Joy! Midweek Reflections
“I have told you this, so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”--Jesus, as remembered by John (15:11)
There is so much happening in our world that can rob us of joy. Here in the hospital we treat sickness and disease in people experiencing joyless, painful times. In this global village, sad stories about natural disasters and wars decorate the headlines, a saga that is not just decades old, but centuries old.
This verse of Scripture says that complete joy, ecstasy if you will, is a possibility; not just for the mystic within us, but a possibility for all who trust the teachings of Jesus. Sounds almost unfathomable, doesn’t it?
“Somehow joy is much harder to express than sadness. It seems that we have more words for sickness than for health, more for abnormal conditions than for normal conditions. Those who live joy-filled lives are always moving away from rigidly fixed situations and exploring new, unmapped dimensions of reality. In other words, 'Joy is always new!' Whereas there can be old pain, old grief, and old sorrow, there can be no old joy. Old joy is not joy! Joy is always connected with movement, renewal, rebirth, change – in short, with life.” (Quotes are from Lifesigns, Henri Nouwen, p. 85-88)
It’s mid-week!! I wish for you a day that has many moments of joy! May springtime be alive within you, filling you with joy, complete joy and contentment.
Prayer: God of joy, may I find you in new ways—small or great. Be before me, beneath me, over me, behind me, within me. In your name, Amen.
--Ben Keckler
04.07.10
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, April 6
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Frederick Buechner is an enjoyable, thoughtful writer. The book, Listening to Your Life, a daily meditation book, is filled with meaningful insights. In one April meditation he suggests that life itself is trying to tell us something.
“The alphabet of grace is full of sibilants—
sounds that can’t be shouted, but only whispered:
the sounds of bumblebees and wind,
of whitecaps hissing up flat over the glittering sand,
of crowds hushed in vast and vaulted places,
the sound of your own breathing.
“The trees, the budding flowers, the rhythm of waking, work and sleeping—all are trying to tell us something.”
The meditation goes on and Buechner continues to use words that paint a picture about the rhythm of life. He concludes with these brief words:
“How do I happen to believe in God?
I will give one more answer, which can be stated briefly.
Writing novels, I got into the habit of looking for plots.
After awhile, I began to suspect that my own life had a plot.
And after awhile more, I began to suspect that life itself has a plot.”
Seems like Buechner is in touch with something! It really isn’t new. In fact, Buechner seems to be using his words to tell the story of Psalm 104. Why not take a minute and read that Psalm today.
--Ben Keckler
04.06.10
Frederick Buechner is an enjoyable, thoughtful writer. The book, Listening to Your Life, a daily meditation book, is filled with meaningful insights. In one April meditation he suggests that life itself is trying to tell us something.
“The alphabet of grace is full of sibilants—
sounds that can’t be shouted, but only whispered:
the sounds of bumblebees and wind,
of whitecaps hissing up flat over the glittering sand,
of crowds hushed in vast and vaulted places,
the sound of your own breathing.
“The trees, the budding flowers, the rhythm of waking, work and sleeping—all are trying to tell us something.”
The meditation goes on and Buechner continues to use words that paint a picture about the rhythm of life. He concludes with these brief words:
“How do I happen to believe in God?
I will give one more answer, which can be stated briefly.
Writing novels, I got into the habit of looking for plots.
After awhile, I began to suspect that my own life had a plot.
And after awhile more, I began to suspect that life itself has a plot.”
Seems like Buechner is in touch with something! It really isn’t new. In fact, Buechner seems to be using his words to tell the story of Psalm 104. Why not take a minute and read that Psalm today.
--Ben Keckler
04.06.10
Monday, April 5, 2010
Daily Devotion - Monday, April 5
A Prayer from Mother Teresa
Thirty years ago Malcolm Muggeridge was inspired to write a book about the work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Something Beautiful for God includes her daily prayer for the Children’s Home in Calcutta.
“Jesus My Patient”
“Dearest Lord,
“May I see you today and every day in the person of your sick, and while nursing them, minister unto you.
“Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you, and say: ‘Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you.’
“Lord, give me this seeing faith, then my work will never be monotonous. I will ever find joy in humoring the fancies and gratifying the wishes of all poor sufferers.
“O beloved sick, how doubly dear you are to me, when you personify Christ; and what a privilege is mine to be allowed to tend you.
“Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness or impatience.
“And, O God, while you are Jesus, my patient, deign also to be to me a patient Jesus, bearing with my faults, looking only to my intention, which is to love and serve you in the person of each of your sick.
“Lord, increase my faith; bless my efforts and work, now and forevermore. Amen.”
Note: Seems to me this prayer is appropriate, with some possible adaptations, across the lines of faith traditions. Have a blessed day in your caregiving and work.
--Ben Keckler
04.05.10
Thirty years ago Malcolm Muggeridge was inspired to write a book about the work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Something Beautiful for God includes her daily prayer for the Children’s Home in Calcutta.
“Jesus My Patient”
“Dearest Lord,
“May I see you today and every day in the person of your sick, and while nursing them, minister unto you.
“Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you, and say: ‘Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you.’
“Lord, give me this seeing faith, then my work will never be monotonous. I will ever find joy in humoring the fancies and gratifying the wishes of all poor sufferers.
“O beloved sick, how doubly dear you are to me, when you personify Christ; and what a privilege is mine to be allowed to tend you.
“Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness or impatience.
“And, O God, while you are Jesus, my patient, deign also to be to me a patient Jesus, bearing with my faults, looking only to my intention, which is to love and serve you in the person of each of your sick.
“Lord, increase my faith; bless my efforts and work, now and forevermore. Amen.”
Note: Seems to me this prayer is appropriate, with some possible adaptations, across the lines of faith traditions. Have a blessed day in your caregiving and work.
--Ben Keckler
04.05.10
Friday, April 2, 2010
Daily Devotion - Friday, April 2
To Spend Time with Seeds
“O magnify the Lord with me,
let us exalt God’s name together.”
--A request to sing of God’s goodness
Thank you for letting me share some of my “seed planting” stories with you this week. I close this week's devotions with a hymn by contemporary hymn writer, Natalie Sleeth. She is a gifted composer. This hymn expresses why I believe it is important for every person to spend time with seeds and the soil; to spend time with the rebirth of nature; to spend time in silence with the rhythms of life, death and LIFE.
“In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
“There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
“In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity,
In our doubt there is believing, in our life eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.”
• Today is Friday. The rhythm of life goes on. Absorb all the things that God is offering to you this spring. Have a blessed weekend.
--Ben Keckler
04.02.10
“O magnify the Lord with me,
let us exalt God’s name together.”
--A request to sing of God’s goodness
Thank you for letting me share some of my “seed planting” stories with you this week. I close this week's devotions with a hymn by contemporary hymn writer, Natalie Sleeth. She is a gifted composer. This hymn expresses why I believe it is important for every person to spend time with seeds and the soil; to spend time with the rebirth of nature; to spend time in silence with the rhythms of life, death and LIFE.
“In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
“There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
“In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity,
In our doubt there is believing, in our life eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.”
• Today is Friday. The rhythm of life goes on. Absorb all the things that God is offering to you this spring. Have a blessed weekend.
--Ben Keckler
04.02.10
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Daily Devotion - Thursday, April 1
Zinnias
“O magnify the Lord with me,
let us exalt God’s name together.”
--A request to sing of God’s goodness
A couple weeks ago, I started planting flower seeds. Most of them are from our flowers last year. Some of them have quite a history, connecting us with special people in our lives.
• Today the story of the Zinnia seeds. We decided to buy some new seeds for our zinnia bed. These zinnias don’t have much of a story that connects with the past except that Grandma loved zinnias which is enough of a reason to plant them. I didn't have good luck with the first planting so I’m hopeful the second round provides some hearty plants for outdoor work in a few weeks.
• The zinnias connect us with the known and unknown of our tomorrows. We have some idea what to expect -- we’ve grown zinnias in the past and the packet told us how tall they would be. What we don’t know is what color each of these plants will be. The zinnia is a lot like life. The rhythm of life goes on daily, but we can’t be certain about the rhythms tomorrow will present.
• Today is Thursday. Receive life as it comes to you today, regardless of the exact colors/challenges you experience. Know that a Holy God accompanies you and join me in calling on the name of the Lord.
--Ben Keckler
04.01.10
“O magnify the Lord with me,
let us exalt God’s name together.”
--A request to sing of God’s goodness
A couple weeks ago, I started planting flower seeds. Most of them are from our flowers last year. Some of them have quite a history, connecting us with special people in our lives.
• Today the story of the Zinnia seeds. We decided to buy some new seeds for our zinnia bed. These zinnias don’t have much of a story that connects with the past except that Grandma loved zinnias which is enough of a reason to plant them. I didn't have good luck with the first planting so I’m hopeful the second round provides some hearty plants for outdoor work in a few weeks.
• The zinnias connect us with the known and unknown of our tomorrows. We have some idea what to expect -- we’ve grown zinnias in the past and the packet told us how tall they would be. What we don’t know is what color each of these plants will be. The zinnia is a lot like life. The rhythm of life goes on daily, but we can’t be certain about the rhythms tomorrow will present.
• Today is Thursday. Receive life as it comes to you today, regardless of the exact colors/challenges you experience. Know that a Holy God accompanies you and join me in calling on the name of the Lord.
--Ben Keckler
04.01.10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
