Five Thoughts for a New Year
“Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control;
these three alone lead life to a sovereign place.”
--Tennyson
We are at the end of the first week of the new year. This week I have been sharing some basic thoughts that help me in my work. Hopefully they are helpful to you as well.
FRIDAY: Each day is all about GRACE.
Saving the best til last, I chose to write about grace today! All of the thoughts for the New Year shared with you this week are significant in living life well. The most significant thought for living well is always taking a moment to explore: "What is the grace-filled response I can give at this moment?"
There is a saying attributed to our Native American brothers and sisters: "If we look at the path, we do not see the sky. We are Earth people on a spiritual journey to the stars. Our quest, our Earth walk, is to look within, to know who we are, to see that we are connected to all things, that there is no separation, only in the mind." I believe there is a great deal of truth in this statement. Since we are connected to all things, doesn't it makes sense to be "grace-filled"?
In these challenging times, practice being grace-filled. I believe that is one of the things Tennyson meant when he talked about self-reverence.
--Ben Keckler
01.07.11
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, December 15
Keeping Things in Perspective
“Have mercy on me, O God,
According to your steadfast love.
Purge me and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
--A song of God’s people (Psalm 51: 1, 7)
Yesterday we focused on keeping things in perspective. As devotional thoughts go, those words could be perceived as a reality we don’t want to deal with in the season of glitter and lights. We don’t want this season to be sad and painful for anyone. If you didn’t like the reality of yesterday’s words, maybe today’s words will be more acceptable.
Today, we WILL continue to keep things in perspective.
Paul Tillich, noted theologian and former professor of theology at Chicago Theological Seminary shares:
“Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness.
It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of meaningless and empty life.
It strikes us when our disgust for our own being,
Our indifference,
Our weakness,
Our hostility,
And our lack of direction and composure has become intolerable to us.
It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection of life
Does not appear;
When, year after year, despair destroys all joy and courage.
SOMETIMES at that moment, a wave of light breaks into our darkness
And it is as though a voice says, “You are accepted.”
May light break into any darkness you are experiencing today. May you hear the voice of acceptance. May you be blessed with peace.
--Ben Keckler
12.15.09
“Have mercy on me, O God,
According to your steadfast love.
Purge me and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
--A song of God’s people (Psalm 51: 1, 7)
Yesterday we focused on keeping things in perspective. As devotional thoughts go, those words could be perceived as a reality we don’t want to deal with in the season of glitter and lights. We don’t want this season to be sad and painful for anyone. If you didn’t like the reality of yesterday’s words, maybe today’s words will be more acceptable.
Today, we WILL continue to keep things in perspective.
Paul Tillich, noted theologian and former professor of theology at Chicago Theological Seminary shares:
“Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness.
It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of meaningless and empty life.
It strikes us when our disgust for our own being,
Our indifference,
Our weakness,
Our hostility,
And our lack of direction and composure has become intolerable to us.
It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection of life
Does not appear;
When, year after year, despair destroys all joy and courage.
SOMETIMES at that moment, a wave of light breaks into our darkness
And it is as though a voice says, “You are accepted.”
May light break into any darkness you are experiencing today. May you hear the voice of acceptance. May you be blessed with peace.
--Ben Keckler
12.15.09
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, September 8
Musings about Water and Waterfalls
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise
Psalm 8
This week we have a specific focus for our devotions, water and waterfalls.
Six weeks ago I was privileged to see a part of the earth I’d never visited. Because of a generous gift, we vacationed in the Canadian Rockies. We spent time in Montana’s Glacier National Park, as well. The trip included visits to Calgary, Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. We were also privileged to spend time on the Columbia Icefields. The list of experiences was and still is rather phenomenal.
Majestic doesn’t seem a powerful enough description for the awe I felt as we spent time at Athabasca Falls! The passage for the falls is quite narrow, especially compared with the wide river behind it filled with the melted snows from the mountains. The scene was filled with energy as rushing water made its way through the passage to another wide river bottom below. It is as though I can still hear and feel the power of the moment all these weeks later. I concur with the ancient song of praise, “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Now I am back into the daily routine of work following a memorable vacation and a relaxing weekend. I am trusting that we can have the power of a waterfall in our daily contact with others. I am trusting that this power can be filled with compassion and grace bringing them to a better place. Compassionate care gives others the opportunity to experience the majesty and power of God.
A prayer: Holy One, may our simple acts of care bring the restoring, healing touch that others need. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
09.08.09
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise
Psalm 8
This week we have a specific focus for our devotions, water and waterfalls.
Six weeks ago I was privileged to see a part of the earth I’d never visited. Because of a generous gift, we vacationed in the Canadian Rockies. We spent time in Montana’s Glacier National Park, as well. The trip included visits to Calgary, Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. We were also privileged to spend time on the Columbia Icefields. The list of experiences was and still is rather phenomenal.
Majestic doesn’t seem a powerful enough description for the awe I felt as we spent time at Athabasca Falls! The passage for the falls is quite narrow, especially compared with the wide river behind it filled with the melted snows from the mountains. The scene was filled with energy as rushing water made its way through the passage to another wide river bottom below. It is as though I can still hear and feel the power of the moment all these weeks later. I concur with the ancient song of praise, “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Now I am back into the daily routine of work following a memorable vacation and a relaxing weekend. I am trusting that we can have the power of a waterfall in our daily contact with others. I am trusting that this power can be filled with compassion and grace bringing them to a better place. Compassionate care gives others the opportunity to experience the majesty and power of God.
A prayer: Holy One, may our simple acts of care bring the restoring, healing touch that others need. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
09.08.09
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, August 11
Stinkin’ Thinkin’
“Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord,
and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.”
--An ancient song
Psalm 25: 6
This week we are spending time meditating on the above verse. Recognizing mercy and grace is a primary aspect of spiritual development.
Have you ever heard the little phrase “stinkin’ thinkin’”? Whether or not we acknowledge it, we all possess it. All of us have learned or developed some unhealthy patterns in our lives that we remain attached to. We participate in them freely without realizing that we are doing so because it is a learned behavior. Sometimes when we get stuck in the pattern or behavior, we can view it as something that is unhealthy. Obvious examples of this are alcoholics, drug addicts, or people with pathological behaviors. But equally true examples can be things like specific intolerances or phobias. (Don’t get defensive - just allow yourself to absorb this possibility!)
The one type of thinkin’ that appears healthy to me, especially when I am faced with my own “stinkin’ thinkin’” is: I am accepted by the Holy One. I am embraced with a steadfast love – even if/when my thinkin’ is stinkin’!
Prayer: God, thanks for your embrace, even when my thinkin’ isn’t quite right. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
08.11.09
“Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord,
and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.”
--An ancient song
Psalm 25: 6
This week we are spending time meditating on the above verse. Recognizing mercy and grace is a primary aspect of spiritual development.
Have you ever heard the little phrase “stinkin’ thinkin’”? Whether or not we acknowledge it, we all possess it. All of us have learned or developed some unhealthy patterns in our lives that we remain attached to. We participate in them freely without realizing that we are doing so because it is a learned behavior. Sometimes when we get stuck in the pattern or behavior, we can view it as something that is unhealthy. Obvious examples of this are alcoholics, drug addicts, or people with pathological behaviors. But equally true examples can be things like specific intolerances or phobias. (Don’t get defensive - just allow yourself to absorb this possibility!)
The one type of thinkin’ that appears healthy to me, especially when I am faced with my own “stinkin’ thinkin’” is: I am accepted by the Holy One. I am embraced with a steadfast love – even if/when my thinkin’ is stinkin’!
Prayer: God, thanks for your embrace, even when my thinkin’ isn’t quite right. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
08.11.09
Friday, May 8, 2009
Daily Devotion - Friday, May 8
Amazing, Absolutely Amazing Grace
"Authentic spiritual wholeness,
by its very nature,
is open-ended.
It is always in the process of becoming, always incomplete."
--Gerald May, M.D.—Addiction and Grace
Dr. May’s observation paints such a helpful picture for us. On the one hand we long for completeness, for a finished product, for everything to be neatly tied together; on the other hand we need to realize that the journey through life is not a completed map.
Grace and faith are a couple of important gifts that we need to access frequently if we are going to be authentic, spiritually vibrant people. John Newton penned it this way:
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved someone like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.”
As grace guides us to new places of awareness, we become healthier people. As we experience that grace coming time and time again, we may begin to realize the open-ended nature of spirituality. The more that realization happens the more life becomes one fabulous journey of “Amazing Grace” or continual renewal.
Authentic living—that is what we long for. Enjoy your day!!! And enjoy your weekend as you continue to experience the many ways that the Holy One is gracing your journey.
--Ben Keckler
05.08.09
"Authentic spiritual wholeness,
by its very nature,
is open-ended.
It is always in the process of becoming, always incomplete."
--Gerald May, M.D.—Addiction and Grace
Dr. May’s observation paints such a helpful picture for us. On the one hand we long for completeness, for a finished product, for everything to be neatly tied together; on the other hand we need to realize that the journey through life is not a completed map.
Grace and faith are a couple of important gifts that we need to access frequently if we are going to be authentic, spiritually vibrant people. John Newton penned it this way:
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved someone like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.”
As grace guides us to new places of awareness, we become healthier people. As we experience that grace coming time and time again, we may begin to realize the open-ended nature of spirituality. The more that realization happens the more life becomes one fabulous journey of “Amazing Grace” or continual renewal.
Authentic living—that is what we long for. Enjoy your day!!! And enjoy your weekend as you continue to experience the many ways that the Holy One is gracing your journey.
--Ben Keckler
05.08.09
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, June 25
Grace of God through New Friends
“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. I am finding, enjoying, and learning more about the graciousness of God.
You may have noticed that the face of the Lord is shining these days with new friends in your life – new neighbors or employees, new people on sports teams, at church, new members of organizations. It is important that we help welcome and integrate these folks into our community, at home, at work or at relaxation. As these new folks with their hopes, dreams and goals blend with the “seasoned” group, we 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 with new friends and ideas. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.25.08
“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. I am finding, enjoying, and learning more about the graciousness of God.
You may have noticed that the face of the Lord is shining these days with new friends in your life – new neighbors or employees, new people on sports teams, at church, new members of organizations. It is important that we help welcome and integrate these folks into our community, at home, at work or at relaxation. As these new folks with their hopes, dreams and goals blend with the “seasoned” group, we 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 with new friends and ideas. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
06.25.08
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