Listen

My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.

James 2:14-17

Think

Have a great summer! Keep in touch!

I laugh reading these goofy phrases repeated in students’ yearbooks. Kids used these when I was in school eons ago, although students now even abbreviate HAGS! and KIT! with peers. They’re easy thoughts when you don’t know what to write or don’t want to spend time on something personal.

Today’s scripture imagines a neighbor who is struggling and then receives a quick, impersonal response of thoughts and wishes, which is so out of touch in that situation.

There’s no attempt to get to know this neighbor as a wondrous child of God, nor any attempt to listen to their history, nor ask them what they might want or need to make their life more joyful.

There’s also no acknowledgement of what responsibility we might share in allowing hunger to gnaw at neighbors’ daily lives and too many other societal hurts.

Let’s do something different.

Let’s listen.

Let’s ask.

Let’s choose thoughtful and prayerful action to consider the hurts of our society, our role in them, and work toward a more joyful future for all our neighbors.

Molly Logan

Question to Ponder: 

How might I choose to be more in touch with the needs of the world around me today and respond with thoughtful and prayerful action?

Pray

Loving God, your grace is great. You choose to be in touch and aware of the needs of my world.  Sometimes I don’t know what action steps to take, especially when hard things happen in my world, so help me to think, pray, and listen today. Then help me to actually respond in faith, living out your gracious action in the choices I make in the world today.

Amen.

Go

Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth—teach it to me—because you are the God who saves me. I put my hope in you all day long. Lord, remember your compassion and faithful love—they are forever!

                                                                                                                               Psalm 25:4-6

May God’s compassion and faithful love guide all our actions today, however we may be feeling.