In his novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez writes about a strange disease that slowly infiltrated the old village of Macondo from somewhere in the surrounding swamp. It was a form of insomnia that attacks the whole town. The initial effect is the inability of people to sleep, although the villagers do not feel any bodily fatigue at all. A more critical effect than that slowly comes about is the loss of memory. Gradually the victims realize they can no longer remember or recall the past. Soon they find that they cannot remember the name or the meaning of the simplest things used every day.

Those of you have had loved ones who have battled Alzheimer’s Disease, know how heartbreaking loss of memory can be. Of course, there are things in each of our lives that we would rather forget, but for the most part, our memories are a huge gift. They connect us with friends and family across great spans of distance and time. They allow us to experience the warmth of summer amid a cold winter, and they offer us an opportunity to not duplicate past mistakes and failures. Our memories also root us in vital traditions that add meaning and depth to our lives.

During the Last Supper, when Jesus told his disciples, “Do this in remembrance of me,” he was offering them hope. And through their memories, he was offering hope to the generations to come. Remember my life. Remember my sacrifice. Remember my love.

Remember…

Let us pray: Today we remember friends and loved ones near and far. We thank you for the good times we have shared – for laughter and for tears. And we thank you that in Jesus we have a reminder of your love for us – a love that is with us even to the end of the ages. Amen.

A doctor devoted as much of his spare time as he could to a charity clinic. One day an elderly gentleman was ushered into the physician’s private offices downtown.

“Remember me, Doctor?’ the man asked. “You treated me over at the charity clinic. I’ve come into some money lately, and I can afford to pay for the service of a doctor now.” “But what made you come to me?’ the physician wanted to know. “I wasn’t the only doctor who treated you at the clinic.” “I know,” the old man said quietly, “But you were the only one who helped me with my coat.”

Christianity is not an explanation but a demonstration of God’s love and kindness living in the human heart. You don’t have to give away great sums of money to show your concern. You don’t have to be eloquent to tell someone you care. Caring is making room in your heart for an individual and their problem. Sometimes simply being available, giving a friendly touch, a smile, a hug, or just listening, is caring.

May God be with you every moment of this day.

Let us pray: Loving God, with each new day your promise of hope is restored, in every sunrise we see your face; in every sunset, we rest in your arms. Each day is like the first day you created with the same invitation – for us to live in your image, to work creatively, to practice random acts of kindness. Sprinkle us with your love so our mustard-seed faith will grow like large elms whose leafy arms stretch to the heavens, and arch in prayer. Give us the faith of the rising sun, the trust of trees, and the hope that springs eternal from constant prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John Ortberg tells the story of a friend who made his first trip south of the Mason-Dixon Line from Chicago to Georgia. On his first morning in the South, he went into a restaurant to order breakfast, and it seemed that every dish included something called grits…which, as my Tennessee friends tell me, is exactly the way God intended it. Not being familiar with this southern delicacy, he asked the waitress, “Could you tell me, exactly what is a grit?” Looking down on him with a mixture of compassion and condescension, she said, “Sugar, you can’t get just one grit. They always come together.”

In the book of Kings, chapter 19, the prophet Elijah is running for his life. He lies down under a broom tree and he prays, “It is enough now, O Lord, take away my life…” When God responds, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah responds, “… the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left…”

Elijah feels alone. Loneliness can be lethal.

Later, God shares with Elijah that there are 7,000 left – who are with him. There are others.

These past several weeks of social distancing has been extremely hard on many of us. I know some of you have felt very isolated and lonely. I hope that you have been able to stay in touch with friends and family by phone or other technology. My prayer is that you would feel their love and care for you – even across the distance.

In the book of Deuteronomy (31:8) it is written, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Let us pray: Loving God, I pray today especially for those who are feeling isolated or alone. May they know your presence with them – even now. Help each of us indeed feel the love of those we love. In your time, bring us together again. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today is the second day of the giving challenge put together by the Patterson Foundation of Sarasota. If you able to give, until noon today – every gift to Dial Hope up to $100 is matched by their foundation. Go to our website – www.dialhope.org to find out more.

Mother Theresa offers us that brilliant glimpse of hope that lies in little things. She once wrote, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love. It’s not how much you do but how much love you put into doing it.”

Author Shane Claiborne lives in an intentional Christian community in inner city Philadelphia, where they share a lot of ministry with the urban poor and homeless. They often have people stop by their house to ask for help. So, they put this sign above their door that can be read only from the inside. It reads, “Today… Small things with great love, or don’t answer the door”.

He makes a great point that our great ideas and visions for the world mean nothing, if we can treat others with love and respect.

There was an article in the Charlotte Observer sometime back titled, When It Comes to Relationships, Maybe We Should Sweat the Small Stuff. It made the point that actually, it is our small actions that make or break a relationship. It is the simple acts of kindness, a touch, a hug, the right words at the right time, finding time for conversation, these simple acts can either build a solid relationship – or when lacking, completely undermine it. The small things matter because they compound.

Today, may you and I remember that our small actions, filled with love, make all the difference.

Let us pray: Sometimes, O God, we get overwhelmed with the need we see all around us. Sometimes it feels as though our everyday efforts matter for very little. Remind us again that our ministry for you is never done in vain, and that our small acts of love have long lasting impact. Help us to be your light, your hope for the world even in the details of life. Use our words, our attitudes and small acts of kindness to your glory. We pray in the name of the One who is love. Amen.

Pastor Bill Bouknight tells the story of a prominent minister who was holding a weekend seminar at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. He kept noticing a man in the front row nodding off, and this aggravated him. He wondered why the man didn’t stay home if he couldn’t stay awake? During the lunch break, a woman approached the speaker and said, “Sir, let me apologize for my husband’s drowsiness. He is undergoing chemotherapy. The doctors have given him a medication to control the side-effects, but it makes him very sleepy. I tried to persuade him to stay home today, but he said, “I must go as long as I’m able. I never know when I will no longer be able to gather with God’s people.” In the blink of an eye, that speaker’s attitude toward the drowsy man was totally transformed.

So often we don’t know what other’s are going through. To have empathy for someone,
is to try to see the world through their lens. It’s often very hard for us to do.

I don’t know about you, but there have definitely been moments in my life when I wished others knew what I was going through. In those moments, I try to remember God knows…. But I also hope for understanding and grace from those around me.

When we know what it is like to need understanding and grace, it opens us up to the possibility of sharing these same gifts with others.

Let us pray: Loving God, help us not to be too quick to judge, but instead to seek understanding. Give us hearts of grace and mercy that we might be more like you. We pray in Jesus name.