Cradling Us

Wednesday, March 14

Read: John 11:1-12:11

In late 1992, having been through a miscarriage, I was thrilled and terrified

to find myself pregnant again. Complications began early, and my

doctor told me I had likely lost the baby, “but come in for one last ultrasound,

anyway, so we’ll know what to do next”. Two doctors and a technician

were in the room with me for that ultrasound. For agonizing minutes

they looked and listened for signs of life. “I’m so sorry,” they told me,

shaking their heads and looking away. Then, as the technician made one

last sweep, static appeared on the monitor… and then a low, rapid sound:

“ker-thump, ker-thump”. There was not a dry eye to be found, as we all

listened to the steady, blessed beat of my son’s heart. Living proof? Without

question. Our faith, in this season of Lent, is about finding hope,

when evidence points only to despair; about following a path through

darkness to light we cannot imagine; about living through sorrow and

reaching for joy. In our moments of deepest sadness, our Savior is with us,

steady and blessed, cradling us with his body, longing to make us whole.

Prayer:

Too often, Blessed Lord, we give up and give in to darkness, to despair, and

to sorrow. Help us to be still and silent in those uncomfortable and painful places in

this season. Open our tear-filled eyes to find you there with us, for us. Cradle us with

your body and make us whole. Amen. ~Lynette Johnson

The Spirit is Manifested

Monday, March 12

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:7

As Chaplain and Bible Teacher at an inner city mission school, I often

asked students to act out a story for the weekly chapel service. One year I

assigned one of the 6th grade "trouble makers" the role of the little boy

who brought his lunch of five loaves and two fish to Jesus to help feed the

hungry crowd of 5000 people. The disciples were not at all sure where

they could find food for all the people, and this little boy volunteered his

lunch. The 12-year-old in my class really enjoyed his role as the child willing

to share his food. He played it beautifully. However, the results after

the play were the living proof to me of Jesus' influence to change lives.

This boy had been the ringleader of many "incidents" leading to confusion

and chaos in the classroom. From the day that he played the boy sharing

his food, he never caused any further challenges. In fact, he became the

leader by good examples. Just playing that role was living proof to him

that he could be active in a positive way as a class leader.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for challenging us by your example to be leaders in our

homes, communities and daily lives. This Lenten season help us to be open to the manifestation

of your Holy Spirit so that we have opportunities to see the living proof of Jesus

in our lives every day. Amen. ~The Rev. Dr. Nora Ramirez

Relying on God

Sunday, March 11

Read: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

For most of my early adult life, I was an ambitious young man who

principally pursued my own desires and interests. I had been told for so

long that I was very smart, and I believed it. I was told I had excellent

communication skills that would serve me well, and I was sure of it. An

older professional colleague of mine told me that he was sure I would succeed

at anything I attempted to do. A woman told me that I was very

good looking, and I loved that. Yes, I had great strengths and abilities that

would take me far in life. Years later I found myself drowning in the consequences

of bad decisions I had made; broken relationships I had left

behind; self-destructive addictions that had consumed me. I came to believe

that I was untrustworthy and that I could not even trust myself. It

was only then, when I didn’t know who to trust anymore, that I began to

rely on the strength of the Lord. In my weakness and in my surrender,

God’s strength lifted me. The brokenness of my life was healed and I was

strong in the strength of Christ, who was and is there for me and for you.

Prayer:

Gracious God, thank you for being my strength, for I have none. Thank you

for bringing hope and blessings, for I have no capacity to bring them. I am yours,

o Lord, and I rely upon you. Amen. ~Bozh Lubovnik