E-mail conversation with some cherished friends – J. and T. – is prompting today’s posting**
As we come to the close of the 250th year of United States independence, we find ourselves presented with many issues past and present. It seems nearly impossible to fully process all of this and transform ourselves closer-and-closer to Christ-likeness.The darkness can almost feel overwhelming…
J. shared a paraphrase of Father Richard Rohr that seems nearly perfect for how some of us are feeling. A DuckDuckGo search yielded a devotion HERE with the quote:
If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it—usually to those closest to us: our family, our neighbors, our co-workers, and, invariably, the most vulnerable, our children.
Rohr continues on later…
We shouldn’t try to get rid of our own pain until we’ve learned what it has to teach. When we can hold our pain consciously and trustfully (and not project it elsewhere), we find ourselves in a very special liminal space. … We must all carry the cross of our own reality until God transforms us through it.
Rohr has been a favorite for many years, and this is another reason why… Thanks Father Richard!
And in the midst of darkness we find light from a number of sources, including friends and family. And song. Check out this this POWERFUL tune called Sending You Light!
Perhaps special worship from Washington National Cathedral will help too? As described HERE:
“Lifting themes of pluralism and the common good, We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident celebrates the nation’s ideals alongside an honest reckoning of its history and unfinished work.
We can watch that service HERE
POTENTIAL ACTIONS:
- reach out to individuals or groups who help you “process and transform” so you’re less likely to transmit unproductively (thanks for being 2 such folks, J. and T.!)
- what are additional ways you can best “hold pain consciously and trustfully?”
- check out this website containing song lyrics for Sending You Light, plus links to other good song material too 🙂
- consider attending the Soul Place event at Cincinnati’s Westwood First Presbyterian Church on July 10-11. Details HERE
- brighten your day and the days of children and adults by supporting a Cincinnati event on July 10 called Fun To Be Fit Day, put on by Whole Again (a local non-profit that has arranged over 1.5 MILLION meals for children over the years….) You can volunteer time, talents or treasure. Sign up to volunteer HERE
PRAYER:
Dear God, please help us see these ‘wounds’ of ours as the way through, as Jesus did, that they would become sacred wounds rather than scars to deny, disguise, or project onto others. AMEN! {NOTE: this prayer text is taken heavily from the first lines of Rohr’s devotional HERE}
May this day and those ahead bring incredible perspective, with influences galore from the Spirit…
** readers can choose to either thank or curse J. and T.! 🙂
Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 5, 2026:
- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 and Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13
- Zechariah 9:9-12 and Psalm 145:8-14
- Romans 7:15-25a
- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
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POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to
- share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
- check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
- volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
- find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items
- accept a Call to Action item from Season of Peace devotional posting
NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE
DISCIPLE PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically. Included now is a grin-inducing New Bible Reading Plan (Pearls Before Swine)
STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!
CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO DISCIPLE PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE
