Reaching Out
Douglas Jones of LaSalle, Ontario, Canada
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. -Psalm 13:1, 5-6
On the Daily Bread app several Saturdays ago, I was reminded that Jesus will never leave us in the darkest of times. A friend of mine who worked in the coffee shop next to my office was walking across the parking lot of the plaza on this particular Saturday. I decided to have faith and reach out to her, and profess to her that Jesus will never leave you in the darkest of times. You see, this friend had just retired, and her husband had just passed away with liver cancer.
I felt that I was directed to tell her exactly what I did. I decided to trust my faith and reach out to her, and she thanked me for the words. Isn’t this what the Lord wants us to do? We are called to trust our faith in him, and reach out to others to spread his love.
Prayer Phrase
“Over the years we melt into what we seek” (Joan Chittister, The Liturgical Year).
Spiritual Practice
We are in the threshold between seasons in the Christian calendar. You may have been noticing the physical transitions of the seasons wherever you live as some enter the depths of winter and others the warmth of summer. The seasons are a visible reminder that even among the most predictable rhythms and routines of our lives, change is always happening. The events of our moments, days, weeks, years form us and transform us over time. We enter each season different from when we arrived here last. This is the nature of this cyclical journey of faith. In these final days of the Christian calendar and the season of Ordinary time, there is opportunity to take a sacred pause, to notice how you arrive in this threshold. What have you been formed by this year? What has been deepening you as you’ve lived through another cycle of this life of faith?
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.
