Take Part

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    There are times when our hearts are heavy, burdened by sadness and a deep sense that things are not the way they are supposed to be. Our hearts are weighed down as the reality of sin, the reality of evil and the reality of pain fill the headlines. Even if these realities aren’t in the headlines we see them in our lives and in the lives of those we love.

    A heavy heart is a sign to us that things are not as they should be. And as our hearts are heavy so is even greater the heart of God. So tell him about your sadness, vent your anger at injustice, ask him if there is anything you are called to fight for. And if you are, fight well. We get to take part in the good in the world.

    So take part in the world. Take part because you follow a God who desires justice, peace and wholeness.

    Take part because you love as God loves, in grace and truth.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Holding Back

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    Are you afraid of God? Is there something that you are holding back?

    Maybe there is an area of sadness, or maybe there is a sin you are not letting Him touch and heal. Sometimes we are afraid of God. We are afraid of being honest with Him. Sometimes the fear comes because we are not ready to be honest with ourselves.

    Fearing Him this way we draw back. We draw back from relationship with Him. Fortunately He is consistently seeking us out. He wants relationship with us, He wants to heal us. He pursues relationship with us and invites us in.

    If you are holding back, will you consider trusting God? Spend some time talking to God with the greatest honesty possible. He loves you.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Gratitude and Sadness

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    I am just so sad. West, Texas, a town we regularly drive through is in shock, mourning, grieving, struggling. I look for the helpers as Mr. Rogers is quoted and even the helpers are hurt and maybe even gone. I see more helpers and I am beyond grateful.

    And then there is Boston and the first responders, the investigators, the running community. And then there is the homeless of our city and the many who meet their needs. And then there is the human trafficking everywhere and the abolitionists who fight to free them. And then ...

    I am so grateful for those who respond, serve, protect, work, battle.

    Yet my gratitude and sadness take their turns. How is it possible to be grateful and sad at the same time? This is where we find ourselves - moving back and forth between sadness and gratitude. Is not this pendulum swing a reality? A great tension in life?

    But today I am mostly sad and that is okay.
    Will you give yourself time, space and silence to grieve today?

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**