What acts of friendship have you initiated or received this week?
Well, as the week is still young I have not had many opportunities to initiate or receive acts of friendship. However, I will be heading back to Boston tomorrow where I will be able to see my friends and family again. This will be the perfect opportunity to engage in random acts of friendship as I get to spend time with some of the most important people in my life. Though as I think about it, the act of friendship I have received is the five brothers who said yes to being by my side at my wedding. The fact that they are willing to make the commitment time and money, and also to travel across the country to be there for me is awesome. If that isn't friendship, I don't know what is.
Lord, help me to see the acts of friendship around me, so that I can reciprocate their kindness and love. Amen.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Love Life: Invitation (Day 12)
There is no actual question for today becasue the reflection offered by the brothers today is on this week's theme of invitation. They write that we are all invited to be beloved disciples of Jesus. As I take time to think about this theme, what comes to mind is how we accept this invitation. Do we accept this invitation to discipleship with an enthusiastic yes? Or are we more like Nicodemus, a little cautious to commit and believe wholeheartedly? I think that regardless of the pace at which we put on the mantle of discipleship, the fact of the matter is that we said yes to the invitation. We were willing to take a risk, to step out into the unknown, all the while allowing Jesus to guide us. For when we give up our freedom to control every aspect of our lives we see that God is indeed control and not us. If we are to know God then we must orient our lives away from our inward desires and selfishness and turn them towards Jesus so that we can know and follow him.
There is an ebb and flow to faith. There are times when we feel so close to God that we are filled with joy and love. Then, there are times when we feel like we are in a desert, wandering around looking for God's presence but only finding emptiness. The invitation from Jesus is the promise that if we follow him, he will be with us always, carrying us through the desert, walking side by side through the joy. So what do we do about those hesitant to accept the invitation? Is there anything we can do? I do not think that we can force anyone to accept this invitation, but by letting our lives be a physical witness to the power that this invitation has to offer, the change that this invitation has to offer, and the future that this invitation has to offer, we can show others just how good saying yes can be.
There is an ebb and flow to faith. There are times when we feel so close to God that we are filled with joy and love. Then, there are times when we feel like we are in a desert, wandering around looking for God's presence but only finding emptiness. The invitation from Jesus is the promise that if we follow him, he will be with us always, carrying us through the desert, walking side by side through the joy. So what do we do about those hesitant to accept the invitation? Is there anything we can do? I do not think that we can force anyone to accept this invitation, but by letting our lives be a physical witness to the power that this invitation has to offer, the change that this invitation has to offer, and the future that this invitation has to offer, we can show others just how good saying yes can be.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Love Life: Sabbath (Day 11)
Sabbath,
while I would like to say that today is a day of complete rest, I have
too much to do before heading to Boston on Tuesday night, of course
stopping in Phoenix to pick up my love first...here's to a productive
Sabbath day.
Lord, help me to find peace and rest even in the midst of work, so that I can learn to always find moments of rest in my busy life. Amen.
Lord, help me to find peace and rest even in the midst of work, so that I can learn to always find moments of rest in my busy life. Amen.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Love Life: Vision (Day 10)
What does God especially cherish about you?
I believe that God cherishes my individuality, my uniqueness. Yes, I do possess character traits from my parents and my appearance due to my genetic make-up, but I have also been formed by my experiences. Not only have these experience helped me to be the unique image of God but people have also helped form me. From my family and friends, to mentors and teachers, and of course even strangers have all contributed. I think that God values my individuality and cherishes the variety of human expression that exists within each of us. Thank you to all who have walked with me along the way.
Lord, thank you for all of those that surround me, support me, and love me; continue to give me the strength and courage to reflect their love back to them, to reflect the love of God, and help me to let me individuality shine forth. Amen.
I believe that God cherishes my individuality, my uniqueness. Yes, I do possess character traits from my parents and my appearance due to my genetic make-up, but I have also been formed by my experiences. Not only have these experience helped me to be the unique image of God but people have also helped form me. From my family and friends, to mentors and teachers, and of course even strangers have all contributed. I think that God values my individuality and cherishes the variety of human expression that exists within each of us. Thank you to all who have walked with me along the way.
Lord, thank you for all of those that surround me, support me, and love me; continue to give me the strength and courage to reflect their love back to them, to reflect the love of God, and help me to let me individuality shine forth. Amen.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Love Life: Remember (Day 9)
Where was God for you today?
Today I received some excellent news. The news pertained to the final hurdle that lay in the way towards the realization of my call of ordained ministry. As I reflect back upon the path that has led me to this point there were high points and low points, but throughout the journey God was with me. Today I see God in the culmination of a this journey. Today I see God in the opportunities that now await me on the next leg of the journey. Today I see God in the joy that I am feeling.
For the past few months every communication that I received from the diocese has been assuming that I was approved for ordination. I had a date. The Canon for Ordained Vocations was allowing me to look for jobs outside of the diocese, so from her I got the impression that everything was on track. But today's news made it real. Now that the Standing Committee has approved me for ordination, the final hurdle has been crossed. The next few months will be a whirl wind of events, some of them very life-changing. One part of my journey is nearly complete and for that I am thankful, thankful to God, to my family, to my mentors, to my friends, all, each and everyone of whom has formed me into who I am today. But with this leg of the journey coming to an end I will be embarking along the next leg of the journey. There are so many opportunities that await me.
Lord, continue to walk with me along the way, you have been with me and never left my side, I ask that as I head into the next phase of my life that you continue to give me strength and love. Amen.
Today I received some excellent news. The news pertained to the final hurdle that lay in the way towards the realization of my call of ordained ministry. As I reflect back upon the path that has led me to this point there were high points and low points, but throughout the journey God was with me. Today I see God in the culmination of a this journey. Today I see God in the opportunities that now await me on the next leg of the journey. Today I see God in the joy that I am feeling.
For the past few months every communication that I received from the diocese has been assuming that I was approved for ordination. I had a date. The Canon for Ordained Vocations was allowing me to look for jobs outside of the diocese, so from her I got the impression that everything was on track. But today's news made it real. Now that the Standing Committee has approved me for ordination, the final hurdle has been crossed. The next few months will be a whirl wind of events, some of them very life-changing. One part of my journey is nearly complete and for that I am thankful, thankful to God, to my family, to my mentors, to my friends, all, each and everyone of whom has formed me into who I am today. But with this leg of the journey coming to an end I will be embarking along the next leg of the journey. There are so many opportunities that await me.
Lord, continue to walk with me along the way, you have been with me and never left my side, I ask that as I head into the next phase of my life that you continue to give me strength and love. Amen.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Love Life: Acceptance (Day 8)
What is my reminder that I am loved?
I am reminded that I am loved everyday during the hours long FaceTime calls with my beautiful fiance Lauren. It is difficult sometimes to find the time or synch up our schedules, but for the last two years we have set aside time each and every day to see and talk with each other. I know I am loved because someone else out there wants to spend that kind of time with me. That is a pretty awesome thought and feeling.
Lord, sustain me during my time away from Lauren, strengthen me during our time apart so that when the day comes when we will no longer have to say good-bye we will rejoice and give thanks to you, from whom all blessings flow. Amen.
I am reminded that I am loved everyday during the hours long FaceTime calls with my beautiful fiance Lauren. It is difficult sometimes to find the time or synch up our schedules, but for the last two years we have set aside time each and every day to see and talk with each other. I know I am loved because someone else out there wants to spend that kind of time with me. That is a pretty awesome thought and feeling.
Lord, sustain me during my time away from Lauren, strengthen me during our time apart so that when the day comes when we will no longer have to say good-bye we will rejoice and give thanks to you, from whom all blessings flow. Amen.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Love Life: Relationship (Day 7)
How could you be playful in showing love to others today?
I never thought of Jesus as being playful in the Gospel of John, but that is the picture painted by one of the brothers in today's video. John's gospel does take on a very different tone than the other synoptic gospels, so there is no reason why Jesus could not be seen as playful. I think that for me what this calls to mind is to not take myself so seriously, to allow that playfulness to come out. I do have a playful side and it comes out in certain situations, but can I let that out more often? Can I let go of the serious in order to let the fun in? I think that I do a pretty good job at carefully balancing the two but perhaps I could do better at showing it to others.
Lord, help me to let my playfulness shine forth, allow me to let go for a bit to embrace the fun, so that I may be a better reflection of your love and light. Amen.
I never thought of Jesus as being playful in the Gospel of John, but that is the picture painted by one of the brothers in today's video. John's gospel does take on a very different tone than the other synoptic gospels, so there is no reason why Jesus could not be seen as playful. I think that for me what this calls to mind is to not take myself so seriously, to allow that playfulness to come out. I do have a playful side and it comes out in certain situations, but can I let that out more often? Can I let go of the serious in order to let the fun in? I think that I do a pretty good job at carefully balancing the two but perhaps I could do better at showing it to others.
Lord, help me to let my playfulness shine forth, allow me to let go for a bit to embrace the fun, so that I may be a better reflection of your love and light. Amen.
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