Friday, Nov. 27, 2015

Psalm 25:14

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
   and he makes his covenant known to them. 

Rest

Worries of what will be

run night races ‘round

worn tracks of mind,

stealing sleep.

So I come here,

Dearest Friend, to

rest and hear your Voice

that breaks the race,

releasing the heart,

to sink into this familiar

chair and sit with you

a while in the silence

of knowing.

I come to know

my heart’s Friend, truly,

where silence settles

every noise of mind

and matter and that again

I might know who I am.

I know: I never

forget, ever, but there

is a knowing that stills

all else, evaporating all

distance I might feel

from you. For that I come,

light red candle and look

into the flame of love.

All works for good,

I hear, for your friends,

though goodness wears

disguises that require

patience and faith ‘til

joy appears in the dawn

of grace.

And morning comes …

now, dear Friend, a new day

in this time and song in which

I know … you are here,

awakening this old heart

haunted from earliest days

of its beating with the hope

of knowing you.

And I do, a knowing

that brings rest night cannot

give, the rest of sitting in

silence by this flame

that never dies.

Pr. David L. Miller

Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015

Psalm 25:4-5

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
   teach me your paths. 
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
   for you are the God of my salvation;
   for you I wait all day long. 

Thanksgiving

I know your path,

Love and from Love

born, filling the heart

sparkling eyes with

delight of hope undying

when Fullness fills

and stills every craving

of inner ache … with You.

The snow melts now,

brilliant shroud of white

too soon a blight of mud

beneath black limbs once

ago electric with color

now gone, asleep.

But … no worry,

I know: Color comes

in its time and always

will. It’s the way you

are. And luster never

leaves my heart

for I know … You.

You are the Love

who never leaves

when autumn falls,

coming to consciousness,

warming my world

with colors of Presence

and Nearness, of Knowing

the Love who changed

and changes … Everything.

You are never gone,

but ever here … and

there … and wherever

I go. Rush of life,

anxious days, troubles

come, mere clouds,

hiding what always

is and always will be …

You.

Today …

is filled with You,

every feeling acute

and clear, certain and sure,

everywhere I look, every note

that floats across the room,

sounds peace to my ear:

All is well. All is well.

Love lives and reigns,

Mystery ever near and

so far beyond, leaving

two words: Thank you

for being …

You.

Pr. David L. Miller

Monday, Nov. 23, 2015

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Of joy and pies

We are most like ourselves when we give. We are most like God when we share our souls in gifts from the heart.

A pie was sitting on my chair after Sunday worship. The giver was running a pie sale in the narthex of the church. The sale went well but better was the look on the sellers face when he told me there was a pie waiting for me on my office chair.

He also gave pies for other staff members and set several aside for a reception before the Thanksgiving Eve worship service. I appreciate the pies, although my waistline suggests that are contraindicated.

But much more I appreciate the man, and more: I am moved by what moves him.

Joy filled his smile as he scurried about delivering the sweet bounty. It felt good to give. His face told me so. He was having a good time. His heart was light, made so by being able to give.

Giving satisfies the soul. True, it can be done arrogantly or in ways that demean those who receive. But not for this man on this day.

The good pies came from a good heart made glad by giving without expectation of some quid pro quo where he would get something back. And his joy is the joy of God, the joy of human nature fulfilled.

Made in the image of God our inner nature finds fulfillment in giving, in blessing, in sharing, in loving in the manner of the Great Love God is.

Joy happens when our inner nature is fulfilled, when we are acting according to our identity as the image and likeness of God whose giving knows no ending.

The early theologians spoke of the Holy Trinity as a dance of self-giving Love. They described the Father as the Originating Source of all, the Giver. They called the Son of God the Gift of Love from the Father, calling the Spirit the ongoing Giving of God in the world and the souls of women and men.

The Love God is flows from the Giver as Gift and as unending Giving, a river of grace and Love that flows, truly, through all time and space.

When we give (yes, even pies) we jump into the divine flow, the river of grace, the stream of mercy and know ourselves … and God ... more fully than we ever thought possible.

Pr. David L. Miller