In the Name of Christ
Ken Cardwell of Redmond, OR, USA
For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful ones. -Psalm 37:28
I am an administrator for Jericho Table, a non-profit organization that feeds the hungry each evening in Redmond, Oregon. We average about 45-60 people a night. I frequently visit the homeless camps providing clothes, blankets, water, sleeping bags, or whatever they might be in need of-especially those who have no transportation. I have made some personal friends through this on both sides of the fence you might say-the city administrators and police as well as the homeless. I do not judge either “side” for their actions or words but just try to be a helper to both.
A retired post office clerk walked into the police station recently and said he would like to talk to someone in charge. The clerk got an officer that was still at the station to come out and talk to him. The man said, “I have some envelopes here with $50 in each that I would like you to give out to the needy.” The officer said they weren’t allowed to take donations like that but told him he knew of a person who was connected with the community that could take it. The officer just happened to be my friend Bob. What are the chances it was he! He gave the gentleman my name and number, and the man came to Jericho Table that night to tell me about the envelopes. He said, “There are 20 envelopes here with $50 in each!”
He likes to do something like this every year. He said, “I do this in the name of Christ.”
I have now given out all but one envelope. I went to the camps to meet those I didn’t catch in town and gave envelopes to the ones I knew truly needed the money and would use it to their benefit. One later said they got their friends together and rented a hotel room, got some food, and took showers. The couple with the baby used it mostly for gas. Another needed to get his truck going again. I do think they were all blessed by that postman.
Prayer Phrase
I surrender into your love, O God.
Spiritual Practice
Surrender
What might it look like to surrender a little to God each day? A simple prayer of surrender can help us become aware of God’s consistent invitations to deeper relationship and awareness. Imagine when you encounter a challenging person or situation silently uttering this prayer, “I surrender into your love, O God.” The same prayer can be meaningful in moments of joy and gratitude as a way of returning to the awareness of oneness with God. It’s ok if we don’t surrender everything all at once all the time. The prayer of surrender is a constant practice of returning little by little to the deepest love that is the ground of our being and desires wholeness and oneness for us and all creation.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
