Daily Bread July 10

Living Sanctuary
Sheila Kunzweiler of Dayton, OH, USA


Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love -Joel 2:13

I have a hard time giving up Christmas and the winter season in general. I reluctantly pack up the decorations and take down the tree, but the wreath on my front door is the last to go. Somewhere in the back of my mind I believe that if it stays up, there is always a chance for one more snow!

I took the dog out for a final walk before heading to bed the other night, and when I opened the door something dark swooshed out of the wreath catching me off guard as it brushed my head. A moment later there was another one and it went into the house. My husband and the cat had fun trying to catch a frantic bird. Luckily it was my husband who caught it and set it free.

The wrens have nested in the wreath! The promise of new birth is happening right on my front door as the season changes from winter to spring. I have suddenly become aware of another reason to keep the wreath up- not so much to prolong winter, but as an act of hospitality to our dear bird friends. While the wreath must come down, the birdhouse is hung in its place on the porch so that our fine feathered friends may continue to enjoy shelter and bedding for laying their eggs.

This makes me think of our human companions who are without shelter and the basic needs of life. How can I best be a living sanctuary for them like I am for the birds? How can I best share generously so that all may experience a better way of life? Acknowledging all as persons of worth is a good place to start, I think!

Prayer Phrase

“Your mercies are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23, adapted).

Spiritual Practice

Ordinary Time is a season for noticing the details of life that make up its substance. This month, we invite you to pay attention with each fresh morning to the gift of being alive. Before getting out of bed, take a few deep breaths and notice what it feels like to wake up in your own body. Engage the tasks of your unfolding day with reverence-brushing your teeth, making the bed, pouring the coffee, tending the kids, feeding the animals, making breakfast, etc. Notice the presence of the Holy in every ordinary thing. Embrace your daily routines with sacramental significance. Notice how long you can do this before your attention is taken away, and commit to returning to this simple awareness as gently and often as you can.

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.

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