Daily Bread Aug. 5

Look Up, Listen Up
By Merna Short of Melbourne, Australia


And there came a voice to them, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying, Peace, peace be to you because of your faith in my beloved, who was from the foundation of the world. —Helaman 2:112

In her inspirational book, Your Right to Radiance, Louise Scott Rigley wrote, “Look up, Heart, and know that I am God.” This urgent message still guides me.

A friend once told me not to look at the dirty dishes in the sink as I wash them, but to look up and see the clouds or colors in the sky. As I do laundry, I don’t look at the pile of dirty clothes; I look instead at the sparkling diamonds left by the rain on the clothes line. I am as securely tied to everyday tasks as anyone else, but I do spend time looking up. I look up due to the influence of other people in my life.

Our garden blooms with offerings of love from many friends. An outdoor area where family and friends spend relaxing “deck time” opens moments of wonder and deep peace. When looking up, we also listen carefully to one another. Together we appreciate the variations of form and color in nature, listen to bird calls, and find familiar shapes in the clouds. All of this brings the blessing of a radiant heart.

When walking or driving, noticing the beauty around me, listening to the sounds of nature, I am often inspired. “Look up, heart, and know that I am God.” May you be blessed as you take time to look up and listen up this day.

Prayer for Peace

Creator God, open our eyes and ears to the offerings of your creation. May we always be mindful of the source. May we see and hear more opportunities to share peace.

Spiritual Practice: Voices of God

What is the voice of God saying to us? Do we hear the whispers of God’s longing for shalom—God’s dream of beauty and wholeness for all creation? Do we hear the “voice” of God calling to us in faces and eyes, in the sounds of suffering and joy, in scripture and sacred word, in tears and laughter, in silence and noise? Spend a few moments reflecting on when and how God’s voice speaks to you. When did you first feel called to join God in the pursuit of peace and justice? How does the call of shalom continue to come to you through the many “voices” of God?

Peace Covenant

God, do you mind repeating that? I will listen more carefully.

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