Another thought from Henri Nouwen
Jesus' Self-Portrait
Jesus says: "Blessed are the poor, the gentle, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for uprightness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness" (Matthew 5:3-10). These words offer us a self-portrait of Jesus. Jesus is the Blessed One. And the face of the Blessed One shows poverty, gentleness, grief, hunger, and thirst for uprightness, mercy, purity of heart, a desire to make peace, and the signs of persecution.
The whole message of the Gospel is this: Become like Jesus. We have his self-portrait. When we keep that in front of our eyes, we will soon learn what it means to follow Jesus and become like him.
Friday, May 23, 2008
3 Stones
I have three stones sitting on my desk this morning, each with a word etched into it. Physical reminders of the things I'm clinging to.
One was a gift from a friend. A red stone, heart-shaped, with the word "loved" etched into it.
The other two I purchased at a local fair-trade shop called 10,000 Villages.
The first is smooth and round and simply bears the word "courage".
The second is also somewhat heart-shaped and has the word "hope" carved into it's surface.
I need the reminder that I am loved, that I am "not alone" this morning. I need the ability to cling to courage, to physically hold it in my hand. And hope. Hope has been the word for this season. The thing I've clung to. The thing that has at times seemed to be slipping from my grasp. Especially this week. So I roll it through my fingers as well, and let my heart talk to Jesus a little. Thanking him for loving me and going with me, for sending a few dear friends who can do the same. Asking for courage in the face of immense and overwhelming fears, and for hope in the midst of the hopelessness.
One was a gift from a friend. A red stone, heart-shaped, with the word "loved" etched into it.
The other two I purchased at a local fair-trade shop called 10,000 Villages.
The first is smooth and round and simply bears the word "courage".
The second is also somewhat heart-shaped and has the word "hope" carved into it's surface.
I need the reminder that I am loved, that I am "not alone" this morning. I need the ability to cling to courage, to physically hold it in my hand. And hope. Hope has been the word for this season. The thing I've clung to. The thing that has at times seemed to be slipping from my grasp. Especially this week. So I roll it through my fingers as well, and let my heart talk to Jesus a little. Thanking him for loving me and going with me, for sending a few dear friends who can do the same. Asking for courage in the face of immense and overwhelming fears, and for hope in the midst of the hopelessness.
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