Friday, October 28, 2016

October 28: Striving for an End to Humanity’s Greed



           We acknowledge that humanity’s never-ending hunger has harmed both our Earth and our people. While we give thanks for progress and development, we ask God to guide us in ending humankind’s greed. May God’s infinite knowledge grant us the ability and motivation to look beyond ourselves, our community, and our nation. May we practice compassion towards future generations, proceeding with awareness of the world they will inherit. To bring an end to the selfishness and gluttony that drives us, we ask God to continue to teach humankind contentment and compassion.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18, taken from the St. John's Bible

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

October 26: Striving for Contentment with What One Has


            Ambition creates its own sense of chaos. Our days are constantly disturbed by hunger for a better, fuller life. Ambition turns to anxiety and fear that we will never have enough to be happy. We ask for God’s help in breaking this spiral of dissatisfaction. May we find peace in contentment with all God has given us. While we still work for the betterment of ourselves and of humanity, we will do such with the security of God’s never-ending love and compassion for humankind.

Bonus Idea for Contemplation:
The following verses come from the Batu Caves Hindu Temples in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I invite you to read these words and contemplate their meaning in your own spiritual life.

Geetha Upadesha

Whatever happened was good.
Whatever is happening is also good.

Whatever will happen that also will be good.
What did you lose that you are crying for?

What did you bring which have you lost?
What did you create that is destroyed?

Whatever you have taken is taken only from here.
Whatever you have given, is given only from here.

Whatever is yours today,
will belong to someone else tomorrow
On another day,
it will belong to yet another

This inevitable change
is the law of the universe and
the objective of my creation
-Bhagavan Sri Krishna
Photos by author

Monday, October 24, 2016

October 24: Thankfulness for and Acceptance of Rest


            No matter how tired we are, accepting rest can be surprisingly difficult. After weeks of leaping from task to task, struggling towards more and more deadlines, taking a break can feel like wasting time. But we recognize rest as a gift from God. We take this time to practice calming our minds and enjoying the present. We give thanks to God for the breaks that allow us to reconnect with our families and our friends. We recognize the care shown to us by God in allowing us to stop and just be still. Renewed by God’s love, may we return to our busy schedules with a greater sense of passion and purpose.

Photo by author

Friday, October 21, 2016

October 21: Comfort During Stress


            During the busiest times of our life, we pray for comfort during stress. May God help us meet our deadlines and maintain our responsibilities. May we find security during this time in our relationship with God. We ask God to care for those who suffer from anxiety and depression, especially during high-pressure situations. We pray that all our efforts pay off with the fulfillment of our work. May God give us the strength and focus to manage this time well, so that we may enjoy the coming break.

Photo by author

Stillness: October 21 through December 24

Introduction

            While stillness is often seen as the absence of all other distractions, we must recognize stillness as an intentional practice. We take this time to practice calmness and to create restorative silence. We recognize the difficulty of this endeavor in our busy and loud world, but we also see the importance of this task.
            Pockets of quiet allow us the freedom to commune with God. Settling our bodies and our minds for worship and introspection separates us from the world’s greed, social pressure, and materialism. In a world obsessed with mass production, to choose stillness is a radical act. We ask for God’s help in our search for calm. We ask for relief of the stresses and anxieties that distract us, for the pains and regrets that consume us, and for an awakening to the quiet beauty we so often ignore.

            We declare our intentions to use this time to find peace within our own lives and within our world.

Please enjoy this small photo essay collected from Chapel Photographer, Ellen Kneeskern's time abroad in Europe. While looking through these photos, consider the stillness created by nature, the peace promised by water, the constancy of history, and the quiet of the night. Think of how all these gifts are granted to us by God.









Monday, October 17, 2016

October 17: Discovery of God’s Gifts to Oneself


            While we are just individuals among billions of people, we recognize that God has given a lifetime of gifts to each of us. Instead of constantly looking outside ourselves for value, let us examine the richness of our lives in the present. We take this time to appreciate what we often overlook in pursuit of greater reward. We thank God for our old friends and our families, those both granted to us and those we have chosen. We give thanks to God for the chance to learn in this community. We thank God for giving us all of these gifts without asking for anything in return. May we discover similar generosity within our own hearts.

Photo by author

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

October 11: Discovery of God’s Gifts to Humankind


             Many of God’s gifts go unnoticed, taken for granted in the business of everyday life. May we commit ourselves to the discovery and appreciation of these overlooked gifts. We are thankful for the Earth’s resources that nourish us. We give thanks for humankind’s ability to collaborate and form communities. We remember God’s gift of grace and forgiveness through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. These gifts are only the beginning of a long list, but we commit ourselves to further recognition and appreciation of God’s love for humankind.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18