Verse of the day
Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead, I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
– 2 John 1:12
Voice of the day
A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.
– Winnie the Pooh, in A.A. Milne’s “Winnie-the-Pooh” (1926)
Prayer of the day
God, you have created us to be in community. May we find ways to stick together, to remain joyful in this busy world.
“In a society where half the population is deprived of their human rights, discussions about democracy, freedom and equality are meaningless. Control over women is being used as a tool to expand tyranny and oppression throughout society, exploiting religion as a cover for despotism and power.”—Narges Mohammadi
Much violence in our society is based on the illusion of immortality, which is the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not a gift to be shared. When the elderly no longer can bring us in contact with our own aging, we quickly start playing dangerous power games to uphold the illusion of being ageless and immortal. Then, not only will the wisdom of the elderly remain hidden from us, but the elderly themselves will lose their own deepest understanding of life. For who can remain a teacher when there are no students willing to learn?
“A core principle of nonviolence is recognizing the humanity of your opponent. In times of war, that principle does not become irrelevant or obsolete—it becomes more difficult, and essential.”—Ali Abu Awwad
Verse of the day
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
– Isaiah 58:6-7
Voice of the day
Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning.
– Frederick Douglass
Prayer of the day
Freedom does not happen in a vacuum. Show us how to be free, Holy God. May we be unafraid of the agitation that will set us all free.
“Avoiding conflict does not mean that the world should be populated by soft, cowardly, people who belittle themselves or run away as soon as there is a disagreement. On the contrary. It means a world populated by people who are concerned about what is happening around them, people who are present, attentive and vigilant, to identify the places where conflicts are emerging. People who can use their intelligence, energy, willpower, courage and perseverance to solve problems before they turn into conflicts.”—Brigitte Labbé & Michel Puech, La Violence et La Nonviolence, (pg. 38 & 39), (translated from the French by Nadia Mejjati.)
Verse of the day
The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good.
– Genesis 1:12
Voice of the day
Community building includes cultivating reciprocal relationships not just with other humans, but animals, plants, microbes & all life forms in our ecosystem.
– Ayesha Khan
Prayer of the day
Creator, remind us that you created the animals, plants, and all life forms with the same intentionality and care as you did humanity. May we cultivate restorative relationships with all creation.
Verse of the day
Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.
– James 5: 4-5
Voice of the day
God hears workers crying out for justice against an exploitative boss, and it’s time for Christians to listen up too.
– Matt Bernico, “Christians, It’s Time To Make Wage Thieves Weep”
Prayer of the day
Today we honor all the laborers. Bring justice to those who have been exploited by bosses and systems that do not see workers as humans full of life and dignity. May we hear the cries of all the workers.
“One parent could get my poetry banned from classrooms. And yet one country can’t ban assault rifles from massacring them.”—Amanda Gorman
If it is true that solitude diverts us from our fear and anger and makes us empty for a relationship with God, then it is also true that our emptiness provides a very large and sacred space where we can welcome all the people of the world. There is a powerful connection between our emptiness and our ability to welcome. When we give up what sets us apart from others— not just property but also opinions, prejudices, judgments, and mental preoccupations—then we have room within to welcome friends as well as enemies.
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