WATCHWORD:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Meditation:
The Spiritual Life
For a number of years, I worked in an organization where the wife of my president was known as a spiritual woman. I’m not sure I could define that, but I would say that in her presence there was a calmness, a peacefulness, the sense of always being welcomed. She could take a passage of scripture, and translate it into practical modern day examples and language.
After retirement, the two moved into a new home. I attended their open house and on a tour, she showed us into her prayer room. It was a small room, beautifully appointed, with a single window looking out over the pond. In front of the window was a kneeling bench and a place for books and meditation materials. She spoke of how important that room had become and how the Lord spoke to her in the quiet of that small space.
I admire that quality in her. But over time, I have come to realize even more deeply that God speaks to all of us in the whispers of our quiet time. When we contemplate the meaning of a Scripture passage or a devotional reading, and you have a moment of clarity, of seeing the deeper meaning…that’s God speaking to us. Maybe in the midst of that quiet time you are inspired to do something, to say something, to make a call or a visit. In those moments God is speaking to you.
Don’t be misled, Spiritual life is not just a mental life. It is not thought alone. Nor is it, a life of sensation, a life of feelings and experiencing the things of the spirit, and the things of God. It needs both. It is not just a life concentrated on those times of inspiration.
You and I, must be totally alive — Body, soul, mind, heart, spirit. Each held sacred and transformed by the action of God, in love and faith. In a sense, it is a time of equipping and preparation for what lies ahead, as a disciple.
Thomas Merton makes this statement on the topic, “Living is not thinking. Thought is formed and guided by objective reality outside us. Living is the constant adjustment of thought to life and life to thought in such a way that we are always growing, always experiencing new things in the old and old things in the new. Thus, life is always new.
The life of a Believer is one of attending well to the murmurs of the Holy Spirit that comes to us, often unexpectedly, when we are least prepared. but most often when our minds are clear and our focus is on our Lord. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Humor is part of the Christian life. Recently I came across this story, many of you can relate to: “It was 45 minutes to my cousin’s wedding reception in Nashville, Tennessee, and my mom was driving. I had my cousin’s vanilla-frosted, two-tier wedding cake on my lap. My mom made a sharp left turn, and the box went flying. The cake was smashed against the dashboard. Frosting was smeared all over the inside of the rental car.
I glared at my mom, ready to let her have it. Then burst out laughing. Not just a few giggles. More like gut-busting laughter. Pretty soon, my mom was laughing too. Tears streamed down our cheeks; we couldn’t have stopped if we tried.
We made it to the reception and even managed to make the cake look somewhat presentable. Weeks later, though, I was still scratching my head over the incident. Why on earth had I laughed? The moment had been freeing, cathartic. Almost spiritual. As if the laughter was coming from deep within my soul. Could it be that my laughter wasn’t just a senseless reaction to a potential disaster? But, rather, some sort of gift from God? Of course.
Merton’s Morning Prayer:
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think that I am following your will
Does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
For you are ever with me,
And you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
