple of steps, was compelled to go back and pick up a different one. While listening to this a capella group, my pager went off and I called the hospital. As I listened (horizontally) to the staff person, I realized that I had received a vertical prompting in my choice of CD for the morning. Coincidence? Listening to my gut? Maybe.
To take time with the great “I AM”, to actively listen to the inner prompting and to respond without needing all the answers is what vertical listening is all about. Henri Nouwen writes these words about our horizontal and vertical listening: “As long as we live on this earth, our lives will be marked by compassion.”
Enjoy listening to the great “I AM.”
--Ben Keckler
06.28.11
Friday, June 24, 2011
Daily Devotion - Friday, June 24
Prayer from Mother Teresa
“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink
and find great satisfaction in their work.
This too, I see, is from the hand of God
for without him, who can find enjoyment.”
--A wisdom saying Ecclesiastes
Chapter 2:24, 25
One of the daily prayers that Mother Teresa used as she delivered her care to children in India seems most appropriate for the work we do in this hospital.
“Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day
in the person of your sick, and,
while nursing them, minister unto you.
though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise
of the irritable, the exacting and the unreasonable,
may I be still long enough to recognize you in them….
“Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity
of my vocation and its many responsibilities.
Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way
to coldness, unkindness, or impatience….
“Lord, increase my faith,
bless my efforts and work,
now and forevermore.
Amen.”
Have a good Friday in your labors. And may your weekend be filled with divine grace notes that refresh and restore your soul
--Ben Keckler
06.24.11
“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink
and find great satisfaction in their work.
This too, I see, is from the hand of God
for without him, who can find enjoyment.”
--A wisdom saying Ecclesiastes
Chapter 2:24, 25
One of the daily prayers that Mother Teresa used as she delivered her care to children in India seems most appropriate for the work we do in this hospital.
“Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day
in the person of your sick, and,
while nursing them, minister unto you.
though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise
of the irritable, the exacting and the unreasonable,
may I be still long enough to recognize you in them….
“Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity
of my vocation and its many responsibilities.
Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way
to coldness, unkindness, or impatience….
“Lord, increase my faith,
bless my efforts and work,
now and forevermore.
Amen.”
Have a good Friday in your labors. And may your weekend be filled with divine grace notes that refresh and restore your soul
--Ben Keckler
06.24.11
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Daily Devotion - Thursday, June 23
Already Thursday
Good morning God.
The week is traveling too quickly!
I admit that I have gotten pretty busy, pretty harried,
pretty preoccupied with the details of an unraveling week.
Slow me down enough that I can feel
the wind of your renewing Spirit.
There are times when I wish everything could slow down.
Perhaps it could help me on my troubled Thursdays.
Perhaps I could be more aware on my twisted Thursdays.
Perhaps …
What I do know is this:
It is already Thursday and I need your Divine touch.
Thank you.
--Ben Keckler
06.23.11
Good morning God.
The week is traveling too quickly!
I admit that I have gotten pretty busy, pretty harried,
pretty preoccupied with the details of an unraveling week.
Slow me down enough that I can feel
the wind of your renewing Spirit.
There are times when I wish everything could slow down.
Perhaps it could help me on my troubled Thursdays.
Perhaps I could be more aware on my twisted Thursdays.
Perhaps …
What I do know is this:
It is already Thursday and I need your Divine touch.
Thank you.
--Ben Keckler
06.23.11
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, June 22
Bewildered Understanding
Holy God,
You hang rainbows across the darkened gray backdrop
of storm filled skies.
You mix dark green leaves and white magnolia blossoms
in one life-filled tree.
You take from your multi-colored palette and make crimson streaks
in a golden sunset.
Pretty awesome stuff!
I find my heart torn with bitter-sweet,
with sad-glad bewilderment.
I find my life is entangled with a weaving of light and dark.
I find that simplicity seems to move rapidly to complexity.
Teach me to appreciate the multi-splendored opportunities
that come my way.
So as I journey into this day
Remind me that you, great Creator,
are present in today’s crazy confusion.
Grant me wisdom and courage for the facing of each hour
and teach me to discern the possibility of You
in the bewilderment of my routine.
--Ben Keckler
06.22.11
Holy God,
You hang rainbows across the darkened gray backdrop
of storm filled skies.
You mix dark green leaves and white magnolia blossoms
in one life-filled tree.
You take from your multi-colored palette and make crimson streaks
in a golden sunset.
Pretty awesome stuff!
I find my heart torn with bitter-sweet,
with sad-glad bewilderment.
I find my life is entangled with a weaving of light and dark.
I find that simplicity seems to move rapidly to complexity.
Teach me to appreciate the multi-splendored opportunities
that come my way.
So as I journey into this day
Remind me that you, great Creator,
are present in today’s crazy confusion.
Grant me wisdom and courage for the facing of each hour
and teach me to discern the possibility of You
in the bewilderment of my routine.
--Ben Keckler
06.22.11
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, June 21
Heartsong of the Soul
Holy God,
As I begin another day grant me sensitivity
To the beat of my heart
To the pulse of my spirit
To the words that are spoken
To the silent words of Spirit presence
As I begin another day grant me courage
To rise above the noise of chaos and hear your voice
To look beyond the clutter of cosmos and see your realm
To feed not so much on food for body, but on the fruit of your Spirit
To feel, amid warfare and confusion, the calm of inner peace
As I begin another day grant me wisdom
To be silent, allowing the sojourner to hear their heartsong
To be sensitive, empowering the sojourner to follow their heartsong
To be compassionate, embracing the sojourner when hearing and following must wait
To be alive with Your radiance which empowers Your creation minute by minute.
--Ben Keckler
06.21.11
Holy God,
As I begin another day grant me sensitivity
To the beat of my heart
To the pulse of my spirit
To the words that are spoken
To the silent words of Spirit presence
As I begin another day grant me courage
To rise above the noise of chaos and hear your voice
To look beyond the clutter of cosmos and see your realm
To feed not so much on food for body, but on the fruit of your Spirit
To feel, amid warfare and confusion, the calm of inner peace
As I begin another day grant me wisdom
To be silent, allowing the sojourner to hear their heartsong
To be sensitive, empowering the sojourner to follow their heartsong
To be compassionate, embracing the sojourner when hearing and following must wait
To be alive with Your radiance which empowers Your creation minute by minute.
--Ben Keckler
06.21.11
Monday, June 20, 2011
Daily Devotion - Monday, June 20
Heartsong for a Friend
Recalling a devotion, written on Friday, June 16, 2006
Five years ago a small group (chaplains and Social Service workers) was invited to a luncheon at the residence of a dying man. He wanted to have us come to his home to thank us for the care he and his wife had received during hospitalizations here at the hospital.
He was a sensitive soul who had experienced a great deal of success in life. They had moved here for a number of reasons from a beautiful home in California. His wife had died and then that Friday morning I received a call that he was reunited with his wife.
I was sad, but I was also very grateful. I was privileged to have my life graced by a very dear soul. With gratitude for the life and witness of Knapp Covington, I offer this prayer today:
O God,
You have given me memories to hold,
and I cherish that which I have known.
You have given me the memory of faces and voices;
through interaction I have grown.
Instill in me an energy to look toward eternal tomorrow
with sunrise eyes.
And in this day of tears,
may resurrection power begin to rise
So that through remembered graces of saints
who shared their hopes and dreams with me,
I may hold on to yesterday memory,
reaching toward an anticipated tomorrow I can’t see
where peace is a way of life and love is the song that’s sung.
Holy One, empower me now in this week that is just begun.
--Ben Keckler
06.20.11
Recalling a devotion, written on Friday, June 16, 2006
Five years ago a small group (chaplains and Social Service workers) was invited to a luncheon at the residence of a dying man. He wanted to have us come to his home to thank us for the care he and his wife had received during hospitalizations here at the hospital.
He was a sensitive soul who had experienced a great deal of success in life. They had moved here for a number of reasons from a beautiful home in California. His wife had died and then that Friday morning I received a call that he was reunited with his wife.
I was sad, but I was also very grateful. I was privileged to have my life graced by a very dear soul. With gratitude for the life and witness of Knapp Covington, I offer this prayer today:
O God,
You have given me memories to hold,
and I cherish that which I have known.
You have given me the memory of faces and voices;
through interaction I have grown.
Instill in me an energy to look toward eternal tomorrow
with sunrise eyes.
And in this day of tears,
may resurrection power begin to rise
So that through remembered graces of saints
who shared their hopes and dreams with me,
I may hold on to yesterday memory,
reaching toward an anticipated tomorrow I can’t see
where peace is a way of life and love is the song that’s sung.
Holy One, empower me now in this week that is just begun.
--Ben Keckler
06.20.11
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Daily Devotion - Friday, June 10
An Interesting Concept
LIFT UP (A Look at What We Do in Prayer)
Words like, “Don’t worry about anything, pray about everything,” encourage us to have meditative time with the Almighty. One of my great teachers was talking about the life of prayer and she reminded me that God responds to our prayers in three ways, “Yes, no and wait.”
Prayer is really about transformation and conformity… transforming and conforming our ways to the ways of the Divine. Take the things, the people, and the circumstances that are written on your heart today and lift them up to the unseen power that has been given many names. When you lift up, you are lifted up.
Have a nice weekend.
A prayer: Dear God, encourage me to lift up my prayers and regularly listen to your silence. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.10.11
LIFT UP (A Look at What We Do in Prayer)
Words like, “Don’t worry about anything, pray about everything,” encourage us to have meditative time with the Almighty. One of my great teachers was talking about the life of prayer and she reminded me that God responds to our prayers in three ways, “Yes, no and wait.”
Prayer is really about transformation and conformity… transforming and conforming our ways to the ways of the Divine. Take the things, the people, and the circumstances that are written on your heart today and lift them up to the unseen power that has been given many names. When you lift up, you are lifted up.
Have a nice weekend.
A prayer: Dear God, encourage me to lift up my prayers and regularly listen to your silence. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.10.11
Daily Devotion - Thursday, June 9
Waving Old Glory
A reading for today: Romans 13:1-7
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands
One nation under God,
With liberty and justice for all.
--Our forebearers
In a few days we will have an opportunity to celebrate Flag Day. Millions of Americans, including this chaplain, can acknowledge strong emotions about our flag. Many of us fly our flag in the morning and take it in at night, others have opted to light their flag and fly it boldly day and night (even if it means a few cents more on the electric bill).
Flags are important in uniting groups of people. Citizens who carry similarly strong emotions that we do inhabit each and every country of the world. Whenever we gather for the summer or winter Olympics, we witness this truth as the national anthem of the country is played while the flag is raised and tears of joy and pride well up in the gold medalist's eyes.
Our pledge to our flag contains a powerful phrase “with liberty and justice for all.” This is a phrase worthy of some sincere reflection. It is a phrase that sounds pretty inclusive. It is a phrase that deserves continued dialogue and discussion. Clearly, there are many struggles ahead for all of this global village, a world filled with many patriotic people in every country.
Today I give thanks for this land and for our old red, white and blue. I also proudly have the flags of every country I’ve visited displayed in our home as an expression of my solidarity with all creation. May we each do our part to bring liberty and justice for all.
--Ben Keckler
06.09.11
A reading for today: Romans 13:1-7
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands
One nation under God,
With liberty and justice for all.
--Our forebearers
In a few days we will have an opportunity to celebrate Flag Day. Millions of Americans, including this chaplain, can acknowledge strong emotions about our flag. Many of us fly our flag in the morning and take it in at night, others have opted to light their flag and fly it boldly day and night (even if it means a few cents more on the electric bill).
Flags are important in uniting groups of people. Citizens who carry similarly strong emotions that we do inhabit each and every country of the world. Whenever we gather for the summer or winter Olympics, we witness this truth as the national anthem of the country is played while the flag is raised and tears of joy and pride well up in the gold medalist's eyes.
Our pledge to our flag contains a powerful phrase “with liberty and justice for all.” This is a phrase worthy of some sincere reflection. It is a phrase that sounds pretty inclusive. It is a phrase that deserves continued dialogue and discussion. Clearly, there are many struggles ahead for all of this global village, a world filled with many patriotic people in every country.
Today I give thanks for this land and for our old red, white and blue. I also proudly have the flags of every country I’ve visited displayed in our home as an expression of my solidarity with all creation. May we each do our part to bring liberty and justice for all.
--Ben Keckler
06.09.11
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, June 8
Those Who Provide for Us
“Blessed be the Lord, my rock …
may our barns be filled with produce of every kind…
happy are the people to whom such blessings fall.”
--Verses from a Hebrew hymn, Psalm 144
Often these devotional musings focus on the centrality of prayer in our lives. Many of us begin to look forward on Wednesday to a weekend where the pace of life is different than the week, to a cookout or to celebrating a special day. Often the gathering includes a meal and so today we offer a prayer for those who provide for us.
In the midst of our plenty, O God,
Recall our debt to those who garner our food for us…
those who pluck pineapples in the blaze of noon,
those who buck the seas in search of fish,
those who tend sheep and cattle through all the tantrums of weather,
those who plow, and sow, and cultivate, and then wait in hope.
Teach us that we live
because others have fished and farmed and shepherded.
Accept our thanks for those who care for creation
and turn it into provisions for our festivities
--Ben Keckler
06.08.11
“Blessed be the Lord, my rock …
may our barns be filled with produce of every kind…
happy are the people to whom such blessings fall.”
--Verses from a Hebrew hymn, Psalm 144
Often these devotional musings focus on the centrality of prayer in our lives. Many of us begin to look forward on Wednesday to a weekend where the pace of life is different than the week, to a cookout or to celebrating a special day. Often the gathering includes a meal and so today we offer a prayer for those who provide for us.
In the midst of our plenty, O God,
Recall our debt to those who garner our food for us…
those who pluck pineapples in the blaze of noon,
those who buck the seas in search of fish,
those who tend sheep and cattle through all the tantrums of weather,
those who plow, and sow, and cultivate, and then wait in hope.
Teach us that we live
because others have fished and farmed and shepherded.
Accept our thanks for those who care for creation
and turn it into provisions for our festivities
--Ben Keckler
06.08.11
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, June 7
Listening
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
--From the 1st book of Samuel (3:9)
One skill that is always in need of greater development is the skill of listening. It is very easy to fill the silence of an encounter with “our agenda”. It is also very easy to hear what is said without feeling what the heartsong of the other person really is. Listening calls us to give time and space to the person who is sharing with us. Listening is allowing yourself to give full attentiveness to that which is beyond you.
A prayer for today: Slow me down and grant me the gift of full attentiveness to others. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.07.11
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
--From the 1st book of Samuel (3:9)
One skill that is always in need of greater development is the skill of listening. It is very easy to fill the silence of an encounter with “our agenda”. It is also very easy to hear what is said without feeling what the heartsong of the other person really is. Listening calls us to give time and space to the person who is sharing with us. Listening is allowing yourself to give full attentiveness to that which is beyond you.
A prayer for today: Slow me down and grant me the gift of full attentiveness to others. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.07.11
Monday, June 6, 2011
Daily Devotion - Monday, June 6
Discovery or Rediscovery?
“Unless you change and become like children,
you will never understand the kingdom of God.”
--Jesus as recorded by Matthew
Trying to find God can be a major challenge. Trying to believe in divine presence and power can be most difficult, especially when the wounds of life are so strong and overpowering. Going back to those formative years when a complex world didn’t seem so intimidating can help. Macrina Wiederkehr (A Tree Full of Angels, page 63) shares her thoughts with us now:
“What pains me most these days is my inability
to reach back into my years and touch the child I was.
“And yet, loving, living, stirring deep within my soul,
that child lives on.
“There are days when my adult ways turn tasteless in my mouth
and the child of long ago starts pressing on my soul.
“On days like that, I long to touch that child again
and let her take me by the hand and lead me down a path
that has a heart and show me all the things
that I’ve stopped seeing because I’ve grown too tall.”
--Ben Keckler
06.06.11
“Unless you change and become like children,
you will never understand the kingdom of God.”
--Jesus as recorded by Matthew
Trying to find God can be a major challenge. Trying to believe in divine presence and power can be most difficult, especially when the wounds of life are so strong and overpowering. Going back to those formative years when a complex world didn’t seem so intimidating can help. Macrina Wiederkehr (A Tree Full of Angels, page 63) shares her thoughts with us now:
“What pains me most these days is my inability
to reach back into my years and touch the child I was.
“And yet, loving, living, stirring deep within my soul,
that child lives on.
“There are days when my adult ways turn tasteless in my mouth
and the child of long ago starts pressing on my soul.
“On days like that, I long to touch that child again
and let her take me by the hand and lead me down a path
that has a heart and show me all the things
that I’ve stopped seeing because I’ve grown too tall.”
--Ben Keckler
06.06.11
Friday, June 3, 2011
Daily Devotion - Friday, June 3
A Simple Model for Living
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to declare God’s steadfast love in the morning
and God’s faithfulness by night.”
--From the Psalter (92:1)
308 years ago, John Wesley was born. Wesley is known as the English founder of Methodism, which has grown to be a most influential part of the Christian religion. Here is his simple model for great living:
“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
To all the people you can.
As long as ever, you can.”
Have a good weekend.
A prayer for today: God be with me in all that I do. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.03.11
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to declare God’s steadfast love in the morning
and God’s faithfulness by night.”
--From the Psalter (92:1)
308 years ago, John Wesley was born. Wesley is known as the English founder of Methodism, which has grown to be a most influential part of the Christian religion. Here is his simple model for great living:
“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
To all the people you can.
As long as ever, you can.”
Have a good weekend.
A prayer for today: God be with me in all that I do. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.03.11
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Daily Devotion - Thursday, June 2
Discovery or Rediscovery?
“Unless you change and become like children,
you will never understand the kingdom of God.”
--From Matthew’s gospel (18:3)
It’s Tuesday and I think it would be good to spend a couple of minutes with Morrie Schwartz and Mitch Albom. Today, another excerpt from Tuesday’s With Morrie. Meditate on these words that a dying Morrie Schwartz shares with us through Mitch:
“Mitch, it’s funny,” Morrie said. I’m an independent person,
so my inclination was to fight being dependent on others.
I felt a little ashamed; because our culture tells us
we should be ashamed if we are dependent.
Forget what culture says…
We all yearn in some way to return to those days
when we were completely taken care of – unconditional love,
unconditional attention. Most of us didn’t get enough.”
Discovering the dependent part of our lives is important. Naming it, claiming it and allowing the “child within” to be loved and nurtured is a good thing. When we are “at home” with dependency, when we can enjoy it, then we can find ourselves nearer to the kingdom of God.
A prayer for today: In my quest for independence, help me to claim my total dependence on you, O God. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.02.11
“Unless you change and become like children,
you will never understand the kingdom of God.”
--From Matthew’s gospel (18:3)
It’s Tuesday and I think it would be good to spend a couple of minutes with Morrie Schwartz and Mitch Albom. Today, another excerpt from Tuesday’s With Morrie. Meditate on these words that a dying Morrie Schwartz shares with us through Mitch:
“Mitch, it’s funny,” Morrie said. I’m an independent person,
so my inclination was to fight being dependent on others.
I felt a little ashamed; because our culture tells us
we should be ashamed if we are dependent.
Forget what culture says…
We all yearn in some way to return to those days
when we were completely taken care of – unconditional love,
unconditional attention. Most of us didn’t get enough.”
Discovering the dependent part of our lives is important. Naming it, claiming it and allowing the “child within” to be loved and nurtured is a good thing. When we are “at home” with dependency, when we can enjoy it, then we can find ourselves nearer to the kingdom of God.
A prayer for today: In my quest for independence, help me to claim my total dependence on you, O God. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.02.11
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, June 1
More Than a Simple Sentence
“Truly I tell you, just as you cared for one of the least of these
who are members of my family, you did it to me.”
--Jesus, as recorded by Matthew
The act of care giving is happening all over the world today. There are thousands and thousands of people who are performing acts of kindness in all sorts of institutions. Here at the hospital we talk a lot about performing our tasks with compassion. We work hard to treat people better. About 200 years ago a philosopher, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, shared the following observation.
“The way you see people is the way you treat them
and the way you treat them is what they become.”
Initially, this may seem like a simple sentence. I encourage you to meditate on it today. I believe Goethe’s words are more than a simple sentence.
--Ben Keckler
06.01.11
“Truly I tell you, just as you cared for one of the least of these
who are members of my family, you did it to me.”
--Jesus, as recorded by Matthew
The act of care giving is happening all over the world today. There are thousands and thousands of people who are performing acts of kindness in all sorts of institutions. Here at the hospital we talk a lot about performing our tasks with compassion. We work hard to treat people better. About 200 years ago a philosopher, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, shared the following observation.
“The way you see people is the way you treat them
and the way you treat them is what they become.”
Initially, this may seem like a simple sentence. I encourage you to meditate on it today. I believe Goethe’s words are more than a simple sentence.
--Ben Keckler
06.01.11
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