It’s light now. The cat that thinks I’ve adopted him had his breakfast, and it is a he – I had him neutered so we don’t have more kittens wandering around the neighborhood – is sitting on the deck protecting the dry cat food from the deer that try to eat it. Have you ever seen a cat pull its ears back and hiss at a deer? It’s really pretty funny.
Even on a quiet Sunday morning the world comes crashing in with news of this or that event. There are days when I want to turn the world off, and only think about the garden, the favorite breakfast place for the deer that come down from the woods.
Turning off the world isn’t easy, for sure. In a meeting of a group of clergy ten days ago the main topic of conversation was whether or not there would be violence in this year’s election, and, sure enough, because it is so easy to get his hands on an AR-15, not to mention other weapons, a candidate was shot. Tamping down anger that becomes rage is possibly our major challenge this year.
Prayer for the Day
Preoccupied with the world around us, we lose sight of you,
Falling into traps of despair and hopelessness;
Fearful of the future, we are bound to the past,
Becoming hesitant to believe in the possibilities of goodness.
Break into our self-contained lives, broadening our vision,
So we are able to build a new world of understanding.
In the name of the One who helps us to cross boundaries,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Sometimes the best you can do is shut out the world, turn off your mind and forget about everything for a little while.
Mouloud Benzadi, Anglo- Algerian author, translator of literature
It doesn’t matter how strong your opinions are. If you don’t use your power for positive change, you are indeed part of the problem.
Coretta Scott King, civil rights leader (1927-2006)
The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory;
God will rejoice over you with gladness and renew you in love;
The Lord will exult over you with singing, as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you so you bear no reproach for it.
I will deal with all your oppressors at that time.
And I will save the lame and gather the outcast.
Zephaniah 3: 17-19a