Holiday weekends. The traffic on the Parkway was extra heavy, however, people heading out for trips on what is a short work week for many. Even the parking lot at the ShopRite in Hazlet was only half full. Although mask mandates begin to fall, stores still have signs asking people to mask up inside, but only half do. That’s a shame.
An epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins compares wearing a mask to keeping an umbrella close at hand even on a partly sunny day. We still need to be careful. Many persons still are not vaccinated. Unlike Hester Prynne they don’t wear a large “A” indicating that.
And on the other side of the world there is no holiday. Ukrainians still are being bombed by Russian-backed separatists even though Biden and Putin may meet, the Queen tests positive for Covid, and Finland’s hockey team beat Russia in the Olympics. Our holiday should give us time to slow down and reflect on ourselves and where we are going.
Prayer for the Day
You who are ever present in our heart, open us to your ways,
Broadening our vision of your work in the world;
You who call us from our preconceived notions of your will,
Shake us out of our slumber and open our eyes.
Clothe us with your Spirit and invest in us your insight,
Kneading us all into your bread of life, for all to eat.
In the name of the One who is the yeast for the bread,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
If I speak of myself I different ways, that is because I look at myself in different ways.
- Michel de Montaigne, essayist (1533-1592)
There is no such thing as a single issue struggle because we do not live single issue lives.
- Audre Lorde, essayist
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;
For you I wait all day long.
Psalm 25: 4-5