Reading

[The Hebrew word] hesed holds before us the great theme of compassion. It is a word so laden with meaning that translators struggle to find an English equivalent, often rendering it “loving kindness” or “steadfast love.” It is a word most frequently used in reference to God’s unwavering compassion for [God’s] people. God’s wonderful hesed love is “from everlasting to everlasting,” declared the Psalmist (Psalm 103:17). It is a “steadfast love” that “endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).

But the great challenge for us is that this covenant love, this durable mercy that is so central to the character of God, is to be reflected in us as well. Richard Foster

Words of Hope

“This durable mercy.” I read. And stopped. And read again, turning over and over its meaning. Something about the unexpected combination of the two terms has captured me and lived in me for a couple of weeks now.

du·ra·ble/ˈd(y)o͝orəb(ə)l/

Adjective:  able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing  

synonyms long-lasting, hardwearing, heavy-duty, tough, resistant, … antonyms flimsy, delicate, short-lived

My hiking boots are durable. For years they’ve endured treks through wet fields, splashing through muddy creek beds, straining through mountain paths, thick with sharp rocks. There’s something comforting and affirming in thinking of God’s steadfast love, God’s durable mercy as taking the hits of the road, all that life throws at us—all we sometimes throw at others– and still holding us fast, holding us precious.

I appreciate the way durable lends heft to mercy, which Portia, in her famous speech from The Merchant of Venice, describes as “drop[ping] as the gentle rain from heaven.” Maybe that’s why mercy always seems “softer” than justice. And it does require a softened heart, a heart that loves and forgives more than it wants to judge and punish. But mercy is hard too, difficult. At least for us humans. To go the distance without halting before the whole offering is completed, without holding out some last bit of judgment for the wrongdoing or some prevailing sense of moral superiority for our “magnanimity.”

Durable mercy is the stuff of cherished friendships, good marriages, good-enough families, and should be present in thriving church families. But Richard Foster is right: it is a challenge for us to love mercy and live into it with all that we are.

Prayer

You who are mercy within mercy within mercy*, grow us in steadfast love and durable grace. Amen *(Thomas Merton’s phrase)

Devotion Author

Dr. Pat Saxon

Scripture

John 13:12-15; 17

“Do you understand what I have done for you?” Jesus asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you… Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Words of Hope

Early in my ministry career, we called them “mission trips”.

Whether we were taking a group of teenagers to rural Appalachia, inner city Denver, forest-fire stricken central Texas, or third-world Honduras, we understood our ventures as a place to go and a people for whom we were “doing mission”.

There was a lot of value in removing teenagers from their comfort zone and taking them someplace unique to their perspective. It’s hard to communicate poverty and marginalization by just talking about it. That’s why we scrambled into rental vans or airplanes and went somewhere other than their familiar upper-middle class neighborhood. Even if we went to the local night shelter or soup kitchen for the day, we pulled them out of their world and showed them the Jesus that He himself describes in Matthew 25.

But we often missed the point when we defined the term “missionary.” We were essentially telling teenagers that being a missionary meant doing someone else a favor by painting their house, scooping beans onto a tray, building a safety fence, or mowing a lawn. We weren’t teaching discipleship. We were casting teenagers in the role of saviors. We were putting the focus on the wrong person.

In our lesson from the Gospel of John, Jesus told the twelve (and us) at the Last Supper: I am Lord and Teacher, yet I washed your feet. So, lay aside your privilege or status or wealth and get your hands dirty. For you are not the Teacher, you are the student. Find some feet to wash.  Simply put, “do as I do.”

Then Jesus reminds us that the gift of this kind of discipleship, of doing what the Lord and Teacher does, is blessing. That blessing comes in many forms. It could be peace of mind or a settled soul. It comes in knowing that in doing so, we move even closer to the mind of Christ. So, as Jesus’ disciple, our daily lesson is to get our hands dirty and wash each other’s feet.

Prayer

Lord and Teacher, we desire to do as you have done. We are willing to get our hands dirty and wash each other’s feet. We seek the blessings of discipleship. May it be so. Amen.

Devotion Author

Thomas Riggs

Scripture

Hebrews 10.24

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,

A Word of Hope

Can you name any visionaries you have known throughout the years? I have been blessed to have known and worked with several.

As an occasional touring puppeteer, for over 30 years I have travelled through some great old western towns in Texas including Albany and Breckenridge at the top of the list. I have seen many children grow up in these towns while performing annual marionette shows and facilitating children’s art workshops. In Breckenridge, we had the good fortune to have been associated with one of its foremost citizens, a woman named Martha Sullivan. Martha was known to her closest friends as “Mama Red” for her flaming, Lucille Ball-colored, curly hair. But her personality and wit went much deeper as Martha was also one of the areas true visionaries; some might even have called her a prophet.

I met Martha while she served her community as the towns first choice as director of the Breckenridge Fine Art Center. She hired my business partner Dan and me to facilitate puppet shows and workshops, teaching children to think creatively and think about their future because she knew how quickly life tends to change without notice. Martha saw a need to develop this children’s art program, since her biggest love was teaching. She knew from experience, the best way to survive the unseen twists and turns in the road ahead was to be creative.

Her knowledge of the world can be likened to a man-made lake in Breckenridge; which was a resource for the community to draw from its wealth of life-giving waters because that’s what knowledge gives us. A few years ago, there was a drought and the lake dried up. Martha was gone, and it looked as if Breckenridge would have to get even more creative now, and it was up to some of her former students to be the new visionaries to decide what to do next. Martha had been right. Their lives had changed without notice. The last time we traveled through the small town the lake was overflowing again. Sure enough, Martha’s inspiration was still alive in a new generation of visionaries. We remembered one of Martha’s most familiar sayings: “God will provide.”

Has God provided any visionaries in your life? Who is your greatest resource? What is the reservoir from which you draw and what happens when it dries up? For me, the source of living water is never-ending. Inspiring people are all around us. You know who they are. Listen to them while they are among us. They can inspire you to have visions of your own.

Prayer

Thank you for inspiring the people who inspire us. Help us to listen to them so that we may lead others on toward love and good deeds.

Devotion Author

Charlie C. Rose
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

Philippians 4. 6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

A Word of Hope in Prayer

Prince of peace,

Nothing has changed. The path to peace has always been hidden from us. Wars rage within our hearts, and our very nature is violence. Children are murdering children, husbands their wives, and those with power the ones they were meant to protect. Yet, despite all of this, the desire for peace burns just as strong as it always has. Our prayers for it have not ceased. Those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice continue to protect their lands from chaos. Many of us believe that peace is only a dream. More still, believe that gaining power is the way to achieving peace. Guide us and we will follow. Instruct us and we will become wiser. Be with us and anything will be possible.

Be our peace in the middle of the storm. You do not fear the winds that blow, and the waves present no threat. The seas obey You and the angels serve You. All the righteous who pray for peace find it in You. Only, You.

Creator God, in humility, we empty ourselves from all pride. You alone have the water to quench our thirst. For too long, our water has been our own tears, and the taste has been bitter. Your water is sweet like honey and fills us with new life. Grant us the courage of Moses so that we may be able to face the enemy on the inside, and the innocence of a child so that we may be able to face the enemy on the outside. For only the courageous can face themselves, and only the innocent can love their adversary.

Prince of peace, You are our friend, and You love us. We do not doubt You and we dare not depart from You. We know You and You know us. This is why we put our faith in You, because You never fail. When You gave us Your peace, it was not as the world gives. When You died, it was not how mortal men died. A promise from You is better than the assurance of a thousand princes. So then, we ask this in Your name, to give us peace that never fades, from generation to generation on Earth as it is in Heaven. Amen.

Devotion Author

Jonathon McClellan
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Words of Hope

As a Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator, I meet with women who have newly diagnosed breast cancer, and help find resources for them, provide education, and offer emotional support. I develop a bond with some of these women. I feel a particularly strong bond with one woman I met. In our fist conversation, she mentioned that she teaches a Bible class, and she mentioned the words from a verse, “love covers all.” This woman has consistently shown patience with each obstacle to treatment, and gratefulness to God for each obstacle overcome. I have given those words a lot of thought since that day she first mentioned them.

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. What would have been the outcome of the January 6th uprising at the Capitol if the protesters had taken these words to heart? Would there even have been a protest at all if protesters had not been egged on by a leader with hatred in his heart?

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. How much further along would we be in the battle against COVID-19 if people took these words to heart? Even in fierce debate, conflict can be managed more effectively if the issues at hand are discussed in respectful tones. Disagreement does not have to be synonymous with hatred.

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. When I get very frustrated, I tend to raise my voice. Significantly. How many conflicts could I have avoided with my partner Carol, if I could only remember to keep my voice down? I know that we resolve our differences more effectively when we discuss things calmly.

I will give my best effort to keep the words “love covers all” close to my heart, especially in times of strong emotion. The examples in my life prove that those words are indeed powerful.

Prayer

Loving God, help me to remember, as my passions rise, that your love covers all wrongs. I want to be a vessel for your love.

Devotion Author

Molly Sutton
COH Member