calling, thursday

Thursday, August 6

Opening Prayer: O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  ~The Book of Common Prayer

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Journal: What do you think made Zacchaeus climb the tree?  What must have been going on in his heart and soul?  What do you think went on in him when Jesus called his name?  What goes on in you when you realize that God calls your name?

Reflection:

 

     We skip down the hallways of our youth, you and I, stopping now and then to catch our breath.  And every now and then we catch something else.  A glimpse of the future.  Our future.  A glimpse we caught when we came across a window suddenly flung open in front of us, its gossamer curtains lifted by the breeze redolent with the future, filling our lungs with refreshing air and our heart with hopeful dreams.

     At that window we hear something like somebody calling our name, only in a language we can’t quite understand, so we don’t recognize who it is who is calling us or to where we are being called.

     But we recognize the name.

     Even in a foreign language, names translate closely to the original.  Whoever it is calling us is calling us by our true name.  Whispering to us a secret.  Telling us who we are.  And showing us what we will be doing with our lives if only we have eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the faith to follow.  (Windows of the Soul by Ken Gire)

Prayers

Closing Prayer: Thank you, O Lord, that you are a God who knows our name.  In fact, you are a God who knows us inside and out.  You know every single thing about us, and yet you love us anyway, and you call us into an intimate, loving, transforming relationship with you.  Thank you that you want relationship with us.  Amen.