A Question for the Holy?
“Whom have I in heaven but you?…
But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord my refuge.”
Psalm 73:25, 28
Taking time with the questions of the soul is some of the best work a person can do. Taking time with the questions of the soul opens up avenues for communication at levels that can empower us and guide us when the way is particularly difficult. The Psalm writer was comfortable asking questions, even if answers did not readily surface. Asking the questions of the soul — this is the good work. Rainer Maria Rilke offers this insight today:
“Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart
and try to love the questions themselves…
Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now,
because you would not be able to live them.
And the point is, to live everything.
Live the questions now.
Perhaps then, someday far in the future,
you will gradually, without even noticing it
live your way into the answer."
A prayer for today:
Holy God, I give you my questions and ask you to grant me understanding in your time. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.14.08
Monday, January 14, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Daily Devotions - Friday, January 11
Considering the Important Stuff
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
The moon and the stars you have set on their courses,
What is humankind that you should be mindful of us?”
--Psalm 8: 4, 5
Consider the works of God’s creation for 15 brief minutes a day and you too will probably wonder, “Why is God so mindful of me?” Enjoy discovering answers to this question.
Today we continue our thoughts about the significance of creation. We are part of a cosmic community. The Creator who set all time and space in motion created us in community with the rest of the cosmos. Spending time meditating on this thought can really be empowering. Here is a little story from the life of St. Francis who spent time praying with the little creatures:
When Francis was hurrying across the Lake of Rieti to the
hermitage of Greccio, out of devotion a fisherman offered
him a waterfowl. He took it gladly and opened his hands
to let it go, but it did not want to. He prayed for a long
time with his eyes turned to heaven. After more than an
hour, he came back to himself and gently told the bird again
to go away and praise God. Having received his permission
with a blessing, the bird expressed its joy in the movements
of its body, and flew away.
It may be difficult to take tales like this seriously. The problem is probably ours, however. Realizing the integrity and sacredness of creation opens new dimensions for our spiritual life and our devotional disciplines. We are a small, small part of a splendid work. Thanks to God for all of creation.
A prayer for today:
Holy God, slow me down enough so that in stillness I can discover. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.11.08
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
The moon and the stars you have set on their courses,
What is humankind that you should be mindful of us?”
--Psalm 8: 4, 5
Consider the works of God’s creation for 15 brief minutes a day and you too will probably wonder, “Why is God so mindful of me?” Enjoy discovering answers to this question.
Today we continue our thoughts about the significance of creation. We are part of a cosmic community. The Creator who set all time and space in motion created us in community with the rest of the cosmos. Spending time meditating on this thought can really be empowering. Here is a little story from the life of St. Francis who spent time praying with the little creatures:
When Francis was hurrying across the Lake of Rieti to the
hermitage of Greccio, out of devotion a fisherman offered
him a waterfowl. He took it gladly and opened his hands
to let it go, but it did not want to. He prayed for a long
time with his eyes turned to heaven. After more than an
hour, he came back to himself and gently told the bird again
to go away and praise God. Having received his permission
with a blessing, the bird expressed its joy in the movements
of its body, and flew away.
It may be difficult to take tales like this seriously. The problem is probably ours, however. Realizing the integrity and sacredness of creation opens new dimensions for our spiritual life and our devotional disciplines. We are a small, small part of a splendid work. Thanks to God for all of creation.
A prayer for today:
Holy God, slow me down enough so that in stillness I can discover. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.11.08
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Daily Devotions - Thursday, January 10
What Is The Important Stuff?
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
The moon and the stars you have set on their courses,
What is humankind that you should be mindful of us?”
Psalm 8: 4, 5
This is an interesting question, don't you think? It is a question worthy of exploration and dialogue. The writer recognizes both how insignificant he/she is and how profoundly privileged he/she is. The question should cause us to realize just how skewed our vision can become.
Somehow we get stuck, thinking we are the center of the universe. Our affluence can cause us to miss enjoying simple things. We take little time focusing on the biggest picture because we are trying to create a big picture of our own. A collection of objects from nature—stones, feathers, pine cones, a flower, blades of grass—can really help us in our spiritual development. Taking 15 minutes in your day to simply be with an object and allow it to “tell its story” can truly be a meaningful way of getting in touch with our own “infinite smallness”. Taking time with the surroundings of nature that have been around forever can give us new perspectives about the plastic we use to purchase plastic things.
Consider the works of God’s creation for 15 brief minutes a day and you too will probably wonder, “Why is God so mindful of me?” Enjoy discovering the answer to this important question.
A prayer for today:
Holy God, slow me down enough so that in stillness I can discover. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.10.08
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
The moon and the stars you have set on their courses,
What is humankind that you should be mindful of us?”
Psalm 8: 4, 5
This is an interesting question, don't you think? It is a question worthy of exploration and dialogue. The writer recognizes both how insignificant he/she is and how profoundly privileged he/she is. The question should cause us to realize just how skewed our vision can become.
Somehow we get stuck, thinking we are the center of the universe. Our affluence can cause us to miss enjoying simple things. We take little time focusing on the biggest picture because we are trying to create a big picture of our own. A collection of objects from nature—stones, feathers, pine cones, a flower, blades of grass—can really help us in our spiritual development. Taking 15 minutes in your day to simply be with an object and allow it to “tell its story” can truly be a meaningful way of getting in touch with our own “infinite smallness”. Taking time with the surroundings of nature that have been around forever can give us new perspectives about the plastic we use to purchase plastic things.
Consider the works of God’s creation for 15 brief minutes a day and you too will probably wonder, “Why is God so mindful of me?” Enjoy discovering the answer to this important question.
A prayer for today:
Holy God, slow me down enough so that in stillness I can discover. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.10.08
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, January 9
What Is The Important Stuff?
“A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.”
Proverbs 14:30
One of the valuable textbooks for living is Mitch Albom’s book Tuesdays with Morrie. Mitch discovered that his revered college professor, Morrie, was dying. He took off a number of Tuesdays to go and visit his old professor. In today’s devotion we hear some important questions from their second visit. Morrie poses these questions as a guide for living:
1. Have you found someone to share your heart with?
2. Are you giving to your community?
3. Are you at peace with yourself?
4. Are you trying to be as human as you can be?
These questions are worthy of thought, particularly as we consider what we want to experience during 2008. Have a good day.
A prayer for the year 2008:
Holy God, fill my heart (and your world) with peace. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.09.08
“A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.”
Proverbs 14:30
One of the valuable textbooks for living is Mitch Albom’s book Tuesdays with Morrie. Mitch discovered that his revered college professor, Morrie, was dying. He took off a number of Tuesdays to go and visit his old professor. In today’s devotion we hear some important questions from their second visit. Morrie poses these questions as a guide for living:
1. Have you found someone to share your heart with?
2. Are you giving to your community?
3. Are you at peace with yourself?
4. Are you trying to be as human as you can be?
These questions are worthy of thought, particularly as we consider what we want to experience during 2008. Have a good day.
A prayer for the year 2008:
Holy God, fill my heart (and your world) with peace. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.09.08
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Daily Devotions - Tuesday, January 8
Perspective For 2008
“Watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
--Deuteronomy 4: 9
The gift of family and children is a wonderful gift. What we do with the gift is important. With the season of gift giving and gift receiving fresh in our memories, let’s think today about what we are doing with this gift of family and children. Generally, when we receive gifts we keep them (well, maybe at this season we exchange them ). We appear to be a culture that hoards, storing away the gifts we receive. There is a tendency to do the same with the gift of family and children; a tendency to claim ownership, to keep for ourselves, to smother.
This gift of family and children can be (should be) viewed as a gift that we can nurture for the purpose of giving away. Today’s key verse suggests that we need to learn from our experiences and teach them to our families and children, thereby preparing them for their journey A good question in these opening days of 2008 might be: “How am I preparing the gift I’ve received to be a gift for the world?”
Walter Payton states in his autobiography Never Die Easy, “They (family/children) are the most precious thing that we have. …Find out what they’re doing, what their life is all about, what their problems are and what they feel is important to them.” By listening we can teach “our gifts” the value of being compassionate. Enjoy your day and have a good year nurturing the gifts you are preparing for the world.
A prayer for the year 2008:
God who has gifted me in many ways,
Empower me to listen to the gifts you have given me. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.08.08
“Watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
--Deuteronomy 4: 9
The gift of family and children is a wonderful gift. What we do with the gift is important. With the season of gift giving and gift receiving fresh in our memories, let’s think today about what we are doing with this gift of family and children. Generally, when we receive gifts we keep them (well, maybe at this season we exchange them ). We appear to be a culture that hoards, storing away the gifts we receive. There is a tendency to do the same with the gift of family and children; a tendency to claim ownership, to keep for ourselves, to smother.
This gift of family and children can be (should be) viewed as a gift that we can nurture for the purpose of giving away. Today’s key verse suggests that we need to learn from our experiences and teach them to our families and children, thereby preparing them for their journey A good question in these opening days of 2008 might be: “How am I preparing the gift I’ve received to be a gift for the world?”
Walter Payton states in his autobiography Never Die Easy, “They (family/children) are the most precious thing that we have. …Find out what they’re doing, what their life is all about, what their problems are and what they feel is important to them.” By listening we can teach “our gifts” the value of being compassionate. Enjoy your day and have a good year nurturing the gifts you are preparing for the world.
A prayer for the year 2008:
God who has gifted me in many ways,
Empower me to listen to the gifts you have given me. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.08.08
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