Revisiting A Theme
“Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.”
--Psalm 90: 12
One book that can be a helpful devotional book is Tuesdays with Morrie. Just a couple of weeks ago, I called our attention to the quote I am using again today. It deserves repetition!!!!! Morrie, as you may recall, is a retired college professor who is dying from ALS. His former student, hearing of his former professor’s illness, decides to take some of his Tuesdays flying from Detroit to Boston just to learn some more from Morrie.
“If you hold back on the emotions—if you don’t allow yourself to go all the way through them—you can never get to being detached, you’re too busy being afraid. You’re afraid of the pain, you’re afraid of the grief. You’re afraid of the vulnerability that loving entails. By throwing yourself into these emotions, by allowing yourself to dive in, all the way, over your head even, you experience them fully and completely. You know what pain is, what love is, what grief is.”
He then shares this powerful observation: “I know you think this is just about dying, but it’s like I keep telling you: When you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”
May your day and your weekend be filled with wonderful (difficult) encounters with the emotions of your soul.
A prayer for today: O God, give me courage to face the emotions of my soul. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.14.08
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Daily Devotion - Thursday, March 13
Some Reflections On Prayer
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice!”
--Psalm 130: 1
Few people will deny that prayer is a significant part of life. Many people will say things like, “I don’t know where I would be right now if it weren’t for prayer.” Often the comment will be made, “I don’t pray as much as I should.” Like the writer of today’s meditative verse, a universal cry comes from the created to the Creator.
Even with all of this certainty about the significance of prayer, few people enter into the sacred moments of prayer as actively as we should or could. There is always one more phone call, one more letter, one more visit, one more meeting, one more party, one more TV show, one more page to read and… The insurmountable pile of activities surrounding us can win our attention and offer the tangible distraction, pulling us away from the centering process of prayer.
“The contrast between the great support for the idea of prayer and the lack of support for the practice of it is so blatantly visible that it becomes easy to believe in the power of the things that surround us.” (Nouwen, The Way of the Heart, p. 55)
Take time and, in the way that works for you, pray. May you have a day that is showered with blessings because you’ve taken the necessary time to center your life, allowing the divine to show you what is important for today.
A prayer for today: Allow me enough stillness, O God. Keep me centered, listening for you!
Ben Keckler
03.13.08
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice!”
--Psalm 130: 1
Few people will deny that prayer is a significant part of life. Many people will say things like, “I don’t know where I would be right now if it weren’t for prayer.” Often the comment will be made, “I don’t pray as much as I should.” Like the writer of today’s meditative verse, a universal cry comes from the created to the Creator.
Even with all of this certainty about the significance of prayer, few people enter into the sacred moments of prayer as actively as we should or could. There is always one more phone call, one more letter, one more visit, one more meeting, one more party, one more TV show, one more page to read and… The insurmountable pile of activities surrounding us can win our attention and offer the tangible distraction, pulling us away from the centering process of prayer.
“The contrast between the great support for the idea of prayer and the lack of support for the practice of it is so blatantly visible that it becomes easy to believe in the power of the things that surround us.” (Nouwen, The Way of the Heart, p. 55)
Take time and, in the way that works for you, pray. May you have a day that is showered with blessings because you’ve taken the necessary time to center your life, allowing the divine to show you what is important for today.
A prayer for today: Allow me enough stillness, O God. Keep me centered, listening for you!
Ben Keckler
03.13.08
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, March 12
A Prayer for the World
“May God be gracious to us and bless us,
may God’s face shine upon us….
May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth honor the Lord.”
--Psalm 67: 1, 7
In today’s meditation verses we are introduced to an important, but seldom discussed aspect of spirituality. Generally, Sacred writings focus on the personalized prayers and desires of the individual and God. The 67th Psalm is very different, it is a song that speaks of the “community of faith” with all the personal pronouns in the “we” form rather than the “me” form.
Might there be a voice of common unity trying to emerge in our society; in the world? Can the voice of a community overshadow the voice of an individual? Is there more power in a united “we” than in the individual “me”?
Bringing the thought of community closer to home, the question becomes what is the common unity that brings us together. What community do you work in? We/I work in a hospital community. We are fortunate to have Vision and Mission statements. Today is a good day to read them and think about them. Recognize that embracing these statements is the foundation of our common-unity. After reading them, pause in a prayer using the two verses at the beginning of today’s meditation.
Have a good day.
Ben Keckler
03.12.08
“May God be gracious to us and bless us,
may God’s face shine upon us….
May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth honor the Lord.”
--Psalm 67: 1, 7
In today’s meditation verses we are introduced to an important, but seldom discussed aspect of spirituality. Generally, Sacred writings focus on the personalized prayers and desires of the individual and God. The 67th Psalm is very different, it is a song that speaks of the “community of faith” with all the personal pronouns in the “we” form rather than the “me” form.
Might there be a voice of common unity trying to emerge in our society; in the world? Can the voice of a community overshadow the voice of an individual? Is there more power in a united “we” than in the individual “me”?
Bringing the thought of community closer to home, the question becomes what is the common unity that brings us together. What community do you work in? We/I work in a hospital community. We are fortunate to have Vision and Mission statements. Today is a good day to read them and think about them. Recognize that embracing these statements is the foundation of our common-unity. After reading them, pause in a prayer using the two verses at the beginning of today’s meditation.
Have a good day.
Ben Keckler
03.12.08
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, March 11
Needing Peace?
“Out of my distress I called on the Lord…
The Lord is my strength and my might;
God has become my salvation.”
--Psalm 118: 5, 14
In these troubling times, unsettling moments greet us daily. Some are close and personal, others are more global. The up close, personal things can grab us and really shake up all the things we are trying to balance. Ken Phifer’s prayer, “I Need a Sense of Peace,” is helpful:
Give me peace, O God, a central peace.
Let me know that at the heart of turbulence
There is the calm that comes from faith in you
That at the core of life there is great confidence
From which springs forth courage and gladness.
Give me a standing place in life
From where I may be able to look steadily
Upon the world without panic.
Out of my central peace,
Let there ripple forth concern and compassion,
Indignation at injustice and willingness to give of myself
Knowing your spirit is with me.
May I attain the feeling
That I have touched that central peace
The peace that abides amid the confusion of life. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.11.08
“Out of my distress I called on the Lord…
The Lord is my strength and my might;
God has become my salvation.”
--Psalm 118: 5, 14
In these troubling times, unsettling moments greet us daily. Some are close and personal, others are more global. The up close, personal things can grab us and really shake up all the things we are trying to balance. Ken Phifer’s prayer, “I Need a Sense of Peace,” is helpful:
Give me peace, O God, a central peace.
Let me know that at the heart of turbulence
There is the calm that comes from faith in you
That at the core of life there is great confidence
From which springs forth courage and gladness.
Give me a standing place in life
From where I may be able to look steadily
Upon the world without panic.
Out of my central peace,
Let there ripple forth concern and compassion,
Indignation at injustice and willingness to give of myself
Knowing your spirit is with me.
May I attain the feeling
That I have touched that central peace
The peace that abides amid the confusion of life. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.11.08
Monday, March 10, 2008
Daily Devotions - Monday, March 10
Some Reassuring Thoughts
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.”
--Psalm 139: 23, 24
A few years ago writer David Hazard did some research on Francis of Assisi and was inspired to write a book of 40 meditations, A Day in Your Presence. From time to time in these next weeks we will reflect on some of the writings St. Francis left to inspire people. Obviously, St. Francis wrote from a Christian perspective. Some minor editing may be done from time to time as I address multiple faith groups.
“I am awed at the glory of it, amazed at the great and holy gift that is ours—to have a Creator who cares. Deep within me the very wonder of it burns with a holy fire. When I am faced with my own sin, it warms me with consolation. When I face a world of cruelty and vices, it brightens my soul with its beauty and with flames of holy wonder. To have a God who has willingly and lovingly promised to be ours forever!” --St. Francis, from his second letter to the faithful
As we begin this week, I trust that we will realize the gift that is within you and those around you.
A prayer for today: “In this moment, I want to be with you so that I may walk today in this thirsty world and carry with me a cool drink of your presence. Amen.”
Ben Keckler
03.10.08
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.”
--Psalm 139: 23, 24
A few years ago writer David Hazard did some research on Francis of Assisi and was inspired to write a book of 40 meditations, A Day in Your Presence. From time to time in these next weeks we will reflect on some of the writings St. Francis left to inspire people. Obviously, St. Francis wrote from a Christian perspective. Some minor editing may be done from time to time as I address multiple faith groups.
“I am awed at the glory of it, amazed at the great and holy gift that is ours—to have a Creator who cares. Deep within me the very wonder of it burns with a holy fire. When I am faced with my own sin, it warms me with consolation. When I face a world of cruelty and vices, it brightens my soul with its beauty and with flames of holy wonder. To have a God who has willingly and lovingly promised to be ours forever!” --St. Francis, from his second letter to the faithful
As we begin this week, I trust that we will realize the gift that is within you and those around you.
A prayer for today: “In this moment, I want to be with you so that I may walk today in this thirsty world and carry with me a cool drink of your presence. Amen.”
Ben Keckler
03.10.08
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