Repost of Sept. 9 week devotions

September 9 Sunday-Ps.125 graces our readings today. It speaks of a steadfast faith as unmovable as Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. I need that kind of affirmation at times. At the same time, I am glad that my faith has some give, some flexibility. Otherwise it could be fragile due to its unbending nature. Then faith seems more like a suspension bridge from earth to heaven, and it needs some give to keep it from becoming too rigid. Monday-Kent Ira Groff reminds us to pay some attention to hidden, unexpected teachers. A know it all attitude does not open us to the wisdom bursting at the seams all around us. If we are open, anyone can be a teacher of vice or virtue. A democratic spirit can hear the voice of wisdom anywhere. Perhaps few things show the democracy of the Holy spirit as much as this nugget of wisdom. where have you garnered wisdom and from whom over the years? Tuesday-Where does being restless come from? One minute all seems placid, and the next minute we feel the need to get out of the house and do something anything. Why does restlessness appear so readily during time of prayer? Instead of fighting it immediately, we do well to recognize it and then meet it. Augustine knew that our hearts are restless until they find rest in god. Even on the way toward god, we can be afflicted with a restless, flighty, anxious spirit. All of us can use inner peace at one time or another. Wednesday-We are working on the book of Amos in the Wednesday morning class. It has such rhetorical power in its images: the cows of Bashan who order their husbands to get them a drink (4:1) who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth (2:7) or leaning a hand on the wall and getting a snakebite (5:19). It creates vivid mental images of luxury or the plight of the poor. what are some vivid images you have encountered on social justice? Thursday- Holding ideas in tension strikes me as a mature approach to potential conflict. It seems to me that claiming all wisdom in one position loses out on the contributions possible in another viewpoint. Instead of going all the way from one extrmeme or the other, we can try to keep some of the good points in balance and maybe even cancel out some of the bad elements. this tension may even push us to find a better proposal that transcends both definitions of an issue. Friday-I am getting ready to go on a trip to Yosemite. If only I gave my spiritual plans as careful attention as the details of travel to and from that spot. I have maps for Yosemite, but I often ignore spiritual maps such as prayer forms and even Scripture. Some blessed days, spiritual insight comes out of the blue, but it can also emerge from discipline carful spirituals planning and work. Saturday-Miroslav Volf has been sharing some values that he raises up in this political season. They seem awfully idealistic to me, but political discourse requires some at times, I think. He wants to eliminate all PR spin in politics but I think interpretation is inevitable. I do applaud his call for accuracy and civility as much as possible. what are core values you bring to the election?