Embers
Vera Entwistle, World Service Corps, Taiwan
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. -John 14:27 NRSV
My laptop began to have a few problems. I was in the middle of typing my sermon when the letter “m” began to stick. I found I had to hit it hard to get it to cooperate. I finally decided to just type away, knowing I could come back later and fix the missing “m’s.”
As I reviewed my finished sermon, this is what I learned: when I had typed the word “member” what I actually produced was “ember.”
So I had written, “We sing the wonderful rousing hymn, ‘The Spirit of God like a Fire Is Burning,’ but as embers we need to learn what it is to enliven our faith.”
I looked up in the dictionary what the word “ember” means. The first definition is “ember: a glowing or smouldering piece of coal or wood, as in a dying fire.” It was the second definition that caught my attention: “the fading remains of a past emotion.”
I remembered how many times in my life I had been on fire with enthusiasm, wanting to share the blessings I had received, but I also remembered the many times when I had struggled as an ember, trying to keep the fire going.
Today I want to once again fan the flames so that I can share with others what the church means to me and how blessed I have been to be both a member and at times an ember, never letting the fire go out.
Prayer Phrase
In God, I live and move and have my being.
Spiritual Practice
Breathing in the Spaces
When you move into different spaces throughout your day, consciously place yourself in the new setting with a desire to be alert to God’s presence. Over time, simply taking a deliberate breath will remind you that you are in God’s presence and that you want to be alert to God’s purposes in that setting. When entering the different spaces in your day (workplace, a colleague’s office, a restaurant or place of business, school or places where people meet) pause and take a deliberate breath. When returning home, pause to take a breath. As you take a deep breath, breathe in the goodness of the profound presence and purposes of God in each place you find yourself. Allow yourself to be drawn to people who may be blessed in simple ways by you being aware of them as persons of worth. -adapted from missionalleaders.org
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.
