January 17

Exodus 14:14

“God will fight for you. You only need to be still.”

Meditation:

We have a President elect, in three days becoming acting President, who fights back when he feels attacked. He usually turns the accusation back at the perceived accuser and maginfies the accusation. Usually this tactic seems to work for him. At least it distracts and confuses things. And it toxifies the atmosphere. Enemies arise that never before had seen themselves as in opposition. Black and white lines are being drawn, when things had been colorful or at least gray before. When I, when we as society through twitter, social media and even the news take in the outfall of toxic politics, we get easily infected…infected with anger, even with hate. And those emotions can start errupting on all sides…

Prayer: God, when fear comes, when anger and rage creep into my soul, remind me whose I am. Remind me that in not retaliating originates our strength. You are love. You are justice. Love and justice will prevail in the end. Help me not to react, but to be still.

Quote: “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Martin Luther King

January 16

James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Meditation: Sometimes we cannot help but be “double minded”. We feel trust and doubt at the same time. We love God, and yet wonder at times if he loves us. I think this is our human existence. This is how we are. And God knows that.

I cannot even purify my heart by myself. I can wash my hands, but even that ritual does not provide the relief I am longing for.

Why does God allow those times of doubt, wonder, fear and estrangement from God, from ourselves and from others?

I think that our crying out to God becomes even more real. Our prayers become even more human. And our human needs and vulnerabilities are being carefully held and embraced by God, when we are ready to be held and embraced.

Prayer: Loving God, you allow those confused, troubled and strange times where we feel so far from you, and you seem so far from us and our experience. You wait for us. You wait until we are ready to say: “Come, oh God. Hold me, embrace me” and as the thief on the cross said: “take me with you.” Amen

Quote: “Jesus himself did not try to convert the two thieves on the cross; he waited until one of them turned to him.”  ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

January 15

1.Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Meditation: Many women and men struggle with their relationship with food. We diet, we overeat, we restrict and we indulge. It is hard to find balance, to find freedom in the jungle of fast food signs and diet books.

How can I eat and drink and do so with freedom and joy?

Eating enough so my body is strong and has the nurture and energy it needs.

And not overeat out of loneliness, out of fear of not having enough, out of guilt, out of boredom…

Prayer: Loving God, come into our imbalance. Come into our extremes of relating to food and to drinking. Come into our deepest need for love, community, acceptance and joy. And then liberate us to a new relationship with our body, with food and drinks, and with you. Amen

Quote: “When I eat with my friends, it is a moment of real pleasure, when I really enjoy my life.” Monica Bellucci