24 “Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It didn’t fall because it was firmly set on bedrock. 26 But everybody who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice will be like a fool who built a house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It fell and was completely destroyed.”
Reflection & Pondering
I have mentioned my appreciation for Ginger Rothhaas here before. For those not familiar with Ginger I first got to know her when she was a seminary intern at Adam Hamiliton’s church, Church of the Resurrection, outside Kansas City. At that time she was writing Devotionals regularly. For awhile now she has been a counselor and coach with a group of other, like minded women, at www.compassionfix.com in Leawood, Kansas. When I read what she wrote I knew it was more than worth sharing. I hope you agree and enjoy.
| Love Muscles |
| I was at the gym yesterday morning for my weight lifting session and noticed every TV in the gym had a current crisis on the screen. TVs are around the perimeter of my gym and every TV was on a different channel with a different headline. During my workout, it struck me that like our physical muscles, we have to strengthen our spiritual muscles right now too. It is a tough time be human and we each have to tap into a new level of inner strength to endure it all. I’ve been lifting weights for a year and it is fun to see the numbers in what I can lift rise. But, I will have to do this for the rest of my life to maintain my strength. If I stop using these muscles, they will weaken. Spiritual practices work the same as physical practices. For most of us, when we are in crisis, we seek out a deeper connection to our higher power and then as life improves, we become more lax about our practices. We cruise through life for a bit and then when the wheels come off again, we scurry to return, but we have lost something in the pause. It has been a slow and steady process for me to get physically stronger, and if I stop it will take me a while to build back up to where I am right now. However, if I never stop, I will never be without strength. I have conversations often with people who have lost their spiritual footing. They feel alone in the world with waning hope. We don’t all use the same name for God, but most of us would agree on longing for a loving higher power that is somehow going to help us with this being-human-mess. What helps you connect to something bigger than you? Where do you feel the most calm and at peace? What helps you connect to a loving spiritual presence? When do you feel a sense of assurance that it is all going to be okay? Whatever it is, do more of that right now. Your nervous system will benefit if you double down on your spiritual practices starting today. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just close your eyes and sit in the quiet for a few minutes. That’s a great start. Then when you feel like it, take it a step further by imagining filling your brain with love, then fill your entire being with love. Or, imagine that you are sitting in a fluffy cloud of love. Or, that you are wrapped in a blanket of love. Use any imagery that brings you comfort and peace. Don’t overthink it or turn it into an in-depth study. Just soak up the experience of sitting in loving energy. The world always has loving energy available for you, but we take our eye off of it and get caught up in judgment, ridicule and anger. This leads us eventually to hopelessness. We can return to love at any moment. The difference between judgment and love is just a mental shift. When you start to judge something or someone, just gently shift that thought toward love. The more you shift throughout your day, the faster your default setting becomes love. That person you disagree with, find three things to love about them. Then find three more. Keep looking. That’s how we choose love. The more you intentionally connect to the essence of love, the more loving you become. Choose love. Radiate love. Be the love in the room – every room you are in. I can’t wait until I walk in the gym and the stories I see on the TV are about the loving things you and your people are doing in the world. Onward my loves. |
by Clarence Beverage
Prayer
Lord, help us to be open to hearing and seeing you in different places and times. Help us to seek out voices who may be new to us if they are able to bring us confidence and energy born in your love. Through Your Spirit, lead us as we work to focus less on being critical and fill that space with seeking You more fully.
We pray this in Jesus name. Amen
