A few summers ago, I spent three days on a silent retreat at a Trappist Monastery up in South Carolina. It was difficult. In fact, at the end of the first day, walking back to my room that night, I thought to myself, “I’m going home tomorrow!” It was difficult – but it was also a powerful, renewing experience. The silence created space for reflection. But there was something else too.

Each evening, I would gather with the monks and sit in the choir loft alongside them for Compline – the last prayer service of the day. At the end of the worship, the sanctuary was darkened and there was only candlelight. We then filed out – one by one – single file in silence. The abbot stood behind the baptismal font, and before we left, individually we would pause and bow our head. The priest had what looked like an orb, and dipped it in the fount and splashed water across our heads.

I thought to myself: Joe, Remember your baptism. Remember who you are.

From there, every night, I walked out into the meadow alone – and walked the labyrinth. I thought about the wild meadow and the wild God we worship.  And I remembered my identity – that I was called to be a part of something much bigger than myself, that I was connected to many who have gone before me and many who will go after me, and to all of those on the journey with me. And I felt a renewed sense of calling and purpose. 

That splash of water was a powerful, visceral reminder, “This is who you are. You belong to God.” 

Sometimes we need reminders. 

It is said that the great reformer Martin Luther, even though he was baptized as an infant, every morning would wake up, splash water on his face, and say to himself: “Martin, remember your baptism.” Remember who you are.  Remember whose you are. Remember who gives you strength, who gives you breath, who gives you dignity, who walks with you. 

Perhaps we could follow his lead.

Let us pray:  Today, O God, we thank you for your claim and calling on our lives. Once again, we commend ourselves to your love, grace, and care. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Throughout his garden and yard, my friend Hunter has painted pieces of driftwood. On the driftwood, he’ll add simple words such as Gratitude, hope, and peace. These are reminders of where he wants his heart and mind to be at any given moment. It is amazing how well this works.

In his book, “Social Animal,” David Brooks, bears out the science behind the power of suggestion. He asserts that behavioral economists have learned, “If you tell somebody stories about high achievement just before they perform some test or exercise, they will perform better than if you had not told them those stories. If you merely use the words “succeed, “master” and “achieve” in a sentence, they will (also) do better… On the other hand, if you play into negative stereotypes, they will do worse.”

Isn’t that interesting? The messages we surround ourselves with make a difference. The little things we hear from ourselves and others make a difference in how we live.

I wonder what messages you need to hear at this stage in your life.  What simple reminders could you place around your home, office, or garden to remember them?

Let us pray: Loving God, we remember that you have created us as complex and deep individuals and that we are capable of way more than we can ever begin to imagine. We do need your guidance. We need signposts and other people along the journey. We ask this not only for ourselves but for others – especially those who feel lost or far from you. Today, fill each of us with your grace that we may know your love for us at the very deepest part of our being. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A number of years ago, there was an interview with acclaimed writer Karen Armstrong in the Charlotte Observer. She is a theologian who writes about the role of religion in the modern world. In the interview, she was asked about a statement she made related to atheism. The question was posed, “You say religion is hard work. Are nonbelievers lazy?”

Her answer was thoughtful. She responded, “No. What I am implying is that nonbelievers can’t comment on faith unless they practice it, because none of our doctrines or beliefs make sense unless they are translated into practical action.”
Armstrong goes on to compare knowledge about religion to knowledge about dancing, or swimming or driving a car. You can’t learn to do those things simply by reading a book. They must be practiced. And the more they are practiced, the more they are enjoyed.

Each of us is in a different place on the journey of faith. Some of us are struggling to believe at all. Others feel secure and strong in what they believe. Most of us are somewhere in between. But I have to believe that most of us want to grow. Today, let us each seek to deepen our faith by finding ways to put it into practice: Give to someone in need. Forgive someone who has hurt you. Listen to someone who is lonely. Use your skills within a ministry. Share your hope with someone on the edge of despair. Take actions that lead to peace and justice.

Let us pray: Loving God, there are times when it is difficult to believe. There are times when the world seems to be unraveling and our lives are turned upside down. We want to believe. We want desperately to have a deep faith that gives our life meaning and hope. Help us to practice – over and over – the central tenets of our faith. We remember today the words of St. Francis, that it is in giving that we receive. Amen.

In the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 1, there is a beautiful story about a young woman named Hannah. She enters the temple in a state of deep distress and begins pouring her heart out to God. In fact, she’s praying so fervently that Eli the priest, thinks she’s drunk. But Hannah is not drunk. She’s desperate.

When you read her story, the beautiful thing about her prayer is that it just shows there is no magic formula. She asks, and she promises. But she also weeps and murmurs and stands silent. She lays bare all the emotion and all the pain. It’s all there.

I’m reminded of that passage from Romans that promises that even when we don’t know how to pray, God’s Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words… It’s this recognition that there are times in our lives when words fail us. Times when we become so desperate or our hearts so heavy, that we come up empty. Our prayers become mere groans or murmurs.

When we think about our faith – at least in the Christian tradition, we often think about in very personal terms… our lives in relationship to God. Or, we talk about a relationship with Christ. If we think about it in that very personal, relational way, then prayer would be at the very heart and center of it. And often prayers that go much deeper than words.

Now clearly God does not always answer prayers exactly when or how we hope.

But this story reminds me that you and I stand within a faith community that for thousands of years has relied on this power beyond us. It reminds me that like Hannah, our lives are layered with grace and pain, and miracles and hope. And it reminds me that we worship a God who can and does make a way where there is no way.

Let us pray: Holy God, we ask you to meet us today at the deepest point of our need. We ask for healing, for guidance, for wisdom, and for grace upon grace. In all things, help us to trust you. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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

One of my favorite baseball stories is about three umpires who were discussing how they did their jobs, especially when they were working behind the plate, calling balls and strikes. The first umpire said, “Some of ’em are balls; some of ’em are strikes. But I calls ’em as I sees ’em.” The second one said, “Some of ’em are balls; some of ’em are strikes. But I calls ’em as they are.” The third one said, “Some of ’em are balls; some of ’em are strikes. But they ain’t nothin’ until I calls ’em.”

A sermon is in that story because it’s a parable about life. Each of those umpires tells us something about our relationship to the truth. (Read Matthew 16:13-16, 21-25; John 8:32). The third umpire is my favorite. Here is a man who creates truth by his word. When we create truth or meaning or relationships, we are sharing in God’s creative activity. Made in God’s image and likeness, we are all artists and creators. The Bible uses the metaphor or speech to describe God’s creation: “God said, ‘Let there be light;’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) The parable of the umpires teaches us to never be afraid to call life as we see it, to express our love for God and our fellow human beings.

Let us pray: How great thou art, O God, without whose spirit nothing grows, without
whose love, we wither and fall away. We thank you for Jesus of Nazareth who leads us
in this way…
where to be great, one has to be humble,
where to be exalted, one has to serve,
and where to find life, one has to lose it.
Teach us that great truths are great simplicities. Awaken us today that we hear the
singing of trees and watch morning and night changing guard. Through the grace of
Jesus. Amen.