If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy. Corrie ten Boom

Meditation: The current president is manipulating the media. He is keeping the reporters and TV stations busy so that nearly hourly they would report many distracting messages. And the media acts like a sponge. It has not shifted its paradigm, but is falling for it. In the end, viewer ratings mean money. And money is what our society is built around. As hourly distracting news are keeping the media busy, so the people of this country are being kept constantly busy with absorbing messages that create certain emotions in the millions of people watching and listening. And this is intended. If the president cannot get us on his side, he at least will keep us busy and distracted. This way he can manipulate dynamics and keep up a certain amount of chaos. And chaos camouflages what is really going on behind the scenes. Let us monitor how much we allow the media to keep us busy, preoccupied and in chaos. Let us be wise and make the best use of our time.

Prayer: God of clarity and wisdom, we bring to You our feelings of being overwhelmed. We confess that we have spent hours listening to and watching the never ceasing news reports, falling victim to the artfully crafted manipulation of those in power. We admit that all those chaotic news reports render us speechless and foolish. We feel like our brain is being drained. We come to You. Help us discern how much and what kind of information is essential and what news reports are toxic and manipulative. Let us understand Your will and hear Your voice in the chaos of our times. We are grateful having You in our lives at this time in history. Amen

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17

When we begin to build walls of prejudice, hatred, pride, and self-indulgence around ourselves, we are more surely imprisoned than any prisoner behind concrete walls and iron bars. Mother Angelica

Meditation: It is disheartening for me to see how some of our evangelical brothers and sisters have joined the nationalist political movement of hatred that has invaded our country. Doesn’t “evangelical” mean bringing the Good News of Jesus to everybody and seeing everybody as worthy in God’s eyes? Isn’t Church meant to open itself to welcome all (no matter what race, culture, age, lifestyle or background) as brothers and sisters in Christ? How then can it be that some evangelical leaders of our time choose to imprison themselves and their followers? How can we as people who call ourselves Christians choose to support prejudice and hatred? How can we judge, push out and imprison for example undocumented immigrants and by doing so really imprison ourselves? Who has blinded us?

Prayer: God of mercy, we all need Your Spirit to come and convert our hearts. God, we grieve that some of our brothers and sisters are blinded. God, have mercy on us Christians here in the US, some of whom have fallen for the current “Zeitgeist” (the worldly spirit of the time). Come and enlighten Your Church. Lead us out of our self-made prisons and revive Your Spirit and Light within us. Remind us daily that we are followers of Christ. Remind us that we are set free and are called to set others free as well. God have mercy. Amen

But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.1. John 2:11

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. Buddha

Meditation: One of my daughters loves the moon. So she knew that tonight the world will experience the longest lunar eclipse of this century. This “red moon” event according to my daughter means cosmic “new beginnings”. And so she, her twin sister and I drove home tonight, watching the full moon (that in the US remains quite bright), wishing each other “happy new beginnings”! Our thoughts accompanying the wish probably ranged from school beginning a week from now, to the thought of all unfairly separated children being returned to their parents and to the longing for the truth about current secret political dynamics to be fully revealed. Whatever the three of us wished for individually, the eclipse of the “red moon” will for sure be visible to all people around the world. It reminds us that there will be millions and millions of people wishing and praying for “new beginnings”. May those wishes become a powerful prayer that surrounds our earth! The moon, the sun and the truth connect humanity. None of them can be hidden for long!

Prayer: God, thank you for the cosmic symbol of the red moon. We are reminded how humanity is deeply connected and yearns for new beginnings. Send justice for those who suffer injustice. Send light to shine on all lies and all secrecies. Reveal all hidden betrayals committed against humanity. Let your light and your hope shine! May the truth bring about new beginnings. Amen

But test everything; hold fast what is good. 1. Thessalonians 5:21

Don’t ever feel bad for making a decision about your own life that upsets other people. You are not responsible for their happiness. You’re responsible for your own happiness. Anyone who wants you to live in misery for their happiness should not be in your life anyway. Isaiah Hankel

Meditation: What is my happiness? The commercial world basically builds all advertisement on the premise that they know what will make me happy. I just need to buy their product, or take the expensive trip they offer or commit myself to a payment plan to get what they promise me: fame, success, exposure…How do I discern spiritually what truly makes me happy? Only I know what happiness means to me. And it might not cost anything after all. It might just be a short walk with my dog in the cooling summer air or a friendly encounter with my neighbor. Happiness might just be to write a reflection in my journal or watch my girls bake some cookies. Those who tell me what makes me happy do not know me. They assume that because I am a certain age, gender, class or have certain interests that they know me. But all they are after, is my money. Saying no to our society that tries to dictate what I should feel, want and desire is an important step towards freedom. And to me, freedom is the first step towards true happiness…

Prayer: God, you have set me free. My relationship with you frees me from cultural norms and ideals that are not even mine. Thank you that in your eyes I do not have to reach a certain success, a certain wealth or status to be somebody. You are the reason for my happiness, as your love and acceptance of me is a free gift. I do not have to buy it. I do not have to work for it. You free me from the temptation to listen to those who try to sell me “worth” and happiness. I am set free. And I am grateful. Amen

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. Matthew 5:37

The more you know yourself, the more patience you have for what you see in others. Erik Erikson

Meditation: When I am living mindlessly, I often think of myself as “right”. When I am tired, hungry or stressed, I am easily harsh and impatient with those around me. When I don’t take good care of myself, I easily have expectations of others and am intolerant with those around me, accusing them of being different than I need or want them to be. The more I know myself and learn to care for myself with all my needs, flaws and shortcomings, the more patience I develop for myself and for those around me. A few days ago my daughters and I were putting flooring down in the basement at 12 midnight, so that a sleep over could happen the next day. It was late and we got frustrated with each other. When things got a little tense, one of my daughters said: “Guys, we are all very tired right now. Let’s try not to yell or be impatient with each other. May be we eat something or take a short break, so we can make this a good experience and not a bad one.” I smiled. I am glad she is learning about her own needs, about our human limitations and about living mindfully.

Prayer: God of patience, when we feel judgmental and harsh, when we have little tolerance for people who are different than we want them to be (including ourselves), help us to show love by being patient, accepting and gentle with ourselves and with each other. Amen

Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Ephesians 4:2

 

Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote. William E. Simon

Meditation: The past days I have felt paralyzed. How in the world can a democratic system sell out to an oligarch and align itself with an oppressive regime? How can an elected Western president betray his country’s legal system and surrender to the person who invaded and manipulated it’s social media and voting system? As a German the history of the Soviet Union and its successorship represented in Putin are very present to me. Many Americans don’t seem to experience the devastating urgency of the recent events. Many seem unaware how Russia is out to undermine all and any democracies, how it wants to conquer the parts of Europe back that had belonged to the Soviet Union, and how it positions itself to become the ultimate ruling power in the world. The urgency of our times could not be greater. A narcissistic, greedy, incompetent, compromised and dependent American president is selling the American people and its democracy out to the Russians. An urgent political development the Americans have never seen before. The November election followed by the 2020 election might be the most important elections in America’s history yet.

Prayer: God, awake in this country the awareness that the life and death of democracy itself is currently at stake. Awake in us the awareness that our voting is the only power we have to choose life and oppose death, so that we and our children may live. God, have mercy on us. Amen

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteronomy 30:19

The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe. Gustave Flaubert

Meditation: Writing is a process of discovery. Often we do not take the time to formulate words and express what we believe, but when we do, we get to know ourselves better and others get to know us better as well. This past year 2017, I have written a meditation and prayer every day, 365 times. Those who have accompanied me, please, let me know if my blog might be worth publishing in a book. I have currently set things up to create an “on demand” book (as more of a personal project). The publishing company now wants to market my book as a devotional called “Inspirations for today”. The price of their marketing is very expensive. Their “package” includes reviews by good reputation reviewers, online marketing platforms and exposure to a worldwide audience. I am not sure if my blog (devotional book) is meant for friends and family, or if I should invest a lot of money and market the book for a broader audience? I am hesitant as our family has many other needs, and we don’t have that kind of money. As you have gotten to know me and my writing better this past year, please, send me your feedback. Would you think a devotional based on my blog would be meaningful? Should I invest in marketing or just continue writing my blog for family and friends? You are my letter/email… I am your letter/email… Thank you for your feedback as I am pondering what to do…

Prayer: God, I pray for guidance. I don’t want to fall into the trap of a publishing company making money using my passion for writing. I also don’t want to overestimate the scope of my writing. At the same time I hope to provide inspiration and spiritual nurture and guidance for people who face today’s life challenges. Help me discern what level of investment you want me to make. Amen

You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

I am just a human being trying to make it in a world that is rapidly losing its understanding of being human. John Trudell

Meditation: While I was in Germany, many protesters gathered recently in several large cities to protest against the inhumane torturing of children and families who are looking for asylum in the US, and instead of finding refuge, they are being treated like criminals. The parents and children are being separated without warning and told that they would never see each other again… “I am just a human being trying to make it in a world that is rapidly losing its understanding of being human”. In theological terms we might describe what we see as “humanity losing its soul”. The soul of humanity dies when few based on their position of power and privilege exclude and oppress the many others without having any empathy or compassion. The soul of humanity dies when those in power lose touch with their own humanity and vulnerability. This is when the bodies and souls of other humans become random objects and are considered as inferior, as not worthy and as criminal. This is what the recent protests in the US have been about. Yes, we humans need to find our voices and protest. Our quiet tears, our worries about the children and our anguish are not enough to get the attention of the rest of humanity that something is terribly wrong.

Prayer: God of humanity, You are weeping. You are touched and deeply moved seeing us humans lose our understanding of what it means to be human. When we elect, tolerate or support world leaders who have lost their souls, You weep. We cry out: “Come and see”. Free us from the bondage of those who oppress, torture, rip families apart and don’t care. God, something is terribly wrong. Have mercy on us. Amen

Jesus saw her weeping, and he saw how the people with her were weeping also; his heart was touched, and he was deeply moved. “Where have you buried him?” he asked them. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. Jesus wept. John 11:33-35

Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete.  – Marcy DeMaree

Meditation: My daughters love my mother, their grandmother. She is the only grandparent they have ever known, as their grandfathers died before they were born and their African grandmother lived too far away. When they were little their grandma would travel to the US for at least three months each year to get to know, love and care for them. As they are now teenagers and “Oma” can’t travel anymore, my daughters now travel every year to Germany to be with her. The past two weeks we stayed in my hometown and showed up at Oma’s apartment each morning greeted by a lovingly prepared breakfast table and left late in the evening after a delicious German dinner and much game playing. We felt awaited, loved and cared for. Even though “Oma” is walking with difficulty, and she has worries about her eye sight, she would generously give and share all she has with us. Leaving her today, we felt sad. And yet, visiting “Oma” at least once a year makes our year complete. We all wish we did not live on different continents, so that we could complete each other’s days and not each other’s years. And yet we are grateful for these special days. They keep us connected.

Prayer: God of generations, we give thanks for the love of grandmothers. For the generosity and love that emanates from their care. Thank you for times of togetherness, for game playing, storytelling and laughter. Thank you for everybody’s effort to bridge cultural and language differences. Thank you for German potatoes, bread and chocolate and for the beautiful landscapes and for sunny days. Thank you for much love expressed and for new memories made. Amen

‘Honor your father and mother’ — which is the first commandment with a promise — ‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'” Ephesians 6:2-3

 

Nothing is better than going home to family and eating good food and relaxing. Irina Shayk

Meditation: My daughters and I have travelled to Germany to see their grandmother, uncles, aunts and cousins. We try to come every year if possible, as living in the United States we do not have any extended family members around. There are often two sides to family visits: On the one hand the reconnecting during happy and relaxed times together, good food, storytelling and laughter. And then on the other hand possible moments of discord when memories return of someone hurting another family member and also present moments when a family member becomes intrusive, judgmental or hurtful towards another. Most families experience both, deep joy and feelings of connection and deep pain and feelings of disconnection. At times we need to allow and endure the distancing from certain toxic family members as to protect ourselves. We can still pray for them, but we do not want to expose ourselves to them. Other times we can find ways of forgiving each other and reconnecting with each other. We need wisdom to know how much distance and how much closeness is life-giving.

Prayer: God, I thank you for family. Thank you for my extended family members who share my story and who remember my past. Thank you for the opportunity to travel from afar to be together. I pray for wisdom to know how much closeness and how much distance is helpful. I also pray for the ability to forgive each other. We are all human. We all fail each other. Help us to apologize when we fail each other and to reconnect if possible. And if family members are too toxic to be around, let us still pray for them, if only from a distance. Amen

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13