Before launching into this first Disciple Playbook post, let me say
- “many thanks” to those who responded favorably to the idea of continuing posts from a renamed and refocused Disciple Playbook.
- taking a sabbatical from regular postings for the past several months has been helpful. The struggles of a life-long Christian to be somewhat divorced from that word is substantial. So it is with certain monikers that define us at certain times that go away because we do, or because the contemporary wording takes on new meaning…
The good news in such spiritual struggles and many others?
“All Shall Be Well” according to our Disciple friend, Julian of Norwich!
As this CAC posting suggests, 14th and 15th century times of Julian brought challenges to believers then as our times do now. Yet, in spite of substantial challenges, English poet and author Ann Lewin points to Julian’s trust in God for encouragement:
[God] did not say: You will not be assailed, you will not be belabored, you will not be disquieted, but he said: You will not be overcome. God wants us to pay attention to his words and always to be strong in our certainty, in well-being and in woe, for he loves us and delights in us, and so he wishes us to love him and delight in him and trust greatly in him, and all will be well. [3]
During our teeth-gritting times, perhaps we can recall Julian’s wisdom?
May this day bring you “all shall be well” moments, filled with Spirit-inspired action…
P.S. An interesting note from Wikipedia about the mystic Julian:
In her fourteenth revelation, Julian writes of the Trinity in domestic terms, comparing Jesus to a mother who is wise, loving and merciful. Author Frances Beer asserted that Julian believed that the maternal aspect of Christ was literal and not metaphoric: Christ is not like a mother, he is literally the mother.[73] Julian emphasised this by explaining how the bond between mother and child is the only earthly relationship that comes close to the relationship a person can have with Jesus.[74]
Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 18, 2024:
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POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: These times will likely find large numbers of families looking for nutritious food, presenting opportunities to
- share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
- check with your faith community about opportunities to feed community members
- volunteer to assist 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.
STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!
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