Week 9

Scripture: Amos 5:14-15, 24, 9:13-16

Prompt: What examples in nature do you see of God’s love and mercy? And what about examples of God’s justice in nature?

I have just returned from a walk at Radnor Lake Natural Area. The creeks were running full and fast from the weekend of rain on this 1st day of March. The prophet Amos’ line came to mind: “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (5:24). Amos had observed nature firsthand and knew how to read the seasons and used it to teach the faithful how to live and serve a just God. If we live justly, then God will treat us justly. If we live justly, we must hate evil, love good, practice fairness in our lives, and be open to mercy. It is a great vision and is seen -by many – as elusive. Walking under a gray cloud cover and hearing the sound of running water, it felt like nature was building energy, rocking between winter gray and ceasing and spring light and growth. Not too dissimilar to how justice seeks to “rise up.”

Prayer: Give us wise and compassionate hearts, to love your creation, and to wrestle with hard truths in deep conversation. Show us your mercy on our walk, and help us stand without judgement of one another. Give us good companions on the walk, and bring us safely to our journey’s end. All for love’s sake. Amen.

Week 8

Scripture: Luke 4:1. The wilderness may scare us, but it is a gift on this journey.

Prompt: What is the wilderness through which you are invited to walk and what vulnerability is it exposing or asking of you?

Prayer: God teach us to seek your peace in the wilderness of our lives and in the turmoil of our days. Teach us to be as hopeful as the daffodils that began to celebrate the coming of Spring while fragments of snow still cover the ground. Wilderness of our lives. And always call us back to you as we walk upon your path. Amen.

Because of my schedule today, this video is a little longer and contains reflection, scripture, prompt and prayer. I'm walking today at Noon at River Park across from Brentwood Library.

Week 7

Scripture : We must walk this lonesome valley;

We have to walk it by ourselves.

Oh, nobody else can walk it for us;

We have to walk it by ourselves.

Prompt: What do you need to take on for the journey of Lent? Could it be prayer for the next 40 day journey ahead? Imagine you’re walking with Jesus down the mountain, what would you be afraid to ask Jesus as were the disciples?

Week 6:

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Prompt: What one thing surfaces for you in this text? (What road are you walking? What mending of fences do you need to undertake?)

Week 5:

Scripture: Luke 24:13-49.

Often read the evening of Easter. I think it is a good one for the deadness of a cold February morning. Luke tells a story about two people walking and talking, trying to work out what’s happened to them in the chaotic events of the week. I hope you will take a moment and watch this short video. And then during the day I hope you will take a walk. I invite you to join me at Noon if you want company. Here’s to hoping that you and the groundhogs don’t see our shadows today. I am ready for an early Spring.

Prompt: Imagine you are walking with this stranger (Jesus), the one who made their hearts “burn” as he talked. What would you want to hear from this stranger or say to this stranger (Jesus?) That is the prompt. It is very open ended. But this Jesus is a very interesting person as are you and there may be a lot to talk about.

Week 4:

Scripture: “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Schedules, zoom calls, cable news and social media can distract us with an endless tsunami of information and images that encourage us to skim along the surface of life. Living in the shallows limits our ability to live mindfully in God’s moment-by-moment care.

Prompt: As you place one foot in front of the other and observe about your surroundings, what “goodness” of God comes to mind?” Offer a prayer of thanks.

Week 3:

Scripture: Mark 1:16-20.

Prompt: When it comes to your faith do you see it as a safe harbor or an open sea?

Week 2:

Scripture: "Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk with insight." (Proverbs 9:6)

Prompt: What do you need to lay aside? In some camino (pilgrim) traditions, a pilgrim is given a rock to carry that symbolizes what she or he needs to let go of. Consider doing that today and let the rock symbolize the "immaturity" that you need to lay aside.

Week 1:

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.