19th. August. 2020. Daily Devotion.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ~ James 4:14

We’ve enjoyed a lot of blooms in our garden this year despite the mixed weather, lots of fuchsias and hydrangea, roses other blossoms that do well in our very temperate climate. We have even managed to keep a bougainvillea flowering this year! But it won’t be long before the season of summer flowers is over, and sometimes I miss the exotic flowers of warmer places. Here is a meditation I found on a tropical favourite:

Our Hibiscus plant is beautiful when it blooms. The ephemeral blossom looks like a bright pink trumpet with yellow tentacles coming from its centre. If one is not there the day it blooms, one will not be able to enjoy its grandeur because by the end of the day the blossom will fall to the ground. This spectacle lasts for only one day.

The Bible says that this is the way our lives are, and we who are older adults will attest to this. We still recall when our skin was taut and muscles vibrant, but now the wrinkles and sags have replaced these things to make outward beauty less desirable in the eyes of the world. Shakespeare agrees with his words, “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage. . .” Yes, to me it seems, metaphorically speaking, merely an hour ago I was young, strutting and fretting my millisecond on the stage of life.

We really do not know about our tomorrows; we only have the memories of our yesterdays. But we have also learned great lessons through Christ from our yesterdays. The biggest lesson is not to worry about our tomorrows. We are like a little vapour that appears one day and vanishes the next; however, there is no hopelessness in the seemingly- inconsequentiality of it all.

Our little, vaporous lives are worth eternal value to God. Like the ephemeral Hibiscus blossom who does not fret about its beauty lasting for only a day, we have one short life to live, one chance to get it right. There is no time to fret about tomorrow, but we can get our today right by letting Christ make us strikingly radiant. He will redeem and make us new, in His likeness. We will shine like the stars in heaven for the whole world to see His glory in us. God does not want us to worry about things that have not yet come to pass, but to trust Him to make our future eternally beautiful indeed.

Thank you, Christ Jesus, for making me eternally beautiful in you. Amen. Jenny Calvert

Prayer for Morning

Today is a blessed, beautiful day and I praise God for allowing me another day to be on this earth. I ask Lord that you will touch those whose hearts have turned cold and no longer care. I pray that they may know you blessing and see that your way is the greater way. Amen

Prayer of an Ageing Jesuit (suitable for all of us)

Dearest Lord teach me to grow gracefully. Help me to see that my community does me no wrong when gradually it takes from me my duties, when it no longer seems to seek my views.
Rid me of my pride in all the “wisdom” I have learned. Rid me of the illusion that I am indispensable. Help me in this gradual detachment from earthly things to grasp the meaning of your law of time.

And please, Lord, let me still be useful, contributing to the world my optimism, adding my prayers to the joyful fervour and courage of those who now take their turn at the helm.

And now, finally, may I have a clear, and deep understanding of the joyful destiny you have prepared for me, guiding my every step from the first day of my life. Amen.

Prayer for changing days

As life returns cautiously to a new normality, children are in school and there is more freedom of movement in our communities, keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy, in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift all who are brought low, that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Jesus Christ. Amen

Benediction

Oh God Almighty, send me Your light and truth, to keep me today and all the days of my life. And may Your mighty hand protect me, and those who have joined me in prayer this day, blessing our homes and our lives.