Week of Dec. 2 Devotions

unday Dec. 4 -Ps. 85 has long been a favorite of mine, especially its tender ending. I picture the ending verses as righteousness (right relations) and peace as separated lovers who see each other again after a long absence, like the reunion scene in Russia in Reds. They are intertwined concepts. They should not be strangers. When have you seen them come together in your life? Where do you wish so much for them to come together?

Monday -Carly Simon sang that anticipation is keeping me waiting.” Another word for anticipation could be expectancy. I'm doing an on-line Advent series through the Upper Room of Nashville, and they are stressing this aspect of Advent. What are you anticipating in your life? What can you hardly wait for? What do you crave in your spiritual life? Are you half afraid of desiring some virute, some change, some dream?

Tuesday-Pause. In the midst of all of the expectations, pause. Take a little break.  Breathe deeply and fully for a bit. Pray a quick prayer: breathe on me breath of God. Take a moment and examine your to do list. What could be eliminated, not lessened, eliminated? All during Advent, consider taking a mini Sabbath, a pause to collect and refresh.

Wednesday-Different virtues abound as celebrating Advent has expanded. I have seen peace, purity,joy, or consolation among others as the Second Sunday's virtues. We, through
Christian Ed’s good offices, have selected peace as the theme for the candle.Open a newspaper and pray for peace in the troubled lands. Pray for peace in communities ripped by violence. Consider praying for inner peace in oneself. Pray for inner peace to enter those whose hearts and minds are filled with rage and hate, even of themselves.

Thursday-The New York Times always asks its readers to consider the neediest at the time of year. Notice: not the needy, the neediest. Yes, we are right in helping out those in need of financial assistance. In this rich country, my mind goes toward a different definition of the neediest: maybe the mentally ill, or the heartbroken and the lonely. They too require Christmas gifts, but they are far different than what can be placed in the red buckets at WalMart.

Friday- Joseph gets short shrift. After all, he is the main character in Matthew’s Christmas story. When i was a child, we were taught that Joseph was very old. (Only later, did I figure out that they could protect Mary’s status as virgin that way). We imagine him as a carpenter, but the Greek word could cover any manual craftsman. In children’s stories, Joseph is usually pictured as an extraordinarily kind and wise father, an exemplar. maybe he was, so Jesus could use paternal language so easily in addressing God, his heavenly Father.

Saturday-This is the 400th   anniversary of the King James Bible. Its careful cadence and tone equals Scripture for many people. Here’s a little project. Compare the KJV  to other Bible versions and set out your likes and dislikes. Pick a passage at random, or compare some favorites to different translations. Do different insights or interpretations emerge as you compare them? Read with a literary eye too. What is appealing about the form, movement, and word choice in different translations?