Day 69

Scripture: Ps 45, 47, 48; Colossians 1:15-23; Luke 6:12-26


Scripture standout: Colossians 1: "¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."


Morning thoughts: Ashrafulla and his things arrived last night. Now "Grandaddy's bed" is defined by the stuffed green frog who now sits in the middle of the pillow shams and a rubber snake. He is sweet and quiet and happy — this boy who has suffered with a club foot for 13+ years. It was heartwarming to watch the Coker kids, who have considered Ashraf part of their family for the past two months, playing catch football in the backyard with our kids, Ashraf and AJ — the animated and joyful Afghan translator who will undoubtedly have an expanded presence here now that Ashraf is with us. There was just something about watching that sweet play unfold so naturally and joyfully. Perspective is everything.


Today's Forward Movement devotional is on a similar topic. Again, the scripture they selected is from that Wisdom book. I need to figure this thing out!:


"Wisdom 3:1-9. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good.

A colleague of mine preached a sermon in which  he argued that suffering is at the heart of what it  means to be Christian. I don’t think he meant that  God plans pain for us. I disagree when someone tells  me that a painful disease or a personal loss was all for the best, all part of God’s plan.

I am uncomfortable making pronouncements about suffering because I feel that I have not suffered  as much as people struggling to survive in war-torn  and impoverished countries; I have not fought an illness like cancer or HIV/AIDS.

From my limited experience of suffering, I think  that our pain and suffering can discipline us (to use the old-fashioned sense of the word, meaning not  “to punish” but “to teach”)—it can focus our attention on what really matters and open us to the great good of God’s compassionate love for us, even when we are at our weakest.

The paradox of suffering and evil is resolved in the experience of compassion and love.

 —Nicholas Berdyaev "


The Deed/The Day: One of Marley's favorite teachers has been home ill for more than a month with an unexplained and persistent migraine. A mother much more organized than I (and with unstoppable energy in this department) has put together a meal schedule. Barton meal day was today. I can't even imagine being laid out for that long. She has two little ones and a supportive husband. Don't you know they're wondering when their mom's going to get better.


I also voted today. That is a deed and a responsibility. Our choices for mayor are not what I would have hoped for, but I voted for the one I think has the most open mind. I hope he wins.