Friday, November 27, 2015

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, November 26, 2015

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, November 23, 2015

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