Daily Devotions

Meditation, Prayers, and Assorted Stuff for April 24, 2020

Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, “The Answers to Our Questions”

We spend a lot of time and energy raising questions. ls it worth it? It is always good to ask ourselves why we raise a question. Do we want to get useful information? Do we want to show that someone else is wrong? Do we want to conquer knowledge? Do we want to grow in wisdom? Do we want to find a way to sanctity?
When we ponder these questions before asking our questions, we may discover that we need less time and energy for our questions. Perhaps we already have the information. Perhaps we don’t need to show that someone is wrong. For many questions we may learn that we already have the answers, if we just listen carefully to our own hearts.

Carolyn Winfrey Gillette continues to write hymns about our pandemic plagued times. They’re fitting prayers as well.

When We Face an Unknown Future

When we face an unknown future that we can’t imagine yet, when the closeness we have treasured turns from blessing into threat— As we miss our friends and loved ones, as we crave community, may we look, God, in this season, for a whole new way to be.

Jesus faced the lonely desert as a time to look within. There he met such trial and conflict; there he knew you were with him. In this time of separation when we miss the life we’ve known, may we hear your voice proclaiming: “I am here! You’re not alone.”

May we cherish those around us as we never have before. May we think much less of profit; may we learn what matters more. May we hear our neighbors’ suffering; may we see our neighbors’ pain. May we learn new ways of offering life and health and hope again.

God, when illness comes to threaten, and when so much here goes wrong, may we know this thing for certain— that your love is sure and strong. You’re beside us in our suffering, and when times are surely tough, we may face an unknown future, but it’s filled, Lord, with your love.

Back to Wiley Miller and Non Sequitur…

Today’s links!

 Why would pigeons need a proctologist? Read on…

 Here’s what happens when quarantined stunt people have too much time on their hands.

 Lest I be accused (rightly so) of listing too many links about cats, go here to read the sad, sad story of poor Big Poppa, the quarantined bulldog.

 Did somebody say “cats?” Look what one cat lover built for his best friends with all his pent-up quarantine energy.

 How about a little banjo pickin’? First up, the YouTube hit “Quarantined With You,” followed by—just for fun—Steve Martin and Kermit the Frog playing “Dueling Banjos.”

Don’t go a duelin’ with the people you’re quarantined with! Remember whose you are.