Focal verse
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
Reflection
I often can’t keep myself from scrolling online and catching up on the latest news—violence in our country, a nation divided, war across the ocean. Our world provides no shortage of reasons to despair.
Yet our work as caregivers continues.
One afternoon, as I drove my kids home after camp, we all noticed a sky full of clouds. I asked the kids what shapes and pictures they saw in the clouds.
“There’s a bear with his paws behind his head,” my son said, pointing.
“I see a big humpback whale,” my daughter said.
I kept driving and smiled at the chatter behind me. I peered back and saw my son staring intently out his window. “At first you can’t see anything,” he said. “But if you look long enough, you can see a shape.”
The clouds are full of possibilities. It just takes a little time to look and see.
This summer, as schedules are nonexistent and snacks are eaten all day, the world also regularly feels as if it’s on fire. We can feel lost and adrift. Global challenges and personal losses in our communities can seem insurmountable. But what if we took my son’s advice and really looked to see what’s emerging?
If we look at the world in need, our prayer life can be deepened by praying for places of unrest and for God’s peace to reign.
If we look at our schedules and are feeling off-kilter, we can incorporate rhythms of intentional rest.
If we find ourselves at a loss for how to meet the needs of neighbors across the sea, we can offer our time volunteering in our local community.
This summer, let’s take a moment to look at the life and the world before us. The life that’s full of both heartache and joy. The world that needs the reminder that God’s peace can meet us wherever we are and however we’re feeling.
Practices
- Go outside as a family and look up. Bring blankets and lie on the grass. What do you see and hear? How does it feel to see the vast sky above you? Give thanks to God for the beauty of creation.
- Make a list together of the small things and moments bringing you joy. Write it on paper or a whiteboard. Tape it on the wall. Be reminded that even when life is hard, there is joy to be found.
Prayer practice
Grab a newspaper or read the latest news updates online. Take some time to pray for the people and places in need.
