Stones.

My family's homestead is at the end of mile long gravel driveway. The driveway itself is ancient, an old path used by the local Native Americans to get to the Mississippi River. It cuts through ancient hills just south of the city of Vicksburg. As a child, I was afraid to go down that driveway by myself until I was old enough to ride my bike, which I eventually did a lot on that loose gravel. Often, on my travels I would stop and look at the rocks in the gravel. They fascinated me because they were all different, all beautiful -- and all difficult to ride on in a bike. If you turned it just so, you'd spin out and they would pop up and hit you and it hurt. Trust me. Stones . . . it seems our life is made up of lots of stones, some beautiful, all different, and many difficult, rearing up to smack us at times. But there is one stone that remains secure and safe. It is the one the writer of the 1st letter of Peter refers to in the second chapter, vs. 2-10: "Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight." The writer goes on: " . . . like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Christ, we remember, was the "stone that the builders rejected" who was "the cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." When life hurts, when others throw hard things at us, when we stumble and fall, when we spin out in loose gravel, it is Him who binds our wounds and holds us together, loved and treasured -- and forgiven. And so, it should be easy to remember that we, as his people, are bound as chosen, "a royal priesthood, a holy nation . . . in order that we might proclaim the mighty acts of the one who. . . called us out of darkness into his marvelous light." All of this because, in Him, we have and know God's abiding mercy and love.
When have you been "stoned?"
Talk Amongst Yourselves.
a.

Prayer for Peace

I usually write about the week's upcoming Gospel passage here. But, given the extraordinary events of this last weekend with the death of Osama bin Laden, and the outpouring of so much sentiment, I feel compelled to share with you a prayer instead. So, when and if you read this, please forward it on as you are able and so moved:

O, Lord of all people, of all Creation, hear our prayer this day. Your holy scriptures tell us not to rejoice in the fall of our enemies. But, we confess, dear Lord of Mercy, that it is hard not to do such rejoicing, especially in the face of such wanton evil that rears its head in such a profound, life-altering way as terrorism. We stand small before it, yet strong in you and for this strength we pray, and beg your hearing: Lord give us strenght --
Strength to pray for our enemies, as Jesus commanded us;
Strength to have compassion for those duped into hurting us and themselves, with the lie that it is faithful to your own calling;
Strength to remember those who have fallen protecting us -- those brave and stalwart souls, innocents all -- who gave their lives that others may not be risked; and their families, who have suffered such devastating loss;
Strength to lift our men and women in the armed forces who work so hard to protect us, and to live lives of integrity in the process; for their families, who sacrifice so much;
Strength to have courage to stand for what is right, and good, and loving, and forgiving -- no matter the circumstances;
Strength to hear the calling of Jesus Christ -- to give witness by our very lives to a new reality, the presence of your Reign of Hope and Love, that this never waiver.
Strength to beg forgivness for ourselves, that we may be agents of forgiveness to others;
Strength to pray for our national leadership, no matter our political persuasion;
Strength to serve as we are called to do -- in your name, with no barriers and no reservation.
Amen.