Reward with a Friendship
Marvin Foss of West Des Moines, IA, USA
Yet even now, says the LORD,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the LORD, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing. -Joel 2:12-13
Sam lives across the hall from us. My wife, the extrovert of the two of us, had met many of the other residents in the retirement village to which we recently moved. She had met Sam and knew he was lonely and wanted company. She said that I, the introvert, should spend time with Sam.
Note: Sam was 100 years old and legally blind. What would I have in common with Sam? My initial reaction was rather negative. I imagined sitting with a disabled person making small talk. But I soon decided it was my “Christian duty” to go visit him. So, with this somewhat negative attitude, I knocked on his door.
What I found over the next hour, and in many hours since, was a very different experience. Sam is a WWII veteran, a graduate of Columbia University, a former teacher, and a man eager to talk about black holes, string theory, Alexander the Great, palindromes, turmeric, sports, and many more subjects. I have learned to always bring my laptop when I visit because he asks me so many things I have to look up. Sam is now 102 and still asking questions, especially about how the computer works. And every time I visit, I learn things, too.
I confess I was initially reluctant to accept this opportunity to “end suffering” though I was, in fact, rewarded with a friendship. I wish I could say I am not usually reluctant when such opportunities confront me, but Sam might have helped me embrace the next one.
Prayer Phrase
“Awake, my soul!” (Psalm 57:8)
Spiritual Practice
The Prayer of the Heart
Early Christian disciples desired to take seriously the scripture mandate to pray “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The prayer of the heart invites us to pray “continuously” by repeating and returning to a prayer phrase planted for intentional reflection and deepening. Choose a word or phrase (from scripture, hymnody, or personal reflection) that has meaning for you. The Jesus Prayer is one form of the prayer of the heart: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me” (Luke 18:35-43). Invite this simple phrase to repeat in your heart throughout the day, awakening your soul to God’s presence.
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.
