Matthew 25

25:13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. 14 “For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. 18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it. 19 After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 The one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ 23 His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered, ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? 27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! 28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. 29 For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ©NET Provided by bible.org

What is talent? Perhaps more to the point, what is an invested talent? The story of the servants entrusted with their master’s talents when he left for a long time can be interpreted many ways but one way, a way I take to heart, is what do I do with the life, the talent, the time, the gifts God gave me? Do I proclaim false modesty and deny them? Perhaps to others but God knows better.

I have never felt a true passion for anything other than horses and languages. I am in a profession which has kept me employed my entire life, which I find challenging but it was never my goal. I follow the directions of others without consulting myself or God. I can only trust this has led me on the path God would have me on though I know there were circumstances which pained Her heart.

I am seeking my talent. I don’t want to leave it buried without demonstrating engagement in the world on behalf of my Lord.

What is your talent and what are you doing with it?

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I am white from northern European and Scandinavian stock, growing up in Minneapolis, MN, than SD and am now, to me, in the South – though the Mason-Dixon line is still south of my town. However, the suburb which I call home was religiously diverse being 50% Jewish and hosting a Buddhist Temple. I knew one Asian family of whom part were Lutheran and part Buddhist. We got along. It is only later in life I truly appreciated the diversity in which I grew up.

Downtown Minneapolis had more black people. My dancing and clarinet lessons were there with diverse colored and ethnic children. I don’t recall thinking any less of anyone because their skin color or religion was different. It did come a shock one day when a teacher, Jewish, dismissed out of hand my New Testament quote. I think it was the first time I understood other people did not, and really did not, believe as I or my family did.

The struggle to show love to all people goes on – the struggle to gain and maintain civil rights goes on. I thought of MLKJr. today when I read this article on maids in South America. They cannot even walk the same street in the gated communities they serve – there was no mention of color but definitely of class.

Last week the American people acted to prevent bills from being passed which could have done much harm to the Internet as we know and use it. Congress was shocked – it seems they are not listening to the American people as closely as they should. We the people need to be involved and informed about our government – else we will lose it. I am not a political junkie but for a long time, I have noticed us peel away our rights from the Constitution for security, for the Federal government, for this and for that because it was EASIER.

The Federal Government is to serve the States – not the other way around. Do we really want smaller Federal government? Than we, I, need to be involved – we need to act – we need to be prepared to give up some of which the Feds feed us; we need to support private industry in helping us, State by State, develop programs for our poor, needy, for education and infrastructure instead of relying on the Feds.

We are in Epiphany – winding down the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ who came for ALL, regardless of gender, class, color, age, or belief. He came to save us from the tyranny into which the Law of Moses, manipulated and amended by men, grew over the years. He came to remind of intent, of love, of caring for one another – even unto death in order to save those He loved.

Can we do less? Can we, I, radically follow Jesus for all people?

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Today, we are striking against censorship. Join the largest online protest in history: tell Congress to stop this bill now!

The Prayer Room (Flickr image)

One reason I read the Daily Office at least every day is the story. When I miss a day, I feel compelled to “catch up” on the unfolding stories of both the Old and New Testaments but mainly the Old. The New Testament I hear more often on varying occasions but the Old offers a rich tradition still speaking today.

I like the formal prepared Daily Office because it guides me in my dedicated time of devotion while participating with others world-wide reading the very same or similar passages and prayers. Is that not cool or what? I pray with the world; even, perhaps, with the universe!  Having the resource of a structured prayer format also helps me when I pray after a very long night shift – God knows I frequently co-mingle both the traditional and contemporary forms of the Lord’s Prayer secondary to the dull but earnest mind I bring to Her.

Another thing I do in my formal prayer time is shut up and listen . Too many times I babble on and on, filling a very patient God with my and others’ needs. Of course, this is appropriate but after participating in a Centering Prayer group, I see the benefit of keeping my mouth shut, sitting comfortably and listening. Often, God then brings to my mind those in need whom I would not of thought in my own prayers.

One can do Centering Prayer alone or in a group; most in our group try to do both so we benefit ourselves, one another and God throughout the week as well on the Monday nights we meet. The centering prayer I do in my daily office has less time dedicated than when I listen/pray on its own. I want to change this and do my full 20 minutes within my daily office. The times I would not do this is coming off a night shift – I could fall asleep right in my chair!

Let me be very clear – all and any prayer is right – the form is not crucial; the intent is – talking and sharing with God our most mundane and outstanding concerns (in my mind, using the word “outstanding” or “outlier” refers to that beyond a normal routine at home, work or with the dog rescue).

One of my new habits, set for May, will be to read the entire Bible – just read it. I get bits and pieces in the daily office and lectio but haven’t read the entire Bible in a long, long time. The scope of God’s love for us, the world He made and our futures are grounded in Her Word – most of all, in THE Word, Jesus Christ.

What daily prayer practices inform your walk with God?

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Be kind and good to yourself and loved ones as you prepare and go into this new year.

The Gospel this morning (yes, I read it in the morning thus “freeing” myself for other devotions in the evening) spoke of abundance rising from scarcity. Jesus desires to feed the huge crowd who listened to him before the Passover. The only food found were 5 loaves and two fishes a boy has (undoubtedly, this boy is a forerunner of the Boy Scouts - “Be Prepared”). Jesus, consulting his Father as he does, feeds the crowd out this scarce commodity with food leftover.

Notice how often Jesus, before performing a miracle or healing, stops, looks upward and inward, aligning himself with his Father before going forward. I need God alignment during my day to day tasks. They may not immediately benefit someone but I do want them done for the glory of God, whether seen or unseen by humankind.

How do you align yourself with God throughout your day?

P.S. I walked Justus yesterday. We went on a part of the bike trail I hadn’t walked before. It was good for both of us – he saw, heard and smelled different, new things and I saw a different part of our town. Today, I plan to walk either Layla or Hickory Dock.

Layla Beagle                                        Hickory Dock, TWC                     Justus, Dobermann mix

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Image by Deadly Tedly via Flickr

Time is only a measure. Some cultures don’t worry about time; they do what needs done when it needs done. They celebrate the seasons and live by the sun and the moon. I may be making this up – I can’t quote about such a culture but I sure do like the idea. Do what needs done:

• with joy
• recognizing God in everyday life
• claiming the blessing in the mundane
• making time to celebrate alone and with friends/colleagues

We have a new slate before us. It is just the turning of a year which we as a world culture imbue with significance. I don’t do resolutions but I do want to plan new/improved habits. As Leo Babauta at Zen Habits drills, do one new habit at a time – one a month – though it may seem slow, by the end of the year, you will have 12 new habits enhancing your life. So, my habit plan for 2012:

1. January – exercise: once a day, walk a dog to start. Will I be running with said dog by the end of the month?
2. February – study: half hour for work/nursing daily.  I have a multitude of certifications to maintain plus new products to learn very well.
3. March – ramp up the dog exposure. With the dog sanctuary, I need to find homes for most of the dogs here. They are hounds, adults to seniors. Sometimes a tough “sell” till the right person sees/meets them. Note I did NOT say increase the number! reminder to self…
4. April – daily devotions. While this happens more often than not, it is not always daily and the new daily frequency (2-4) is up in the air.

That’s as far as I can think now – the most important habits are in the first four months BUT there is an underlying attitudinal shift to support them: be kind, be kind, be kind; see Christ in everyone I meet.

P.S. – I include the NASA link because I am a space junkie. Enjoy the wonder of mapping the magnetic fields of our moon!

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