Present Tense Living, Part 5
Today is the final day of the work week for many of us. In some fields such as health care and public safety, we take time to remember the rhythm of work is 24—7—365!!!! Many of us will spend the weekend renewing ourselves, but others will be working. It is important that we do everything that needs to be done today. It is equally important to remember with thanksgiving those who will work this weekend — those who care for patients and families and those who protect us.
The Cheyenne Indians had a proverb: “When you lose the rhythm of the drumbeat of God, you are lost from the peace and rhythm of life.” Listen to the drumbeat today, all weekend long, and always!
Ben Keckler
08.08.08
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Daily Devotions - Thursday, August 7
Present Tense Living, Part 4
Today’s devotion comes from a Frederick Buechner sermon, preached at the 200th anniversary celebration of the Congregational church in Rupert, Vermont. His concluding remarks:
“There is plenty of work to be done down here, God knows.
To struggle each day to walk the paths of righteousness is no pushover,
And struggle we must because just as we are fed like sheep in green pastures, we must also feed God’s sheep.
We must help bear each other’s burdens.
We must pray for each other.
We must nourish each other, weep with each other, rejoice with each other.
Sometimes we must just learn to let each other alone.
In short, we must love each other. We must never forget that.”
We are on the “down-side” of this week. Still today, in this present tense moment, there is much that we can, should and must do. May you be empowered for work right now!
Ben Keckler
08.07.08
Today’s devotion comes from a Frederick Buechner sermon, preached at the 200th anniversary celebration of the Congregational church in Rupert, Vermont. His concluding remarks:
“There is plenty of work to be done down here, God knows.
To struggle each day to walk the paths of righteousness is no pushover,
And struggle we must because just as we are fed like sheep in green pastures, we must also feed God’s sheep.
We must help bear each other’s burdens.
We must pray for each other.
We must nourish each other, weep with each other, rejoice with each other.
Sometimes we must just learn to let each other alone.
In short, we must love each other. We must never forget that.”
We are on the “down-side” of this week. Still today, in this present tense moment, there is much that we can, should and must do. May you be empowered for work right now!
Ben Keckler
08.07.08
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, August 6
Present Tense Living, Part 3
Living in the present can be pretty intense! Hostilities seem to be exploding, literally. Our society is filled with people who can eloquently argue the political reasons for supporting every faction in every angry and violent region of our world. The Lenape tribe shares the following wisdom writing for the leaders of this world and for all inhabitants of it. It reads:
"We are minded to live at Peace: If we intend at anytime to make War upon you, we will let you know of it, and the Reasons why we make War with you; and if you make us satisfaction for the Injury done us, for which the War is intended, then we will not make War on you. And if you intend at any time to make War on us, we would have you let us know of it, and the Reasons for which you make War on us, and then if we do not make satisfaction for the Injury done unto you, then you make War on us, otherwise you ought not to do it."
Long and prayerful meditation on this bit of wisdom is in order this week. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in the sight of the Holy One, the Creator of the universe.
A prayer for today: God of today, be near your world in these tense days.
Ben Keckler
08.06.08
Living in the present can be pretty intense! Hostilities seem to be exploding, literally. Our society is filled with people who can eloquently argue the political reasons for supporting every faction in every angry and violent region of our world. The Lenape tribe shares the following wisdom writing for the leaders of this world and for all inhabitants of it. It reads:
"We are minded to live at Peace: If we intend at anytime to make War upon you, we will let you know of it, and the Reasons why we make War with you; and if you make us satisfaction for the Injury done us, for which the War is intended, then we will not make War on you. And if you intend at any time to make War on us, we would have you let us know of it, and the Reasons for which you make War on us, and then if we do not make satisfaction for the Injury done unto you, then you make War on us, otherwise you ought not to do it."
Long and prayerful meditation on this bit of wisdom is in order this week. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in the sight of the Holy One, the Creator of the universe.
A prayer for today: God of today, be near your world in these tense days.
Ben Keckler
08.06.08
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Daily Devotions - Tuesday, August 5
Present Tense Living, Part 2
Erasing the “ought to have” and the “if only” aspects of our lives is important. One writer puts it this way, “but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind me, I strain forward to what lies ahead of me.” The advice given is universal, crossing all religious boundaries. To forget what is behind is the best way to face today.
Henri Nouwen writes, “SO many things have happened in our lives about which we feel uneasy, regretful, angry, confused or ambivalent. And all these feelings are often colored by guilt. Guilt that says: ‘You ought to have done…..’ or ‘You ought to have said…..’” The result is that we cannot be fully present in the moment because we are holding on to past feelings that obscure our living in the moment.
The same is true of our “if only” moments. When we are wondering things like “What if the stock market plunges even more?” we are contemplating things beyond our control. We can end up missing the beauty that surrounds us.
Each of us has this moment, this day to be present and attentive to our inner voice, our work, each other. Be alert friends, the One who is, is present right now.
A prayer: God, help me to discover you right here, right now! Amen.
Ben Keckler
08.05.08
Erasing the “ought to have” and the “if only” aspects of our lives is important. One writer puts it this way, “but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind me, I strain forward to what lies ahead of me.” The advice given is universal, crossing all religious boundaries. To forget what is behind is the best way to face today.
Henri Nouwen writes, “SO many things have happened in our lives about which we feel uneasy, regretful, angry, confused or ambivalent. And all these feelings are often colored by guilt. Guilt that says: ‘You ought to have done…..’ or ‘You ought to have said…..’” The result is that we cannot be fully present in the moment because we are holding on to past feelings that obscure our living in the moment.
The same is true of our “if only” moments. When we are wondering things like “What if the stock market plunges even more?” we are contemplating things beyond our control. We can end up missing the beauty that surrounds us.
Each of us has this moment, this day to be present and attentive to our inner voice, our work, each other. Be alert friends, the One who is, is present right now.
A prayer: God, help me to discover you right here, right now! Amen.
Ben Keckler
08.05.08
Monday, August 4, 2008
Daily Devotions - Monday, August 4
Present Tense Living
One of the challenges we might encounter is living each day to the fullest. It is a struggle because we can easily be distracted—looking back and reflecting on our could have/should have opportunities or looking forward and hoping about our “I wish”/“I want” desires.
The ancient hymn writer exclaimed, “This is the day that our God has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Today is a new day and each hour, in fact each minute is a new beginning. It is a time to make things new. As you experience the gift of life today, try to hear that inner voice that is saying to each of us: “I have a gift for you and can’t wait for you to see it!”
As we choose to listen to that inner voice, we can discover that the past is gone and we will never change it. As we keep listening to that voice, we will find ourselves opening more and more to discover the new life hidden in the moment, waiting eagerly to be born.
Enjoy THIS DAY!
A prayer: God of today, keep me attentive to each moment of this day. Amen.
Ben Keckler
08.04.08
One of the challenges we might encounter is living each day to the fullest. It is a struggle because we can easily be distracted—looking back and reflecting on our could have/should have opportunities or looking forward and hoping about our “I wish”/“I want” desires.
The ancient hymn writer exclaimed, “This is the day that our God has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Today is a new day and each hour, in fact each minute is a new beginning. It is a time to make things new. As you experience the gift of life today, try to hear that inner voice that is saying to each of us: “I have a gift for you and can’t wait for you to see it!”
As we choose to listen to that inner voice, we can discover that the past is gone and we will never change it. As we keep listening to that voice, we will find ourselves opening more and more to discover the new life hidden in the moment, waiting eagerly to be born.
Enjoy THIS DAY!
A prayer: God of today, keep me attentive to each moment of this day. Amen.
Ben Keckler
08.04.08
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