One of the greatest of human needs is having someone wonder where you are when you don’t come home at night. Margaret Mead
We do need each other. Many of us live alone. Many of us are alone though we live with others. Society has evolved technically but has it made our loves any better? We are more stressed, more distant within our own walls. We have less real contact with others. Many of our relationships are superficial when we long for someone to touch our soul.
We are so alone! And yet…God is with us. God can reach that place that so craves communion. Turn to God.
“For I will be with you always, even to the ends of the earth.”
God, filler of our emptiness, come to us now and touch our souls. Thank you for being with us in our loneliness. Help us to find our true companionship in our Christian Community with you. AMEN
Do we remember to ask God’s forgiveness for the wrong things that we do? Sometimes I think we just push them to the back of the mind and let it go. God will forgive us if we ask. Then there is the challenge of believing that we have, in fact, been forgiven.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I am still on a gratitude kick. We have a tradition for each person to say something that they are thankful for. Yesterday I asked them to name something that is not the usual routine such as family, home, love etc. I said reach out and think of something different. My granddaughter (who is a recent college graduate with a fairly new job) said she is glad that she can live at home for now and save money. I am sure her parents were happy to know that she is grateful for that. It is good to share our gratitude. Too often we don’t thank God and we don’t thank others either. Share your gratitude with others.
We spend way too much time in the past or the future. This moment is all there is. Do everything each day in the presence of God. If you are washing dishes dedicate that task to God. If you are in the garden see God’s beauty. There is a wonderful old book called “Practicing the Presence of God – by Brother Lawrence.” He spends every moment with God. Don’t dwell in the past or the future. Spend each moment in the now with God.
Too often we can get caught up in quid pro quo. That is if I do something for you then you owe something in return. This leads to not wanting accept assistance from others. It seems easier to give as that doesn’t incur an obligation. We have to understand God doesn’t expect this kind of thinking. We must be able to give without any obligation for a return and even harder for most of us take without feeling obligated. We have to think like the movie “Pay It Forward.” Kindness does move on from person to person. Give kindness and accept kindness. It’s God’s plan.
Hear God in Other Voices 