THURSDAY, April 28 Thursday in Easter Week

Psalm 8. You give him mastery over the works of your hands; you put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, even the wild beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.

As I write this, an oil well is spewing oil into the ocean just offshore from Louisiana. By the time you read these meditations, this disaster will be a year old, but even now it doesn’t take an expert to know those effects will be horrendous.

Actually, we need look no further than the Alaskan coastline where crude oil still soils the beaches from the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989. Not only is there still actual crude oil on site, but an estimated 250,000 sea birds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, 22 killer whales, and billions of salmon and herring eggs perished.

And it did not merely decimate marine life: suicide, alcoholism, and domestic violence rates all rose in the areas hit by the oil spill.

When relationships, with earth or one another, consist of an over and under—as in “ruler over” and “everything under [our] feet”—someone usually loses. In this case, it is the earth and God’s creatures who lose.

PRAY for the Diocese of Nelson (New Zealand)

Ps 8 or 114 or 118:19-24; Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:36b-48

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.

Become a Fan of Forward Day by Day on Facebook.

Follow Forward Day by Day on Twitter.

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email this

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (12) Add Comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

1 2 >

Reconciliation.

Apr 28, 2011 at 7:15 am

Written by Bonnie,

God is all about relationships. We should be all about relationships; with family, friends, enemies, homeless, creatures of the earth great and small. What we do reverberates. What Christ did reverberates. "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven." Colossians 1:20

Grenade

Apr 28, 2011 at 8:50 am

Written by Patrick,

Thank you for the message this morning. It seems that most destruction from oil spills to alcoholism to the recent tornadoes do not happen in a vacuum. Destructive events effect everyone nearby. Let us be sure that we help not only those effected but those nearby in the case of the oil spill the seafood industry, and tourism industry and the families of those who have lost employment.

My prayers go to all those effect by disasters directly and indirectly.

Quote from the writings of John Muir

Apr 28, 2011 at 9:09 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe."

In this sense I accept that I share in the responsibility for everything that happens.

...

Apr 28, 2011 at 10:10 am

Written by George,

I don't understand a message that essentially says we are lousy stewards, shame on us. Yes, accidents happen and the world is not perfect. We can do more, always we can. It's not about who "loses", it's about our taking care of each other, the earth, and how we RESPOND. How we respond in stewardship, how we respond in sadness not anger, how we recall our stewardship, and how suffering leads to love and resurrection. Not about "losing".

the power to silence

Apr 28, 2011 at 10:29 am

Written by Donna,

What timely words!
Yesterday, I watched a TV news magazine presentation on the power stru*gles that led to the increasing risk and eventual disaster on that drilling rig off Louisiana. When God puts something, natural or biological, under our feet he intends us to be stewards, not destroyers. To trespass, in Biblical languages, is to walk across or crush in passing.
The day of the disaster, voices of caution spoke out, but voices of power still forced hasty actions.
As God's agents, we should discipling our approach to the creation God placed at our feet.

losing

Apr 28, 2011 at 10:52 am

Written by Bo Cox,

It's hard to see it's about losing when we're not losing. I agree with the stewardship and response to suffering. I also feel a connection and responsibiliity with lousy stewardship such as lack of regulation when it comes to chasing the dollar and the resulting losses, usually suffered by those with the least power/influence/capital. There must be a balance and I guess I'm looking for that.

...

Apr 28, 2011 at 10:59 am

Written by Mike,

This passage of the psalm refers to Genesis 1:26 in which God gave man dominion over the earth and living creatures. It seems to me that the writer of today's devotion implies the Bible is wrong.

-4

Credits?

Apr 28, 2011 at 11:40 am

Written by Hank,

Could someone please tell me who writes these bits, something about his/her credentials and by whose authority they are written? I'm new here and curious. Thank you.

Balance

Apr 28, 2011 at 12:20 pm

Written by Merry,

It is interesting that this month’s writer Bo Cox says he is looking for balance. As Christians and world citizens, I think we are called to act in the world out of our spiritual beliefs and the teachings of Christ. We also must be true to who we are. As much as we care about the world’s needs, we must know where our individual talents lie and where our hearts lead us. For example, some of us who care deeply about prison reform or about stewardship of the planet teach children the joys of using their gifts and taking in the beauty of nature. Those children will care, not because they have been scolded into caring, but because someone has given them the time and space to learn who they are and how God wants them to serve. For my own time and space I need prayer and quiet devotion to spirit each morning as centering. This has more to do with preparing myself to act in the world and on my faith than seeking a comfort level. When I read every morning someone whose zeal for reform is admirable – often touching – but leaves little space to find my own way, I want to ask, please turn down the volume and open a more balanced dialogue.

...

Apr 28, 2011 at 1:19 pm

Written by Andrea,

Merry and Hank, the editor's notes usually talk about the authors and the process of writing the meditations. It appears that the editor's notes have now switched over to the May/June/July issue, so I'm not sure where you can find information about this month's author - there was quite a lot about him online prior to the start of the month. I mention the editor's notes as a response to Merry, too, because I think it's helpful to know that these meditations are written far in advance, and typically there is one writer per month. Over the course of a year, you will see many different perspectives and many different "volume levels." I personally am energized by this month's author, Bo Cox. But sometimes the (more conservative, 1950s church) style of other writers drives me up a wall, so I can see your point about balance. I think the format of Forward Day by Day does provide balance, but over the longer term, not within any one person's writings.

1 2 >

Write comment

Show/hide comment form

You can add your comment here

The History of Forward Movement:

Weary and Divided Church | The First Publication | Church Moves Forward | Name Change | The First Editor

A Meditation for Pentecost

New! Forward Day by Day is available on your Kindle or Nook!

185662_201033913247091_122364231114060_862947_1284717_n Learn more about how you can support the Unapologetically Episcopalian Campaign to transform the church! Forward Movement stands ready -- and you can help. Don't forget to "like" Unapolgetically Episcopalian on Facebook.

Send Us Your Cat or Dog Photos!

Forward Movement is accepting photo submissions for EpiscoCats and EpiscoPups – our 15-month, wall-hanging calendars. If your pet is chosen, you’ll receive a photo credit and 5 complimentary copies of the calendar. Click here for submission guidelines!

Signup for e-news

10ways-to-pray Claim Your Free Gift Now! Simply subscribe to our e-news by using the form below. You will then be able to download our "Ten Ways to Pray" ebook!

Be sure to confirm your preferences and check your email after subscribing. The link to your free gift is found in your "Welcome" email.

Start a Subscription Prayer Chapel

Resources

Today's Meditation Podcast Día a Día (Spanish Version) Editor’s Notes Mobile Reading For Today A Morning Resolve How to Use Forward Day by Day Scripture Listings

Latest Meditations

Meditation Archives

May, 2012 April, 2012 March, 2012 February, 2012 January, 2012 December, 2011 November, 2011 October, 2011 September, 2011 August, 2011 July, 2011 June, 2011

Request a Catalog Make a Donation