FRIDAY, April 1

John 8:33-47. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word.

The situation was tense. Two workers at the state-run psychiatric hospital were trying to get an agitated young man to go back to his ward.

“Why?” he kept repeating. He was in no mood to bargain. He wanted what he wanted, and he wanted it now. Still, one of the workers calmly kept telling him that if he’d just do this now he’d be able to come off the ward tomorrow. “But I don’t want to do it tomorrow; I want to now!”

Another worker walked over and asked the patient his name. It caught the young man off-guard. His face visibly softened as he said his own name. He told the worker his version of what was going on, and repeated, “I don’t want to do it tomorrow; I want to now!”

“I know you don’t,” the worker replied, and you could tell that he really knew. The young man felt this empathy.

“Okay. Sorry.”

Life is often not as we would draw it up, sometimes to the point that we literally cannot stand it. What a difference it makes when we encounter a fellow traveler who really does understand. And what a difference it makes when we realize we’re all fellow travelers.

PRAY for the Diocese of Muhabura (Uganda)

Ps 95 & 88 * 91, 92; Jeremiah 11:1-8, 14-20; Romans 6:1-11

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
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Presence

Apr 01, 2011 at 7:15 am

Written by Bonnie,

What a difference it makes to have someone call you by name, to look you in the eyes, to listen and hear. What a gift it is when we can do that for others. This is what God does for us, His people. "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1

Our April author, Bo Cox, will be responding to comments

Apr 01, 2011 at 9:32 am

Written by Brad @Forward Movement,

We're trying something new here and have invited our author for April 2011, Bo Cox, to respond and interact with your comments and thoughts about this month's meditations.

Some of you may remember hearing about Bo from his previous writing for Forward Movement--most notably his meditations for the November 1995 issue of Forward Day by Day. Since then, Bo has also written "Release," "In Transition" for Lent 2004 and the longer book "God is Not in Thesaurus: Stories from an Oklahoma Prison," still currently available in our online store.

If you are unfamiliar with Bo's story, he wrote to Forward Day by Day in the early 1990s, from prison, submitting meditations and asking to be considered as an author. His honest, straight-forward style was quickly embraced by our readers who sent us a record amount of "fan mail." In 2003, aided by his relationship with Forward Movement, Bo was paroled from prison, and today works as a counselor with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

...

Apr 01, 2011 at 10:06 am

Written by nora,

I am so looking forward to April meditations Thank you

...

Apr 01, 2011 at 11:07 am

Written by cherie,

As with Nora, I am so looking forward to April as well. What a wonderful concept, to be able to interact w/our writer.

...

Apr 01, 2011 at 11:42 am

Written by Page ,

I was so happy to see that Bo Cox was writing this month. A group of us followed his meditations in the 90's. His wrtings are comforting and inspiring..........

Good to be back

Apr 01, 2011 at 3:23 pm

Written by Bo Cox,

Thank you, everyone. As always, it is good to be back on DXD pages! Look forward to your comments, good and bad, and questions. Peace...

Written by Bo Cox

Apr 01, 2011 at 9:54 pm

Written by Wynema Ra,

I could feel the spirit power in your writing Bo. This worker obviously had a true connection to the patient and his work. God truly does work through others. Keep writing the world needs your wisdom!

Written by Sandra

Apr 01, 2011 at 11:34 pm

Written by Sandra McCann,

Maybe you can't answer this or choose not to, but I also read and followed your story faithfully. I especially remember the story of your wife (then to be) crying as she realized she had never seen your feet while in the post office, I believe mailing something to you. Has your marriage succeeded?

-1

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