Psalm 8:5-9

“Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet…” vss. 5-6

The ancient Hebrews believed that, in spite of their universal insignificance, God had given humans dominion over all things that lived on the earth. We can certainly understand the logic of their reasoning…at least on earth humans do have a dominant position. We are a powerful species…especially in the wake of the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs. But sad to say we’ve not always done well by the earth and its other inhabitants. In fact, the more dominant we’ve become the tougher it’s been for the rest of God’s creation. Countless species of plant and animal life have gone extinct during our tenure as stewards. Instead of taking care of the earth we’ve been more inclined to extract and exploit its resources with little regard for the environment. Even now, as the effects of climate change become more noticeable, we’re remarkably reluctant to take any actions that might impact economic development. But not all of us! Some people are taking seriously their divine calling to care for the earth and are doing everything they can to clean the oceans and preserve our forests. And they are making a difference…in spite of our insidious desires for profit and gain at any cost. How good it would be if their efforts became the rule and not the exception!

Thought for the Day: What am doing to care for the earth?

Psalm 8:1-4

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” vss. 3-4

If we’ve taken any time at all to reflect on our place in space and in time we will likely resonate with what the psalmist has said. We live on a tiny blue planet in the Milky Way galaxy, one of about 10 billion in the observable universe, and we’re revolving around a sun that is one of a billion trillion stars. From that perspective it’s hard to imagine that we have any significance at all. Still, even in the face of such evidence, we humans are impudent enough to claim that we have a unique relationship to the Divine Presence and that we are cared for in a special way. There are some who question that assertion…in their minds the Universe would be just fine without us, that in fact it might be better off. But others believe that we humans do have significance, that we bring awareness to creation and without us there would be no audience, no one to clap hands and offer praise and thanksgiving for the wonder of it all. If that is indeed our purpose we have a divine calling to show deep appreciation each day for the gift of life, for the blessings of our material and spiritual existence. The birds and beasts do it…and so should we!

Thought for the Day: With what song do I greet the morning?

Proverbs 8:22-31

“then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.” vss. 30-31

According to this section of Proverbs Wisdom was the Father’s partner in the creation of the universe and produced an earth that was finely tuned and carefully ordered. Obviously the writer had deep respect for the intricacy and connectedness of the created world. It’s a feeling that many of us share. Regardless of our varying views of origins wherever we look we’re amazed at the way things fit together. There’s an interdependence that leaves us slack-jawed at its magnificence and wonder. In order for plants and animals to even exist there are hundreds of factors that need to be in perfect coordination. Some would say that the design is impossible apart from the Divine Presence…that this simply can’t be the result of a series of coincidences, that the beauty of a sunset can’t possibly be accidental. According to Proverbs Wisdom took great delight in the creation and rejoiced particularly in the human race. Some of us wonder now if her exultation might have been premature…that humans, who were intended to be the crown of creation, may turn out to be its greatest enemies and the agents of massive destruction. Perhaps Wisdom will hear the prayers of the concerned and lead us to embrace wisdom rather than foolishness in our care of the earth!

Thought for the Day: How is economic gain related to the care of the earth?

Proverbs 8:1-4

“Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;” vss. 1-2

It’s possible to accumulate massive amounts of knowledge in the course of a lifetime and yet run a huge deficit when it comes to wisdom. Many of us have acquaintances who are a perfect match for that description…they can have multiple degrees but not an ounce of common sense. So where does wisdom come from? The writer of this section of Proverbs indicates that wisdom is contained in the essence of God…later believers associated wisdom with the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. The word for wisdom, chokmah in the Hebrew and sophia in the Greek, is a feminine noun, and is most often personified as a woman. Biblically, the origin of Wisdom is prior to creation and is an integral part of the whole creative process. Not only was she present in the beginning but she has continued to make her presence felt through all of history, warning humans against foolishness and foolhardy behavior in all of its forms. Given our experience with Wisdom through the centuries some have concluded that there is good reason for her association with the feminine. Might it be, they say, that women are more likely to show forth the Wisdom of the universe than are men? Of course we know that many men are wise…but maybe women have an innate connection, one that we’d be foolish to ignore!

Thought for the Day: Wise women I have known!

John 14:15-19

“In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.” vs. 19

The man, Jesus of Nazareth, did not have a long life. Hostile powers conspired to torture and kill him while he was by our standards a young man. But death could not contain him, and his followers soon reported his continuing presence. “He’s alive,” they proclaimed to all who would listen…and spurred on by the power of his Spirit they went with the good news throughout the world. And that’s not the end of the story. Jesus the Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, is visible in our world today. Though his presence is obscured for many by the powers of darkness he can be seen wherever loving is the order of the day. He is alive; indeed he is the vital source of life for countless persons all over the world. His followers continue to walk in his ways, standing with the poor and oppressed, bringing hope and comfort to all who despair. The Church is not just another do-gooder organization, it is the living and breathing presence of the Christ for the world today. The world may not know him or see him, but it is profoundly affected by the power of his Spirit and his unquenchable love. Jesus didn’t have a long life but his influence will last until the close of the age. Thus proclaims the Spirit of Truth!

Thought for the Day: What does Pentecost mean for me?

John 14:8-14

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ”Show us the Father”’?” vs. 9

We don’t know what Philip was thinking when he asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, but evidently it had not dawned on him that in Jesus they had been seeing the Father. Perhaps he had thought that seeing the Father would be more spectacular. After all the Father was the creator of the universe and had brought all things into being. Jesus was pretty much like the rest of them…he went to weddings, loved good wine, had a neat mother…he did all the guy things. Oh there was something different about him…but he certainly didn’t seem godlike. We have the same issue with divinity as did Philip. Even though we know that God’s self has been poured into all things, including us, we have a hard time acknowledging that this is really God. In our heart of hearts we cling to a conception of a totally transcendent God, one who lives beyond the bounds of the universe in a place called heaven. We long to be with God…and totally miss the God who lives within, the immanent God, who is the breath of life itself. “Open up your eyes,” Jesus says, “take a good look at one another…take a look in the mirror even…and you will see God.” It’s hard to believe, but it’s absolutely true!

Thought for the Day: If I see God in the mirror, who am I?

Acts 2:14-21

“Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” vs. 21

Peter was so excited that he could not contain himself. The Holy Spirit had exploded on the scene in spectacular fashion and he was convinced that the things that were happening were a fulfillment of what had been written by the prophet Joel many centuries before. This was the pouring of the Spirit upon all flesh…and no one was going to be excluded. No longer would salvation be limited…all people would be able to participate. As might have been expected it didn’t take much time for Peter’s grand vision to be narrowed. As the Church began to grow and expand its leaders began to attach limitations to salvation. His expansive proclamation, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” was reinterpreted and rephrased. It didn’t take long for it to be preached as this, “Only those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” In some denominations the prescription was narrowed even further to “Only those who have a personal relationship with Jesus shall be saved.” How foolish we are to attempt to curb the workings of God’s Holy Spirit! The message of Pentecost is plain. God’s love and mercy is for all flesh! How can we be so unimaginative as to think it’s only for folks who think and believe as we do? How wonderful it is to see the Spirit continue to be poured out in our day, often in ways that surprise and amaze! It really is good that we are not in charge!

Thought for the Day: What happens to those who don’t call on the name of the Lord?

Acts 2:1-13

“And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.” vs. 6

We love our own native languages. In fact many of us would prefer that everyone in our country would be forced to learn English as the official language. There are even some who become angry and suspicious when they hear other languages spoken in their presence. Such feelings have been around for a long time…and it’s not only Americans who have such attitudes. All people love the languages they’ve grown up with…the sounds and idioms are familiar…and they’ll do most anything to keep them from dying or falling into disuse. But the truth is that communication is difficult if we don’t speak the same language…it certainly must have been an obstacle in the early church. It’s interesting that the very first Spirit-filled miracle reported in Acts had to do with the overcoming of that language barrier. We don’t know what happened in that upper room, but in the surge of Holy Spirit power on that Pentecost there came an ability for the disciples to speak in other languages. It was a divine reminder that what had happened in Jesus was meant for all people no matter what their nationality or background. Early believers didn’t have to forget their native languages…they only had to learn a new language of unconditional love. In the Spirit they learned quickly that they were one with God and with one another!

Thought for the Day: Why are most Christian congregations so homogeneous?

Psalm 104:31-34, 35b

“May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.” vs. 34

Meditation is a foreign notion to many followers of Jesus. Often they have associated the practice with eastern religions and aren’t comfortable dabbling in that which is not familiar. Obviously that was not the case with the psalmist. He’s been meditating on the wonders of creation and trusts that the Lord will be pleased. His words remind us that meditation has many forms and can take us in a variety of directions. We can sit for hours in the out-of-doors watching the comings and goings of insects and birds and be enthralled with the web of interconnections that are a part of everyday life in this spectacular world. We can let the words of a particular scripture run through our minds and find ourselves lifted up with the light of new inspiration and insights. The miracle of meditation has been the spiritual food of millions for thousands of years. As we learn to plumb the depths of the world inside and outside of our daily existence we gain new insights and elusive serenity. The deeper we dig the more riches we discover…there’s no need to be afraid or skeptical. In fact the more we discover of our inner selves, the closer we come to the embedded presence of God and the more joy will fill our hearts. Our faces will shine with the grace and mercy of our Lord and God will be glorified.

Thought for the Day: What shape does meditation take for me?

Psalm 104:24-30

“When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.” vs. 30

According to the psalmist all creatures of the earth and sea, great and small, including the great Leviathan, were made and are sustained by God. More than that, none of them could survive apart from the presence of God’s spirit. In other words, the universe itself has an intimate connection to God and could be called God’s first incarnation. No wonder we find such joy in our encounters with our environment. To walk in the desert and climb mountain peaks, to observe animals in the forests and see birds at our feeders is to engage the Divine Presence. Many of us even provide free room and board in our homes for animal companions in exchange for their adoration and unconditional love. The spirit of God works in and through them to relax our troubled hearts and minds. They bring healing for our wounded souls. The psalmist poured out praise to God for all the manifold works of creation, and what a blessing it is for us to enjoy the bounty of it all. Our lives overflow with its beauty and harmony. How wonderful it is when we daily open our eyes to the blooming flowers, feeding birds, and working bees that can be found just outside our doors. Even the tiniest creatures bear testimony to the providential wisdom and presence of our ever-creating God!

Thought for the Day: What pleasures do we get from bird-watching?