Where Is Your Treasure?
Barbara Borkowski of Lee’s Summit, MO, USA
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Luke 12:34
Treasure is a word that evokes adventure! As children, my mother wanted to teach us about treasure, adventure, and another word, sacrifice. For two weeks we were challenged to think of ways to sacrifice what we treasured, so that we could be a part of something more valuable by giving to what mattered most. Each day we talked about what it meant to give up something so something else could happen. Sacrifice wasn’t about doing without; instead it was about an unfolding adventure that allowed us to be a part of what was most important. Our goal was to provide a sacrificial offering that came from our hearts.
We each took a look at what we had to offer. As we assessed our resources, we noted what we loved most. We talked about what it meant to risk and the value of sacrifice as we each assessed our treasures: a favorite toy, a bank full of coins, baseball cards, and even future earnings from chores. How could we turn our treasures into offerings?
At the end of those two weeks we placed our offering in a red felt heart created to represent what we treasured. It was truly an offering from our hearts. I don’t remember how much money was in that red felt heart, but I do remember how proud and excited we were to give our treasure. I can still picture the heart in the offering plate among the dollar bills, coins, and offering envelopes. Our sacrifice meant we were part of an adventure that was so much bigger. With gratitude, our treasure became an offering.
Prayer Phrase
Peace, be still (Mark 4:39).
Spiritual Practice
Inner Stillness
In the contemplative tradition, silent prayer is about cultivating a quality of inner stillness. You may visualize the story of Jesus calming the storm as a way of entering into this quality of prayer. Notice how churned up the waters of your soul are currently. As you breathe deeply, imagine a sacred stillness forming within you. What might it look like to engage all your relationships and daily tasks from this place of inner stillness? As you move through your day, notice when you feel stirred up and when you experience inner calm. Take note of patterns and themes. Invite all of your noticing into prayer as you continue to grow deeper in God as the source of your life and action.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
