24th March 2020. Daily Devotion

A Candle in the Window Peter Millar 18th March 2020

In many countries and cultures, local communities place a lighted candle in the windows of their homes in times of trouble, fear or sorrow. Each one of us (many in self isolation around the world) can offer a candle of hope in our own way as we face up to viruses and other massive global problems. I am self-isolated here in Edinburgh, yet we are all strongly connected in our hearts: in our faith and doubts: in our fears and hopes: in our concerns about others. Each week during this time of isolation I will be sending out a few words of encouragement. Please share them with others if you feel that is appropriate. Thank you. Even if far apart, we walk together on the good earth in rain or shine.

*** And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. And in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
Kitty O’Meara

***God help us to change: to change ourselves and to change our world. To know the need for it. To deal with the pain of it. To feel the joy of it. To undertake the journey without understanding the destination, the art of gentle revolution. Michael Leunig

*** I am thankful today for the privilege of being a small, frail, faulted, but integral part of the magic of life on earth. Author not known

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

God of ancient calm, let your peace still us
And your light illumine us.
God of the flowing rivers, may we discover anew your flowing spirit.
God of the lonely plains, touch these empty places within us
Where we are vulnerable enough to meet you
And where we discover a new understanding of ourselves and the world. pm

Amen.

Rev Dr Iain Whyte.