I once heard a story about a teenager who was going through a really difficult time. She had become increasingly rebellious, and late one night the police arrested her for drunk driving. Her mother got the call at 2 am and drove down to the police station to bail her out. 

They didn’t say a word to each other until late the next afternoon when the mother handed her daughter a small gift-wrapped box. As the daughter opened the box, she noticed a little rock inside. The daughter rolled her eyes, and said, “Okay, Mom, what’s the rock for?” “Read the card,” her mother replied. The daughter removed the card from the envelope. As she read it, tears welled up in her eyes and ran down her cheeks. She dropped the card to the floor and embraced her mom. On the card were these simple words: “This rock is more than 200,000,000 years old. That is how long it will take before I give up on you.”

Beautiful.

All of us experience times in life when we feel unworthy; times when we know we have fallen short; times when sense we are unlovable. During those times, it helps to know that there are people in our lives who will never give up on us. We also have the promise of the scriptures that God is love (1 John 4:7). And if the life of Jesus taught us anything, it is that God loves us beyond measure, even like a father waiting to welcome the prodigal home (Luke 15).

In his letter to the Romans (8:38-39), the Apostle Paul wrote:

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Let us pray: We thank you, Loving God, for your steadfast love for us. As you have promised never to give us on us, may we in turn, never give up on you. Be especially near to those who need you near this day. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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

I once read about a young man who was applying for a job as an usher in a large theater. In the interview, the manager asked him, “What would you do if the theater suddenly caught on fire?” “Oh Sir, you don’t have to worry about me,” said the young man, “I’m a survivor. I would be the first one out of here!” Obviously, that’s not the answer the manager was looking for!

When we are blinded by self-centeredness, we cannot see beyond our own noses. Our selfishness keeps us from seeing with our heart.  

Antoine de saint Exupery, in his classic book The Little Prince, put it like this: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” When we stop seeing with our heart, we close our eyes to the needs of others. As long as there are people on this globe who are hurting or hungry or sick or illiterate, then we cannot – we must not look at the world with dry eyes. 

Friend of Dial Hope, let me ask you something: How is your vision right now? Can you see other people with your heart? Those of you who are physically blind lead the way with your compassionate hearts, sharing the light and presence of Christ.

Prayer: Loving God, when we are bent over by the weight of our selfishness, you invite us to take your yoke upon us – the one that is easy and light. O Lord, save us from ourselves! Forgive our grumbling and resistance and show us again how the wings of faith can lift us to heaven and to the heart of God. This is the day you have made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen. 

I remember the year I lived in Jamaica, our church only had a pastor once a month. Every other Sunday, it was an open floor for “lively testimonies.” It was everything from “God woke me up this morning with a sound mind,” to “I was drinking and drugging and stealing from my auntie. And Jesus met me on the road one night and knocked me down. I was sick for days, but when I got up, I was a new man…”

And the people would say, “Amen. Amen. Praise God. Praise God.”

Sometimes we heard the same stories again and again – maybe with a different emphasis or flare – but always infused with the same message of hope, and grace. Most often the testimonies were simple reminders of the blessings that we often overlook. In the midst of great poverty and hardship, these reminders were most needed.

In the Reformed Presbyterian tradition, we tend to keep our faith more to ourselves. We tend to make our faith a more private, personal matter, and not talk about it much. I must confess, I fit right in with my tradition. In fact, one of my favorite quotes is from St. Francis who said, “Preach the gospel everywhere you go – but use words only when necessary.” 

I like that! And it is true. But what we often lose sight of, is that sometimes our words and our stories can make a huge difference. There is something about naming out loud; there is something about recalling, telling, and sharing our stories that can inspire and give hope to others who are going through difficult times.

The Apostle Peter once wrote, “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting of the hope that is within you.” 

How did you get through that difficult time? Why are you so generous? Why do you do what you do? Why do you attend that church?

I wonder what hope you have within you… I wonder when and how God has touched your life… I wonder if there may be someone who is looking for an accounting of the hope that is within you…  

Let us pray: God of Grace, you have blessed us beyond measure. As we reflect on our lives, help us to see clearly your hand at work. As we have been blessed, may we be a blessing – with actions and words; In Jesus’ name. Amen.

There is an old story about a man who sent a floral arrangement to celebrate the grand opening of a good friend’s new business. When the sender arrived at the big celebration, he was shocked to find his flower basket with a card that read, “Rest in Peace.” Furious, he called the florist to complain about the mix-up. The florist said, “Hey, don’t be too upset. Think of it this way. Somewhere in town today, somebody was buried under a sign that read, ‘Good luck in your new location.'”

It’s true that humor is often the best way to deal with an unpleasant situation. Laughter breaks the tension. It eases the pressure and soothes the soul. I’ve never forgotten my friend Roger Kunkel’s advice to me: “Life is so much easier when you can laugh – especially when you can laugh at yourself!” He used to regularly quote the proverb, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.”

I also love Proverbs 15:15: A cheerful heart has a continual feast!

Our prayer today was written by my friend Roger Kunkel. Let us pray: Awesome God, life is so beautiful. Why do we often live in dread of the day ahead, or anesthetized to the magic of the present moment? Show us how to find you in other persons – in the children who skip past us on the sidewalk, in the old man pushing a grocery basket, in the patient waiting in the doctor’s office. Restore us to a sense of passion and caring until we find the right note. Bless us now that we may be a blessing to others as we seek to make this day a masterpiece. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

I don’t know about you, but sometimes during prayer, my mind will wander wildly.

Writing about prayer and the distractions that inevitably arise, Thomas Merton notes, “But in all these things, it is the will to pray that is the essence of prayer, and the desire to find God, to see him and love him is the one thing that matters… No matter how distracted you may be, pray by peaceful, even perhaps inarticulate efforts to center your heart upon God, who is present to you in spite of all that may be going through your mind. His presence does not depend on your thoughts of him. He is unfailingly there… The memory of his unfailing presence is the surest anchor for our minds and hearts…” (New Seeds of Contemplation, p.224)

I am reminded that the Greek New Testament word for Spirit is “Pneuma,” which can also mean wind. And the Hebrew word is “Ruah,” which can mean wind or breath. The breath of God, the wind of God, the Spirit of God are in us and around us at every moment.

A friend once shared with me that he begins to center himself in prayer, by simply taking a couple of deep breaths: Breathing in God’s Spirit, breathing out any anxiety or worry. Breath in God’s Spirit. breath out.

Jesus, when speaking to his disciples about prayer said, “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.” (Matthew 6:2-4, Msg Version)

Let us pray: We sit even now for just a moment in your presence, O God. We come with our distractions, our concerns, our worries and we hand them to you now… Calm our hearts and our minds as we rest in you; through Christ and in Christ we pray. Amen.