Thursday - September 8, 2022
Dr. Pat Saxon
READING
You thought
you had hit
every layer possible,
that you had found
the far limit
of your sorrow,
of your grief.
Now the world falls
from beneath your feet
all over again,
as if the wound
were opening
for the first time,
only now with
an ache you recognize
as ancient.
Here is the time
for kindness—
your own, to yourself—
as you fall…
---Jan Richardson
WORDS OF HOPE
Unexpected sorrow swept over me this morning after reading of the death of the last member of one of the uncontacted indigenous groups in Brazil. It marked the first recorded disappearance of an isolated tribe.* Officials from Brazil’s indigenous protection agency found him covered in feathers, lying in a hammock, his age probably about 60. His practice of digging 10 foot holes around his hut had garnered him the name The Man of the Holes. Though I did not even know who his gods were—or even if he believed—I began to pray, entrusting his soul to the God beyond all names.
The last man.
Hollowed out words bespeaking loss and compelling my grieving.
To be sure, sometimes “the last” is a spirit-lifting phrase: the last mortgage payment, the last chemotherapy treatment, the last set of college exams.
But often it has evocations of loss and even devastation: the last of one’s family of origin, the last expression of love, the last man to speak Taushuro (an Amazonian dialect), the last remnants of rapidly disappearing glaciers, the last black rhino.
A trail of final things unfolds: Adam and Eve’s last longing look into Eden, the Judeans last glimpses of home before the Babylonian exile, the disciples’ last earthly meal with Jesus.
Once grief cracks open your heart, all manner of losses touch you—the last man, the death of a great oak, the thousand flood-deaths in Pakistan, the loss of kindness in society, school children torn apart by automatic weapons, and so much more. In one of her poems Mary Oliver asserts that she has written to “ break your heart by which I mean only that it break open and never close again to the rest of the world.”
May it be so.
PRAYER
Holy Comforter and Healer, when sorrow takes us to new rooms of the heart, help us find unexpected treasures in the dark. Amen.
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Dr. Pat Saxon
*New York Times, 8/29/2022
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SCRIPTURE 1 Timothy 5:17-24 New International Version The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning, you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. Stop drinking only water and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. WORDS OF HOPE Honoring the Work, Finding the Joy In today’s reading, Paul offers practical wisdom for life together in community. He speaks about honoring leaders who work diligently, holding one another accountable with fairness, and living with integrity that does not hide behind appearances. At first glance, this passage may feel heavy, concerned with discipline, responsibility, and seriousness. Yet beneath it all is a profound respect for work done well and lives lived honestly. Paul understands something important: how we treat work, and the people who do it, matters deeply to God. On this Fun at Work Day, we are reminded that joy and responsibility are not opposites. The call to honor faithful labor does not mean work must be joyless or burdensome. Instead, when work is rooted in purpose, respect, and shared commitment, it becomes life-giving. Fun, laughter, and connection are not distractions from meaningful work; they are often signs that the work is healthy. Paul cautions against rushing to judgment and against ignoring harmful behavior. Integrity, he reminds us, eventually reveals itself, both the good and the bad. This is true in our workplaces, our ministries, and our daily lives. When we act with care, fairness, and humility, our work reflects God’s justice. When we allow joy to exist alongside accountability, our work reflects God’s abundance. Today, as we celebrate fun at work, we can pause to give thanks: • For colleagues who labor with integrity. • For those who serve faithfully, often unseen. • For moments of laughter that strengthen community. • For the reminder that God is present not only in solemn responsibility, but also in shared joy. May we honor one another’s work, practice fairness and grace, and allow joy to remind us why our labor matters. In doing so, we bear witness to a God who delights not only in what we do, but in who we are together. PRAYER God of purpose and joy, bless the work of our hands and the people with whom we labor. Teach us to honor one another, to act with integrity, and to find joy even in responsibility. May our work reflect your justice, and our joy reflect your love. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas Senior Pastor Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ
SCRIPTURE John 15:12 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. “Love requires sacrifice because it demands something from us that selfishness refuses to give. The more we love like Jesus, the more it will cost us. But the more it costs, the more it transforms.” --post from Wholy Christian WORDS OF HOPE On this wintry morning, I could easily have rolled over and gone back to sleep. But Sage’s soft whine pierces my foggy mind, and I know that the steroids she’s on to heal the hematoma on her ear can lead to accidents in the house if she’s not let out soon enough. So I roll out, give her kisses and a morning treat, and let her out the back door. Then it’s time to feed her, armor myself against the cold, fill her treat bag, put on her “vest” (harness) and get her lead. I smile broadly as she skitters down the steps in her soft aqua and lavender sweater spashed with snow flakes and hearts and an oval of Anna and Elsa from Frozen in a sisterly embrace centered on her back. It was one of the many gifts the women at the Marshall Animal shelter showered upon us on the day of her adoption, February 15th, 2025. When this sweet dog with the pensive eyes came into my life nearly a year ago, I knew that she had been picked up off the streets, had been in the shelter for over a year, that she was recovering from knee surgery, and that her wonderful foster mother had begun the rehab. But the surgeon directed that two to three walks a day were imperative for full recovery and that I needed to continue that regimen for months. What I didn’t know was that Sage would require more care than I had imagined—a good bit of medication, the care of our regular vet, and an ongoing relationship with an integrative veterinary specialist to assess her mobility issues and plan a therapeutic program which includes twice a month laser treatments. Was I ready to be a dog mom to a special needs dog? Not really, but love would not allow me to return her to the shelter. When a dog has been in a shelter for as long as Sage, it requires a long period of adjustment, patience, trust-building, and learning who she is—and not who you imagined your ideal dog would be. Early on Sage showed herself to be sweet, delighting in the world of smells, and friendly with other people and dogs. Walking with her through the neighborhood she would practice what someone calls the “Sage flop”—just suddenly lying down in someone’s yard when she reached the limit of pain or tiredness in her legs (and/or was stalling getting back home!) Neighbor after neighbor has “granted” her yard privileges. Watching the weather report is a regular activity now—looking to get advance notice of storms because she is terribly thunder-phobic, quaking in fear and hiding in close places until her medication takes hold. Such fear tears at my heart, so I put on Native American flute music and sit with her, stroking her fur until she begins to calm down. The call to love—whether a child, a partner, friend, or animal companion—sets a claim upon our lives. Once we have said yes, we’re called out of ourselves to offer all the time and money and care we can give. It’s costly, this sacrificial loving as Jesus loved. But for many of us, once on the path, there’s no going back. PRAYER Holy God, Keep leading me on the path of Love. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr. Pat Saxon
SCRIPTURE Galatians 6.9 “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” WORDS OF HOPE Today is Rubber Ducky Day, which may seem to you like just another of those random daily holidays that we observe to entertain ourselves. To me, it has a multitude of definitions and the most important one is reflected in today’s Scripture reading about the rewards of hard work. I have a long-time friend at this church who has one of the most impressive collections of rubber duckies on the planet, bath toys of every shape and size imaginable. They are just one of the ways she and her wife spread joy- and spreading joy is not an easy job these days, but they do not grow weary in doing good; they do not give up! The duckies also remind me of another acquaintance from many years ago, the incredible puppeteer and producer, Jim Henson. I met grew to know at several Puppeteer Conventions. We shared the love of doing good things for children. Jim made the Rubber Duckies famous through the classic Sesame Street song, “Rubber Ducky, You’re the One” sung by Jim’s Muppet, Ernie. Jim, too, through all the enormous challenges of TV and Movie production, never gave up, always worked for the good, and left an incredible harvest to the whole world. After Jim Henson was gone, the roll of Ernie (of Bert and Ernie) went to several other puppeteers throughout the years. One of them, a brilliant performer named Billy, is a long- time friend as well. I met him when he was 20 about 20 years ago and immediately found out that working for the Muppets was his lifetime dream. He worked for years perfecting the voices and classic moves of several of the characters, all the while saying that he knew the odds of getting an audition were probably 100,000 to one, but he would not give up. I knew that he probably was being conservative about those odds, but Charlie, my business partner, and I would not let the odds hold back our constant encouragement to our friend. And, thanks be to God, in due season, Billy got the job. Billy was now Ernie. After 8 years with Sesame Street, he moved on to other adventures, but he left them with an iconic treasure: the original Henson Rubber Ducky! So, whether you are a tireless church worker, a potential world-famous mogul of an entertainment empire, or a kid with a dream, carry that verse from Galatians with you always. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” And don’t forget to hug a rubber ducky today, if one happens to cross your path. PRAYER God of Love and realized dreams, may we never give up, never tire of doing good, knowing the act itself never stops blessing the receiver and giver alike. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. - WORDS OF HOPE A few weeks ago, we commemorated the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Baptism is a pivotal moment in the life of a Christian. It is the moment when we are marked as Christ’s own, take up his armor, and become a minister of Christ’s gospel. Some big promises are made when we are baptized. We promise to renounce the evil forces in the world, affirm faith in the trinity lived out through the church, and to live a life rooted in the teachings of Christ. Just as Jesus’s baptism, at around age 30, marked the beginning of his public ministry “and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17), so too is it the beginning of our journey with Christ. If we truly live to fulfill our baptismal promises, there is much fear and trembling along the way. Following Christ is not easy and it’s not always comforting. We can find comfort in the unconditional love of God given to us through Christ, but as baptized Christians, we are called to also share and grow that love. Sharing God’s love means standing up to evil, fighting for justice, proactively caring for the marginalized, protecting God’s creation and all that inhabit it, and proclaiming the good news of Christ in all things. Taking on these responsibilities is unsettling and scary. Taking on these things can be uncomfortable. Being a Christ-follower does cause fear and trembling. But as we say when we are baptized, I will do these things that are required of me with God’s help. What we need to remember is that God is always near to help us, but we need to be willing to do the work. Much of that necessary work is done inwardly. A daily discipline of prayer and study roots us in Christ. Another helpful practice is a Daily Examination of Conscience, a time to reflect on our relationship with the Holy each and every day. There are many ways to do a daily self-examen. I have used this simple form for many years. At the end of each day, I reflect and journal on these three questions: What have I done today for God?, What have I done today with God?, and What have I done today to God? From this practice comes joy and gratitude, but it also sheds light on the places where I need to both offer and ask for forgiveness for my shortcomings. With that, I am equipped to meet the next day, listening to and working with the God who is working in and through me in order to fulfill God’s good purpose. The act of getting baptized is short and merely a beginning to the much longer and more challenging lifelong challenge of being baptized. We have the opportunity throughout the liturgical year to renew our baptismal vows. We can also revisit them ourselves anytime we are struggling with God’s call to us and our response. PRAYER Loving God, today I remember the promises I made in baptism. Wash over me again with your grace, cleanse my heart, and kindle the joy within me that comes from loving and serving you. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare
SCRIPTURE Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. WORDS OF HOPE Many years ago , in the black and white days of the 1950’s, there was a television quiz show hosted by Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. It was called Who Do You Trust? and the premise of the show was for a married couple to be asked a question and then decide between them which could be trusted with the right answer. The show was originally called Do You Trust Your Wife? but as society was gradually becoming more enlightened, at least the veneer of sexism was beginning to be peeled away. The question the show’s title asked is still as black and white as the series. These days, Who Do You Trust? -Your spouse, your business associates, your news sources, your local and national leaders? Trust is like walking across a rope suspension bridge wiggling in the wind. You carefully eye the condition and size of the ropes, look down into the deep canyon below and gulp. Fear floods your mind; arrival at the other side seems to be a bit uncertain. A friend walking with you says: ": Go-ahead, don't worry, it's safe. I've walked across it a hundred times." Do you take the step forward and walk, or do you sit down and decompress in fear, going nowhere? Your friend may be trustworthy or may just want to get you out of the way. It all boils down, using the proper grammar, to whom will you trust? Some people go through life trusting in wrong advice, while other people put trust in no one but themselves. The decision to choose your source of trust, the compass of your life, is the most important choice you'll ever make! Who is your source of trust? Thousands of years ago, the Psalmist answered that question this way: "O Lord, my God, give light to my eyes. I trust in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because you have dealt bountifully with me." (Psalm 13-3, 5-6)a PRAYER O God, you have dealt bountifully with me every day of my life. May I sing of my trust in you like the Psalmist of old as I rejoice in your steadfast love. AMEN DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Matthew 7.12 So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them. WORDS OF HOPE Religious Freedom Day On this Religious Freedom Day, I pause to reflect on what it truly means to live faithfully in the 21st century—a world where belief can sometimes be a matter of life and death. Across the globe, countless people cannot worship freely. Some gather in secret, whispering prayers under the cover of night, meeting quietly in hidden homes, or seeking sacred spaces far from the eyes of authority. Their courage reminds me that the freedom to worship is both precious and fragile. Religious freedom is not just a right; it is a responsibility. A responsibility to defend those whose voices are silenced, to protect the vulnerable, and to act boldly in the pursuit of justice. I think of those who flee violence: refugees forced from their homes, immigrants seeking sanctuary. These are God’s children, carrying fear, hope, and faith with them, often leaving behind everything familiar. They remind us that freedom of worship is meaningless if it is not paired with the freedom to live, to exist safely, and to pursue life with dignity. When did the stranger become dangerous? When did hospitality become suspicion, welcome become threat, and faith become a tool of domination or exclusion? Too often, governments, institutions, and even churches have weaponized faith to control or marginalize. But God calls us to a different path: to see the stranger as sacred, to honor their journey, and to recognize the Divine in every life. Individuals are criminalized for who they are, for whom they love, and laws increasingly protect narrow definitions of faith while endangering those who do not conform. This is not the Kin-dom of God. This is not how God embraces. True faith is not about fear or domination. True faith is about radical love, justice, and standing courageously with the oppressed, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. True faith calls us to act, to speak, and to resist systems that oppress others under the guise of holiness. Faith is relational. Love for God is not a checklist, a duty, or a law to obey. It is a living, breathing connection—a dynamic relationship between our hearts and the Divine. God is still speaking, still moving, still calling us into deeper love, deeper justice, and deeper solidarity with all creation. God’s voice is present in the cries of the oppressed, the silent prayers of those worshiping in secret, the resilience of those fleeing danger, and the courage of communities who rise despite injustice. God is calling us to lean into discomfort, to act when action feels risky, and to love when love feels costly. To follow God is to listen, to respond, and to act in ways that bring love, mercy, and healing into the world. PRAYER God of all peoples, on this Religious Freedom Day, we pause to honor the courage of those who worship in secret and the suffering of those who flee violence. Thank You for speaking to us still—in ways both quiet and thunderous—reminding us that You are relational and that You love us as we love You. Teach us to honor You by honoring all Your children. Help us resist coercion, defend the persecuted, and live boldly in love. Open our hearts to strangers, seeing in every face Your presence. Strengthen us to stand with those fleeing violence, to embrace those marginalized, and to embody the justice, mercy, and radical hospitality You call us to share. May our lives be living testimonies to Your ongoing voice, Your ever-present love, and Your call to build a world of freedom, justice, and radical inclusion. May we never grow complacent, never turn away, and always remember that every act of love, no matter how small, ripples into Your Kin-dom. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Reed Kirkman