Daily Devotions
Meditation, Prayers, and Assorted Stuff for May 12, 2020
Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, “Drinking the Cup”
After firmly holding the cups of our lives and lifting them up as signs of hope for others, we have to drink them. Drinking our cups means fully appropriating and internalizing what each of us has acknowledged as our life, with all its unique sorrows and joys.
How do we drink our cups? We drink them as we listen in silence to the truth of our lives, as we speak in trust with friends about ways we want to grow, and as we act in deeds of service. Drinking our cups is following freely and courageously God’s call and staying faithfully on the path that is ours. Thus, our life cups become the cups of salvation. When we have emptied them to the bottom, God will fill them with “water” for eternal life.
A Prayer in This Time of Challenge
This prayer comes to us from Bishop Larry Duffy in the Irish Diocese of Clogher, which was formed in the year 1111.
God of Love, we the people of the Diocese of Clogher turn to you with prayerful hearts and with confidence in your loving presence among us now and in every moment of our lives. We stand before you as a people of hope, trusting in your care and protection. May we be comforted by your love in these anxious times.
Generous and Merciful God, fill us with compassion and concern for others, young and old; that we may look after each other in these challenging times, especially those among us who are vulnerable. May your example give us the courage we need to go to the margins, wherever they may be. Heal us of our fear.
Healing God, bring healing to those who are sick with the Coronavirus and be with their families and neighbours. We pray especially who those who are isolated, that they may know your love. Stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.
God of Strength, accompany all those who serve us with such love and generosity in the medical profession and in all our healthcare facilities. We give thanks for their continued work in the service of people. We ask you to bless them, strengthen them and guide them with your abundant goodness.
God of Wisdom, we ask you to guide the leaders in healthcare and governance; that they may make the right decisions for the wellbeing of people.
O God of creation and God of life, we, your people here in Clogher, place ourselves and our world in your protection and love. May your peace be with us and enfold us today, tomorrow and during the time ahead. Amen.
Let’s get back to Non Sequitur…
Today’s links!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/05/11/boy-5-steals-family-car-attempt-buy-lamborghini-then-man-with-lamborghini-shows-up-his-house/Not long ago, I shared the story of a 5-year-old who stole the family car and, with $3 in hand, drove away to buy a Lamborghini. Well, guess what? Someone who owned a Lamborghini drove over to the boy’s house, and gave him and all the members of his family a ride!
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/may/11/lockdown-spurs-11-year-old-skateboarder-to-make-history-with-first-1080-degree-turn Prepare to feel guilty if you’ve spent quarantine binge-watching. This 11-yearold in Brazil used his spare time to break a world skateboarding record.
https://theconversation.com/what-are-asian-giant-hornets-and-are-they-really-dangerous-5-questions-answered-137954Here’s the facts about those much-ballyhooed giant “killer” hornets.
https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/bear-breaks-into-cabin-steals-peanut-butter-cups-mms-sour-patch-kids-beer/HXIKG3FOJZEY3PLARLIKYZQSAU/As someone who’s stayed in Gatlinburg every fall for years, this story about a hungry bear who broke into a rental cabin and consumed five pounds of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, a pound of M&Ms, two pounds of Sour Patch Kids, two beers, two Diet Cokes, and some allergy medication REALLY caught my attention.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/trans-history-wild-westEvidently, the Wild West was a lot wilder than most of us thought. Harry Allen was one of the most notorious men in the Pacific Northwest. He became known as a rabble-rouser, in and out of jail for theft, vagrancy, bootlegging, or worse. Allen, who was assigned female at birth, was actually far from the only trans man who took refuge on the frontier. Get ready for a REALLY interesting history lesson.
https://religionnews.com/2020/05/11/little-richard-six-examples-of-how-religion-played-a-role-in-his-life/Turns out Little Richard was also a person of faith—albeit in his own unique way. Read about it here, and then enjoy Little Richard singing, “Long, Tall Sally” and “Tutti Fruitti.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=LVIttmFAzek&feature=emb_logo
Don’t forget Bible study this Wednesday at 7 PM! We’ll discuss chapters 4 and 5 of the Acts of the Apostles. Here’s the Zoom info:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85133251670, Meeting ID: 851 3325 1670
Stay safe and stay well!