Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

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Read

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NRSV)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

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Reflect

I watched a video the other day of a high school student who filmed the exact moment when people were told they were beautiful. I was overcome by emotion at this incredible experiment. Some people didn’t know what to say in response, some people were thankful, some people thought it was a joke, and some people began tearing up. I’m sure they had ever heard someone call them beautiful before. My heart was overjoyed, devastated, thrilled, and broken all in the span of about 4 minutes. Through all of that, it became clear to me just how interconnected we are as we participate in the divine life. In just a few minutes, I felt connected to people whom I have never even met.

This passage from Ecclesiastes speaks about the rhythm of the divine life. Things come and go, things ebb and flow, but they all serve the purpose of adding to God and God’s creation. All of life is interwoven such that participating in the divine life becomes a holistic endeavor, glorifying the totality of life. The natural order around us reflects this totality, as there is a time for everything in our lives.

Today, I invite you to participate in the divine life. I invite you to embrace the turn of the seasons and become at peace with the natural order as a reflection of life with God. Embrace your connectedness to the rest of creation, and glorify God in the totality of your life.

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Pray

Holy Breaker of Boundaries, in this world of divisions, it is sometimes so hard for us to remember just how intimately we are all connected as your children. Remind us of our connectedness, and let us rejoice with our sisters in happiness, and break with our brothers in need. Keep us open to your will and receptive to the ebb and flow of the natural order. As your Spirit moves, God, let us also move. Amen.

Go with God.