Today’s message was written by Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

The pain of this world is an opportunity for us to be an instrument of God’s redemptive healing. Or said another way, we have the opportunity to be an ambassador for Christ amid someone else’s pain.

Dr. James Stewart, the brilliant professor of the New Testament of Edinburgh, Scotland once made a hospital call. He went to the cancer ward of the hospital and as he walked in, he noticed the nurses and the doctors were all frazzled. Many of the interns had just had it. People had been dying, there was pain, there was suffering. And Dr. Stewart was invited to go to a meeting of the nurses and doctors. They called him because they wanted to ask for his pastoral wisdom. In this meeting, there were doctors, nurses, and technicians who were groping for answers. And they asked Dr. Stewart –

“Why did God allow a 31-year-old woman, mother of three to die of cancer?” “Why did God allow a teenage boy to die of leukemia?” “Why is it, Dr. Stewart? Why does God allow a little child to die at childbirth because a mother could not function because she had cancer?” “Why, why, why Dr. Stewart?” “Why does God do that?” “And Dr. Stewart what is God’s answer?” “What do we tell these people?” “Dr. Stewart, what is the answer?”

In four words Dr. Stewart gave an answer that thundered down the corridors of the hospital when he whispered to all those doctors and nurses hanging on his every word “YOU ARE GOD’S ANSWER. God has put you in this hospital right now today, for this moment so you might care for one of these children or one of these moms or one of these dads or one of these people waiting in the waiting room. God has given you arms and legs. He has given you mouths, ears, and eyes, and touch. And a mind to think creatively in which to care. YOU ARE GOD’S ANSWER.”

What is the answer to the homeless in Sarasota, in St. Louis, in Chicago? What is the answer to the pain and the suffering and the loss? What is the answer? We are God’s answer. For God has strategically placed us in hospitals, in apartments, in condos, on the street, in retirement centers, in classrooms, in the church, in church meetings, in the store, in the office meeting, to be creative listeners, to bring redemptive healing to the people around us. Don’t ever underestimate the difference your touch, your card, your smile, your note, your call, your fax, your email, your look, your listening ear can mean in the life of someone who is hurting, who is experiencing pain.

Let us pray: Awesome God, bless us today so that we may be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Some time ago, I heard about a teenager who became tired of reading bedtime stories to his little sister. He decided to record several of her favorite stories on the computer, and he told her, “Now you can hear your stories anytime you want. Isn’t that great? Just press the button.” She looked at the machine for a moment and then replied, “No. It’s not great. It doesn’t have a lap to sit in.”

It is so true! Technology is a blessing in so many ways. It allows us to get back in touch with long-lost friends and to stay in touch over great distances. But it is no substitute for human contact. I am reminded that God sent Jesus in flesh, to walk with people, to eat with them, to touch them and heal them.

Not long ago I saw a group of teenagers at a local restaurant. They were out to dinner as a group, but I noticed that every single one of them was looking at their phones. They were completely engrossed in the little screen in their palm, and completely oblivious to the friends that were right in front of them. This was sad to me.

Today, may we cherish those moments when we can be face to face with friends and loved ones and experience human presence. When we have those opportunities, may we set aside our technology, and enjoy the people we are with. And, may we remember that it is sacred time.

Let us pray: God of Hope, thank you for the people that you have brought into our lives – neighbors, friends, family, and others who walk the journey with us. Thank you for moments of laughter, for dinners and conversations shared, for hugs and smiles, and for the way the eyes speak deeper than words. Help us to cherish these people and these moments. We pray also for family and friends who are far away. May your Spirit blow fresh into each of our lives this day. Amen.

Today’s message was written by my friend rev. Dr. Roger Kunkel, Founder of Dial Hope.

A good memory is a wonderful gift! The truth is that there aren’t many people with photographic memories. In fact, most of us suffer from memories that fail us at the most inopportune times. Some poet once said this about the mind:

“The only time it ever sits down is when I stand up to speak!”

As important as a good memory may be, however, the power to forget may be equally valuable. With that in mind, consider these vignettes:

Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, was once reminded of a cruelty done to her. Serenely, she replied, I distinctly remember forgetting that!

A physician once said, “My father taught me that one of God’s greatest blessings is the ability to forget some things and go on with life.”

The apostle Paul knew that there are some things you should forget, and he made it clear in his letter to the Philippians: “Forgetting those things that are passed, forgetting what lies behind, I press on! (Philippians 3:13,14). Paul had learned that as wonderful as it is to remember, is also sometimes good to intentionally forget.

For instance, we may need to forget our past accomplishments, our past hurts in our failures. You can pick yourself up dust yourself off, and start all over again. Remember: no one can go back and make a brand new start. But anyone can start from here and make a brand-new end.

Let us pray: O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth. All creation sings in harmony with you, the master conductor. Except, sometimes we want to sing our own melody. Forgive our stubbornness. May we someday become like the trees which are planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in season, and their leaves do not weather. And all they do they prosper.

Walk with those who have had bad news, those who are depressed, and with those who are hurting. Given patience and courage and hope. Send love to all children who live in poverty and unhappiness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In a recent On Being interview with Krista Tippett, the Irish poet, and peacemaker, Padraig O Tunama commented, “I do love praying. Like ‘prier’ from French, ‘to ask.’ What I love about that word is it doesn’t require belief. It just requires recognition of need. And I think the recognition of need is something that brings us to a deep, common language about what it means to be human. If you’re not in the situation where you know need, well, then you’re lucky. But you will be…”

It’s true. We all know that need – every human being.

In this polarized world, where there are so many divisions, it is crucial that we find some common ground. If nothing else, it is indeed in our shared humanity, and in our common recognition of need, need for healing, need for forgiveness, need for love, that we are reminded that we truly are not all that different.

At the foot of the cross, we all stand on equal ground. The truth is we all stand in need of God’s grace. And, there is not one of us who is not seen in God’s eyes as a beloved child.

Many Christians hold that there is that of Christ in every person. One of my friends claims that her primary spiritual discipline is to look for that image in each and every person she meets. In looking for that image in others, we ultimately discover Christ also in us.

Let us pray: We come before you this day, O God, recognizing our own need. In that need, we also recognize the needs of the world around us. We long for your healing, mercy, and grace. Work in us and through us, O God. May we be channels of your Spirit. In Christ’s name. Amen.

There is an old Peanuts comic strip where Charley Brown is playing baseball. He is pitching and Linus, his catcher, approaches the mound to go over their signs. He says, to Charley Brown, “One finger will mean a straight ball. Two fingers will mean a straight ball. Three fingers will mean a straight ball. And four fingers will mean a straight ball…”

As Linus leaves the mound, Charley Brown says, “I have a very sarcastic catcher!”

Pointedly mean sarcasm is not usually helpful. However, sometimes in life, it does help to have a friend who can tell it like it is. We all need people who can hold us accountable to values we’d like to live up to, to correct us when need be, and who love us enough to call us on blatant self-centeredness.

In his letter to the Ephesians (4:15), the Apostle Paul encourages us to “speak the truth in love.”

James encourages us to be “quick to listen” and “slow to speak.”

Part of our shared humanity is a need to be in relationship with others. It is central also to our faith and our faith formation. We all need people we trust enough in our lives to not only love us but to encourage us also to grow.

But relationships can be messy. We sometimes hurt one another. We step on each other’s toes. We disagree. It takes much grace, a deep willingness to listen, forgiveness, and an abundance of love to make it work.

And so I pray today for each of you and myself – much grace, a deep willingness to listen, an ability to forgive, and an abundance of love.

Let us pray: God of Grace, we admit that we are not perfect. We have room to grow. And we admit that we need you and we need others to help us along the way. Give us the grace and humility we need to listen and to love. In Christ’s name. Amen.