Wednesday – July 13, 2022
Charlie C. Rose
SCRIPTURE
Exodus 31:2
Bezaleel was an artificer who executed both the work of the tabernacle furniture and musical instruments used in connection with the worship at the tabernacle in the wilderness.
WORDS OF HOPE
From a very young age, I heard the phrase “starving artist” almost as if every truly creative person everywhere had to be judged and reconciled as starving or soon to be. It’s an odd thing to explain the work of an artist. The hours of research, experimentation, first drafts, and so on.
The only artist or craftsman who is discussed at any length in the Bible is Bezaleel, who created the Ark of the Covenant among other holy objects for the Tabernacle in the days of Moses. He was recommended to Moses by God; quite a letter of recommendation. It is not likely Bezaleel was starving while freelancing for Moses.
Of course, if we talk about Jesus as a creative, he did the things he did to deliver and perpetuate his teachings to save us from ourselves. We know that he was not starving, but often was invited to meals and banquets.
The point is the “Starving artist” cliché is a tough voice to ignore. I suppose it could also refer to those in the art community who are “starving for attention.” Van Gogh lived his entire life, driven to create by making attempts to show his audiences the world through his eyes,
without words; using only his canvas and palette. Van Gogh created something new, that would later be defined in history as genius and ahead of its time. He died not having sold one painting. His brother Theo recognized his talent and did what he could, but the timing just wasn’t right. Theo, at least, made sure Vincent did not starve for food.
As much as I regret hearing the old adage, it’s a complex web from which my mind cannot break. People who think the artist loves what they do so much ask the question, “Why should they be paid?” It’s true, as a creative in my case as an artist, a writer, and performer with puppet characters, I receive so much joy. It’s wonderfully fulfilling but still demands a living wage.
It’s the same for churches. They exist from the support of people. Churches have a job ahead in our changing world. But, the images artists have created of the Christ, the one painted, sculpted, and stitched into tapestries are always with us. They have inspired people to support
the continuation of Jesus’ good works, whether the artists who created them were starving or not. Not once have I wondered what an icon artist had for breakfast that morning before creating an homage to Christ.
How do you help today’s world see Jesus through the picture you paint? It’s not a paid job but it is a job that rewards its creator with untold wages. The spiritual artists, which are all of us, perpetuate the image of the One we follow to all who meet us. Christ has already paid the price for our art. How do we present it in a way that honors his message? The world is starving.
PRAYER
Make me a spiritual artist who perpetuates your image by sharing your love. Amen
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Charlie C. Rose
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
Need Some Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE Luke 24.38 And He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why are doubts arising in your hearts? WORDS OF HOPE During the turbulent times in which we find ourselves, not knowing what the next rant might be on the internet, usually surrounding the disreputable actions of some Federal official or politician, it's hard to let go of the more civil and comfortable old ways in which things had always been done. We often look with nostalgia at how our lives were at that time. Currently, America's example of that can be summed up in the now-ancient cult phrase, "Make America Great Again". Whether we like it or not, the "way it was" has changed, and the "new stuff," some say the new normal, has often been very disquieting and emotionally challenging. There are citizens in our nation today who even fear for their lives and/or freedom born in that ambiguous phrase. The dilemma of Jesus’ disciples comes to mind. They, too, had suddenly been thrust into their own “new normal.” A few days after Jesus' death, his disciples feared that they as well might be seized or killed, so they met in a locked room. But suddenly, Jesus appeared among them. He had transported himself through a locked door in a way which previously was unknown. They thought he must be a ghost and were terrified. Then Jesus said to them, "Peace be with you". He let them touch the flesh and bones of his transitional body and even ate some of the food at their table. The disciples needed Jesus' help to accommodate to this new state of his presence in their lives, (Luke 24:36-43) and Jesus provided the necessary reassurance! The good news to us today is that Jesus is still with us. And we don’t need to be surprised or terrified like the disciples. As we allow ourselves to be comforted by this reality, we know by faith experience that he will be present with us, to guide and comfort us through the numerous transitions we must make for the good of our nation as we strengthen our spiritual life. PRAYER God of resurrections, thank you that we have this example from Luke reminding us Jesus as our guide, his example of courage and determination, will always be with us through both the challenges and the changes before us and all our neighbors of this world. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. WORDS OF HOPE “Faith and Risk” Rev. Dr. Fred Craddock died in 2015 at the age of 86. He was recognized as one of the most respected and popular Christian preachers, theologians, and professors of the 20th century. He once said: “The major themes of the Christian faith—caring, giving, witnessing, trusting, loving, hoping—cannot be understood or lived without risk.” (Craddock, Preaching the New Common Lectionary:Year A, After Pentecost, p 280) Not many churches or Christian organizations have large signs by the front door saying, “Come Join Us and Risk Everything!” We prefer COMFORT. We want to be cared for and loved and prefer a faith that doesn’t cost too much or ask too much of us. Re-read what Craddock said: “The major themes of the Christian faith—caring, giving, witnessing, trusting, loving, hoping—cannot be understood or lived without RISK.” As Jesus followers, we are reminded that Jesus gave all so that God’s sacrificial love might be revealed. No easy discipleship, just a servant heart of compassion and trust with hope. All while living within the boundaries of the Gospel that reaffirms the boundaries of doing for others as we would have them do for us, and loving God [including all of God’s creation] and neighbor as we love ourselves. That is Christ-like faith in a nutshell. That is the heart of Christianity. How do we risk? We witness to the true Hope of the Gospel that calls us to live today like we claim we will live in heaven. We show compassion to a stranger. We welcome an immigrant. We stand up to a bully. We speak out when someone is harming God’s creation. We give, and serve, and share what we have. May we live into the full capacity of our courage so that we might risk, like Jesus, living faithfully every day. PRAYER Grant us the courage, O God, to believe and love enough so that we become a living witness to the love that has changed our life forever—The love of Christ Jesus, who has shown us the way. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Rev. Dr. Gary G. Kindley, LPC Pastoral Psychotherapist DrGK.org
READING “Dogs remind us that joy is found in small, repeated rituals like walks and shared naps.” – Evan Hart WORDS OF HOPE If I have a bone to pick with Jesus, it’s that he didn’t have a dog. I know he was on the move a lot, and a dog wouldn’t be allowed in the synagogues, but I can just see a rangy brown mixed breed dog loping along in the midst of Jesus’ pack of disciples, eating the scraps from under the tables or some canine loving guests at Cana sneaking him tidbits at the wedding feast. And on those long days of feeding the multitudes and healing people, the weight of exhaustion and responsibility could have been lightened by a good dog lying by Jesus’ side. * Today celebrates Give Every Dog his Day, a time you are invited to reverse that Biblical trend and provide the best possible experiences for your precious companion. Acknowledging the great diversity in dogs, given breed, age, physical health, and temperament, generalizations can be tricky. For example, every dog I have ever had were treat motivated, for which I am eternally grateful when needing an extra boost in training. So, Sage’s favorite freeze-dried liver treats would be part of her day. We’ve met others, though, whose dogs could care less about treats. A walk, for sure, would be high on Sage’s list—even with her mobility challenges. Let there be plenty of time for sniffing clumps of grass saturated with other doggie smells (and catty, and squirrelly, and coyoteey and humany). That’s heaven! (It is distressing to see the rare neighbor looking at her cell phone and dragging her beautiful golden retriever to move faster and faster on her morning “walk.” That’s deserving of a level in Dante’s dog hell.) My last dog, Charlie, a 75 lb mixed breed, was a snuggler, and all manner of world pains could be eased by the way he dug in next to your side and rested with you. Sage, not so much, but she loves the luxury of being able to lie in the sun in the back yard and pick which bed she wants to rest or sleep in, having been caged in a shelter crate for over a year. And kisses, kisses would be a must. Charlie and Coco, his “sister,” would have to have a trip to the lake for their Day, where they could run the edges of the water bumping each other like young colts until they were exhausted. I could go on having fun with this piece, but you know your own dearest companion’s best days, so I invite you to enjoy together those special treats, rituals, close times, and love language. And for all the dogs still in shelters, please hear the cries: “See me. See me for who I am and all the love I have to give you. Open your home and heart to me.” Please foster and adopt. God of all creatures great and small, I give you thanks for the love and loyalty and joy and pure silliness of dogs, for all they bring to our lives, and for all they teach us about life. May we pour out our love and care without measure-- not just today but for a lifetime. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr. Pat Saxon *The word dog had a negative connotation in Jesus’ day and I have read that they were considered unclean.
SCRIPTURE Matthew 17:24-27 When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes, he does.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?” When Peter said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.” WORDS OF HOPE This story always sounds like Peter is looking for a loophole. That’s something I suspect everyone does occasionally, especially when it comes to money. There are whole professions who do little but look for loopholes to save money, and though Jesus agrees with Peter that there is indeed a loophole, he declines to use it. Sometimes I think when the offering plate is passed at the church, we often just pass it on. Conveniently taking the speed which with it is passed as a loophole to giving, after all we don’t want to hold up the process while we dig for our wallets. Perhaps we should remember that Jesus urged Peter to take time to go catch a fish in order to pay the temple tax. Fishing for our wallets seems a whole lot easier! PRAYER May we remember to be generous with our time and treasure to help the miracle that is our church continue to spread the message of hope, love and inclusion to all peoples. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman
READING There are times when beauty is shy and hesitant until it can trust the worthiness of the beholder…Beauty tends to avoid the siren call of the obvious…it prefers the neglected margins…beauty waits until the patience and depth of gaze are refined enough to engage and discover it…beauty is not a quality externally present in something. It emerges at the threshold where reverence of mind engages the subtle presence of the other person, place, or object. The hidden heart of beauty offers itself only when it is approached in a rhythm worthy of its trust and showing. -from Beauty: The Invisible Embrace by John O’Donohue WORDS OF HOPE I walked into class the other day and was greeted by a student who was excited to share that she was finally able to save money and purchase an e-reader. The initial enthusiasm quickly diminished when the conversation turned to the cost of books, both print and digital, and the fact that her city’s library does not have access to the e-book service she was hoping to use. I was able to brighten her day by telling her that she was entitled to use the public library, and all of its services, close to our campus by simply showing her school ID. That little piece of information made her day. Is it going to change THE world? No. Will it change HER world in a positive way? Yes. And, in my book, her smile made for a beautiful moment. We live in a world with big issues and those issues often cause big feelings, which lately seem to be more negative than positive. Some days the only way to navigate the incessant stress and ugliness of modern life is to remind ourselves to look for glimpses of beauty lurking around us in unexpected places. These moments may seem small at the time , but little by little they add up to become a life filled with immense beauty. O’Donohue says, “Only if there is beauty in us can we recognize beauty elsewhere: beauty knows beauty.” The apostle Peter talks of this kind of beauty in Peter 3:3-4; “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner, self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” The beauty that resides in our hearts is what prepares us to give and to receive the beauty around us. Our job is to fill our hearts with beautiful things—with hope, compassion, empathy, and love; love of self, love of our neighbors, and love of our God. A heart full of these things knows beauty…and is able to be beauty in our chaotic world. This kind of beauty often comes in a simple gesture like a smile, a thank-you, or a shared prayer. My prayer is, that with God’s help, beauty will surround each of us inside and out. PRAYER God of all goodness, help me to look beyond the harshness of the world that stares me in the face and to find the beauty that hides in the often “neglected margins.” Remind me that these glimpses of beauty are sacred moments offered to me by you. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURES Psalm 63.1 Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. Romans 1.11-12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong- That is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. WORDS OF HOPE As I Am -A Poem I've been watching you. Waiting for you. Searching for you. Hoping, almost believing– If only for a moment That maybe I can really do this. Oh, my dreams keep me up at night. All I see is the same thing over and over Again. Should I put it into words? I don't think I could carry them all if I tried. But my heart is breaking every time I open my eyes. Yes, we are losing everything. And I would love to just walk away. Just walk away... Here I am Lord. Here I am. Fighting for the arms that hold me at night. Striving for the sister who still dares to dream. Struggling for the friend who still needs me in all my weirdness. Rising for the community without which I'd be lost. Breathing for the Father who just needs to hear I'm ok. Holding on to the Mother who waits for me each day. And with a love I can't put into words, Greatly and longingly creating perhaps– I will not leave this world as it is. For I will never give up on her. She and all her children are my kin. I would love to walk away, to quit– Without ever having tried. But I, but We... Having something worth fighting for. And this, This broken heart– Will have to do. PRAYER God of all, Thank you for never leaving us in times of joy, confusion, discouragement, or uncertainty. Thank you for the comfort of being part of a community, loving one another, understanding one another, praying for one another, knowing that when we sometimes feel overwhelmed as individuals, together we are strong. In any aspect of our lives, may Jesus always be our example and our guide. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Jonathon McClellan Order of St. Francis and St. Clare