Thought for the Journey
As we prepare for the weekend, I hope you have experienced some personal challenge with the devotions this week. I am hopeful that you have let the Spirit dance within you, that you have allowed your thoughts to be expanded, and that you may feel a bit better equipped for living in this global community.
• Enjoy this weekend, maybe jump in a pile of fallen leaves or pack a picnic lunch and go to a favorite park to enjoy nature’s surroundings.
• Play this weekend, maybe toss a football around and see if you can keep from getting any body parts broken.
• Let your inner child be alive!
W. H. Davies puts it well: “It seems to me that the whole secret of life, if it is to be happy, is in the spirit of love; and when an old form of love dies we must take on the new. If life is to be made interesting and worth its breath, we must look on ourselves as growing children, right up to the end of our days.”
Enjoy your weekend.
Ben Keckler
10.29.10
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Daily Devotion - Thursday, October 28
Thoughts for the Journey
You may want to live with this thought-provoking prayer by Ted Loder as you do your work today:
“Holy One,
Gentle me into an unclenched moment,
A deep breath,
A letting go
Of heavy experiences, of shriveling anxieties,
Of dead certainties,
That, softened by the silence,
Surrounded by the light,
And open to the mystery,
I may be found by wholeness,
Upheld by the unfathomable,
Entranced by the simple,
And filled with the joy
That is YOU!”
May you be gently touched today, friends.
--Ben Keckler
10.28.10
You may want to live with this thought-provoking prayer by Ted Loder as you do your work today:
“Holy One,
Gentle me into an unclenched moment,
A deep breath,
A letting go
Of heavy experiences, of shriveling anxieties,
Of dead certainties,
That, softened by the silence,
Surrounded by the light,
And open to the mystery,
I may be found by wholeness,
Upheld by the unfathomable,
Entranced by the simple,
And filled with the joy
That is YOU!”
May you be gently touched today, friends.
--Ben Keckler
10.28.10
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, October 27
Thoughts for the Journey
If we believe in eternal life then what does that say about a person who has died? Are they dead or are they living? Something to think about I believe!
I believe life is eternal. I like the challenge Melody Beattie presents in these thoughts:
“Speak your truth. Listen when others speak theirs, too.
When you let go of fear, you will learn to love others
and you will let them love you.
Do not be afraid of dying. And do not be afraid to live!
Ask yourself what that line means.
Open your heart to love, for that is why you’re here.
And know that you are, and always have been One
with Me and all who live.”
Have a great day.
--Ben Keckler
10.27.10
If we believe in eternal life then what does that say about a person who has died? Are they dead or are they living? Something to think about I believe!
I believe life is eternal. I like the challenge Melody Beattie presents in these thoughts:
“Speak your truth. Listen when others speak theirs, too.
When you let go of fear, you will learn to love others
and you will let them love you.
Do not be afraid of dying. And do not be afraid to live!
Ask yourself what that line means.
Open your heart to love, for that is why you’re here.
And know that you are, and always have been One
with Me and all who live.”
Have a great day.
--Ben Keckler
10.27.10
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, October 26
Thoughts for the Journey
... “for everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” (The book of Ecclesiastes)
One of my favorite quotes as the leaves continue to fall comes from Nancy Wood:
“You shall ask what good are dead leaves,
And I will tell you they nourish the sore earth.
You shall ask what reason is there for winter,
And I will tell you to bring about new leaves.
You shall ask why are the leaves so green
And I will tell you because they are rich with life.
You shall ask why must summer end
And I will tell you so that the leaves can die.”
Prayer: God, I thank you for the dying leaves (and my rake?)
--Ben Keckler
10.26.10
... “for everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” (The book of Ecclesiastes)
One of my favorite quotes as the leaves continue to fall comes from Nancy Wood:
“You shall ask what good are dead leaves,
And I will tell you they nourish the sore earth.
You shall ask what reason is there for winter,
And I will tell you to bring about new leaves.
You shall ask why are the leaves so green
And I will tell you because they are rich with life.
You shall ask why must summer end
And I will tell you so that the leaves can die.”
Prayer: God, I thank you for the dying leaves (and my rake?)
--Ben Keckler
10.26.10
Monday, October 25, 2010
Daily Devotion - Monday, October 25
Constant Call for Compassionate Care
God gave us two ears but only one mouth.
Some people say that’s because He wanted us to spend
twice as much time listening as talking.
Others claim it’s because He knew that listening was twice as hard.
--Unknown
During the past five plus years I've been growing in a new responsibility or opportunity. It is really something I've been doing for most of my adult life; these last few years the focus has changed. Now I am dedicated to the specific challenge of compassionately caring for GRANDchildren.
We hear the constant call for compassionate care for all the GRAND children of our global village. Sometimes we do a good job, sometimes we need to polish our skills. Responding to this task can wear on us. Compassionate care for children begins when we actively listen to their heartsongs. Our creator knows how to listen and how hard listening really is. I personally believe that God would much rather we cry with one another and say “it hurts!” than for us to proclaim we are OK when we really are hurting!
Can we commit ourselves to this really difficult task — listening to children. A child comes to us crying, “It hurts!” No external wound, but “it hurts.” They may not be able to have anything more definitive than that. Compassionate care calls us to listen to those two simple words, to hear the cry of their hurting heart and then to provide the therapeutic touch. The cries are becoming more intense! Are you ready to listen and respond? God be with us in our listening and in our responding.
--Ben Keckler
10.25.10
God gave us two ears but only one mouth.
Some people say that’s because He wanted us to spend
twice as much time listening as talking.
Others claim it’s because He knew that listening was twice as hard.
--Unknown
During the past five plus years I've been growing in a new responsibility or opportunity. It is really something I've been doing for most of my adult life; these last few years the focus has changed. Now I am dedicated to the specific challenge of compassionately caring for GRANDchildren.
We hear the constant call for compassionate care for all the GRAND children of our global village. Sometimes we do a good job, sometimes we need to polish our skills. Responding to this task can wear on us. Compassionate care for children begins when we actively listen to their heartsongs. Our creator knows how to listen and how hard listening really is. I personally believe that God would much rather we cry with one another and say “it hurts!” than for us to proclaim we are OK when we really are hurting!
Can we commit ourselves to this really difficult task — listening to children. A child comes to us crying, “It hurts!” No external wound, but “it hurts.” They may not be able to have anything more definitive than that. Compassionate care calls us to listen to those two simple words, to hear the cry of their hurting heart and then to provide the therapeutic touch. The cries are becoming more intense! Are you ready to listen and respond? God be with us in our listening and in our responding.
--Ben Keckler
10.25.10
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