Today's Meditation

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Our Natural Resources

May 23, 2012 at 5:27 am

Written by emeline,

Have we ever wondered why this generation is so filled with diseases of every kind? Simply put, we breathe in unnatural air from the pollution we create. As Today's Writer shares, we need the trees to clear our lungs from this world's pollution. But everywhere we look, the trees are being cut down to make way for some "cemented" entity. If you are ever given the opportunity to choose between trees and concrete, I would hope that your choice would be TREES. Let's breathe the pure air that God has so graciously provided for us!

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May 23, 2012 at 6:06 am

Written by Gail J in N.C.,

Isaiah 4:2-6 is an extended image of Jerusalem’s restoration.
It mentions the cloud by day and fire by night that we remember from the Exodus. They are signs of God’s presence among his people at the Exodus.
How wonderful that we have a God who is ever present though all the transitions of of the lives of his people, indeed thoughout our entire live.
How wonderful that one of the names of Jesus is Emmanuel – God with us!

you can choose your opinions but not your facts

May 23, 2012 at 6:26 am

Written by David in TX,

Forgot to mention that more trees are planted today that harvested - that's a fact that has been true for about 30 years.

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May 23, 2012 at 6:54 am

Written by Barbara Summers,

I read my grandson the Dr. Seuss book about the Lorax, my first time reading it, which deals with this theme.

Isaiah passage

May 23, 2012 at 8:32 am

Written by Calgary LR,

The Isaiah passage reminded me of the Joni Mitchel song where she wrote "they paved Paradise and put up a parking lot", yes in many places around the planet we are planting more trees these days, however it is not happening in the Amazon basin or in parts of Africa
Blessings to all

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May 23, 2012 at 9:33 am

Written by E. Linda Cushner,

I do believe that trees and plants clean the air from this plant. Trees are beautiful, flowers are beautiful, nature is beautiful. Let us not forget that everything has a purpose. God created this most wonderful planet for us, regardless of how He did it, it still belongs to us. It is a gift and like any other gift, we should honor it, appreciate it and take good care of it.

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TUESDAY, May 22

1 Samuel 16:1-13a. How long will you grieve?

Grief and trauma leave scars, but when they are unresolved it is as if they had just happened. White Bison, a Native American non-profit organization, has partnered with Native Ministry in the Episcopal Church. The goal is to address the historic grief and trauma in our Native communities so that healthy communities can work together for change.

Someone once said, “We are only as sick as our secret.” What do we hold on to in secret and not share?

In a world where individual success is central, the “true confessions” we read on social networking sites don’t seem to suggest that there is a process for healing pain or grief other than talking about it with the whole world.

Healing from grief and trauma begins with recognizing their presence in our lives. We have to acknowledge how we were hurt or what we lost before we can move forward. Otherwise, we continue to sustain the pain. We don’t have to do any of this work alone. Sometimes the grief or trauma is shared by whole communities or families. There is no doubt that working on it together is the best way forward, but that should not stop anyone who is ready to get to work.

PRAY for the Diocese of Chichester (Canterbury, England) http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=153

Ps 97, 99, [100] * 94, [95]; Ephesians 3:14-21; Matthew 8:18-27 http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=202241106

View the daily Lectionary Readings at the Satucket Lectionary website http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/May12.htm

Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.

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Share Your Gifts. Share Your Grief

May 22, 2012 at 5:06 am

Written by emeline,

By sharing our concerns with others, we recognize that we are not alone. Other people are experiencing similar concerns. It is good to talk about our concerns with trusted personnel, and be guided by their counsel so that healing will take place. In God we trust for healing!

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May 22, 2012 at 6:20 am

Written by Gail J in N.C.,

The rest of this Bible passage is about Samuel going to Bethlehem and annointing little David as the king to succeed Saul.

Perhaps part of healing grief is getting up and doing God's work, like Samuel.

Share your grief

May 22, 2012 at 7:39 am

Written by Mary Summers Hearn,

Thank you for tour words. They're just the impetus I need to join a cancer support group.

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May 22, 2012 at 8:52 am

Written by Jackie B,

I belong to a group called kindred hearts for those who have lost their loved ones as a result of suicide. We come together monthly and I can see healing happen as we hear the stories of our loved ones. social networking helps, journaling helps, sharing our greif with others who have gone through the same thing helps. but the only true healing comes from Jesus who can indeed see in to our hearts.

Thank you

May 22, 2012 at 10:24 am

Written by sister Liz,

Thanks,Jackie, and writer for insight and comforting words. My best friends daughter committed suicide friday after a long struggle. It has left us shaken and left a hole in our lives. Christ's presence fills all holes and emptiness. His loving arms are there. Thank you all again.

Wise Decision

May 22, 2012 at 7:15 pm

Written by emeline,

Wise decision Mary Summers Hearns. You recognize your need for support with your physical challenge and have joined the support group. The sessions will give you the support and confidence you need as you face your many challenges. May Christ bring healing to you and the team.

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SUNDAY, May 20 7 Easter Ascension Sunday

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26. And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

One of the blessings of living in a democratic society is our ability to choose our leaders. Having studied the candidates, we make our choice, casting our “lot.” What if the majority choice is different from our own? In the best case, we become of one mind because the majority opinion is one that we are willing to support or live with. But sometimes it is hard to let go of who we thought would be the best candidate.

Much faith, trust, and support for the good of the whole is required in a functioning democracy. The faith that helps us come together is the same faith that sees the path of diversity to unity. It is also the faith that believes that even when our selection might have been different, we can trust that there is more advantage in joining the majority than in continuing to oppose.

It doesn’t sound like there was any question about Matthias. I would like to think that when we have truly responded to a call, it is so very apparent to everyone around us that there is no question.

PRAY for the Anglican Communion — Today we celebrate Anglican Communion Sunday http://www.anglicancommunion.org/index.cfm

Ps 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Easter/BEaster7_RCL.html

View the daily Lectionary Readings at the Satucket Lectionary website http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/May12.htm

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May 20, 2012 at 8:36 am

Written by Terry,

When "our selection might have been different", our selection may have been to end slavery, or to welcome women to holy orders, or to welcome LGBTI people as equals. "Support for the good of the whole"- at what price, and paid by whom? How often did Jesus not "join the majority"? Before I get comfortable with the majority, I need to see where he invites me to stand.

Thanks!

May 20, 2012 at 10:35 am

Written by emeline,

Thanks Terry for a wonderful follw-up to Today's Meditational Writers' commentary. We are always welcome to stand whenever and whereever Jesus inivtes us. STAND!

The language in His Kingdom

May 20, 2012 at 4:42 pm

Written by Steve Doutt,

Today's meditation, the comments readers, and our sermon this morning all reveal truth; and illuminate the phrase, "you can't take it with you when you go."

Besides money, I can't take pride, politics, or culture. I better get ready to lose my native tongue, and my religion; or, learn to speak all languages and understand all religions. What about sexuality? Is that something that I'll take with me to my room in the many mansions of my Father's house? Who will I be sharing my room with?

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MONDAY, May 21

Matthew 8:5-17. I will come and cure him.

It seems there was hardly a hesitation when people came to Jesus. They were confident they would be healed. Maybe there is some of that present when people today go to the doctor seeking help. We can’t forget, however, that healing is complex and there are different levels of healing, as well as elements that may lead to healing. We seek the help of a doctor to be healed and at the same time must acknowledge, at least at some level, that the gifts the doctor exercises in this process come from God.

So who are our present day doctors who specialize in healing the soul? There may be more than one answer, depending on your culture, tradition, or lens. No matter who they are, they are most likely successful because they honor the source of the gifts they share with you.

Jesus never failed to respond to requests for healing, and he knew which requests were really statements of faith. This is the faith Jesus praised in this passage and it is the faith that will draw us closer to the source of true health and healing.

PRAY for the Diocese of Chicago (Province V, USA) http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=626

Ps 89:1-18 * 89:19-52; Joshua 1:1-9; Ephesians 3:1-13 http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=202237630

View the daily Lectionary Readings at the Satucket Lectionary website http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/May12.htm

Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.

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SATURDAY, May 19

Ephesians 2:11-22. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.

Our peace is found in recognizing the One who created us. In God there are no divisions or hostility.

Walls come in many forms, heights, and materials. Some are constructed with materials from the earth, dividing what is mine from yours, who is welcome from who is not, and proclaiming disunity. We have in our time seen walls come down and new walls go up.

Constructing walls can be seen as a hostile act dividing one geographical region from another. We mustn’t be surprised that the whole concept of walls is human-made.

Peace is when walls are no longer needed or desired, for any reason. Peace is found when a wall that once divided is deconstructed and no hostility exists.

Hostility will not exist when we begin to see ourselves as coming from one flesh, when we acknowledge that we are all related and everyone is our brother or sister. Then we will all know God’s peace.

PRAY for the Diocese of Chhattisgarh (North India) http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=878

Ps 87, 90 * 136; Numbers 11:16-17, 24-29; Matthew 7:28—8:4 http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=202236617

View the daily Lectionary Readings at the Satucket Lectionary website http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/May12.htm

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Division Vs Unity

May 19, 2012 at 4:52 am

Written by emeline,

Years ago, during one of my English Language Arts Classes, there was a poem included which was titled: "Good Fences Make Good Neighbours." This corresponds well with Today's Meditation about walls and separation. In our minds, we separate people by their colour, creed, origin or status. It takes us a very long time to recognize that nothing separates us from the love of God. He made us all in His image and likeness, therefore, we are all one.

All are reminded of the words from a well-known chorus:

"We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we they'll know we are Christians by our love."

...

May 19, 2012 at 6:44 am

Written by Gail J in NC,

The first two words of The Lords Prayer "Our father" makes us all brothers and sisters.
Let us walk with our siblings in peace, harmony, and love.
Let us wage peace!

"Something there is . . . ."

May 19, 2012 at 9:29 am

Written by Mary C.,

In the summer of 1962, about a year after the Berlin Wall was constructed, Robert Frost visited the USSR and read some of his poetry. When he read "Mending Wall," with the opening lines "Something there is that doesn't love a wall,/ That send the frozen ground swell under it/ and spills the upper boulders in the sun," he was received with a stony silence. The following January, the day before Frost died, part of the Berlin Wall crumbled: the ground under it had expanded in the cold. Now, of course, that wall is just a memory. When authorities announced that the Wall would come down, people on both sides rushed out and began demolishing it themselves.

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