Quote[/b] ]Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.
-Proverbs 12:25 (NRSV)
THE train was moving out of the station when I realized I had left my tote bag in my husband's car. Among the items in the tote bag were my Bible and The Upper Room, which I usually take with me to read on the train. The day was not starting out well, and I was upset with myself for forgetting my things.
Almost immediately I asked myself, Should material possessions be so important that I feel lost or unable to focus when I cannot follow my usual devotional routine?
I centered myself and reflected on my options. Then I asked God's forgiveness for my over-reaction to such a trivial disruption. Even without my Bible and The Upper Room, I could have a devotional that day. I prayed for people around the world: the sick, the poor, the disenfranchised, those who have suffered loss, those with few options to ease their pain or to meet their needs, victims of violence and war. Then I presented myself to God, eager to begin the day with a sincere spirit of service and dedication, fully convinced that material possessions, while necessary, do not dictate how and whether we can approach God.
Marta I. Gomez (California, U.S.A.)
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for speaking to us through daily events. Help us to trust that your amazing love is at work in us. Amen.
