Great Plains Daily Devotional for 7/31/2020

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

This summer I was fortunate to work the Micah Corps, one of the Great Plains summer internships for college age students. The internship focuses on connecting faith with justice through many different experiences. Working with the interns, I was inspired by their passion to promote justice, despite us having to work remotely. However, this past weekend we met in person (6 feet apart and with masks) to celebrate the end of the 2020 program. It was bittersweet: great to see everyone, and sad knowing our time was short. Each of us will be transitioning back into new seasons of our lives. I was reminded of the words of Ecclesiastes 3 naming there is a time for everything. And our final time together was one celebration but also sadness as our time ended.

However, with spirit of justice ringing in my head I wondered what would happen if there was NOT a time for certain things. What if we reimagined our world? Rather than saying there is a time for war and time for peace: what if instead no one lived in the shadows and fear of war? What if we imagined a world where no one lost jobs or homes, because we care for each other’s livelihood? What if we put an end to homelessness and poverty in our communities, so that there is no longer a need for people to go hungry or not have homes? What if we fully brought the Kin-dom of God to this earth, creating a family where there is no longer suffering in this world? To some this might sound like wishful thinking, however this summer I saw glimpses of people working for that world. There is much pain in our world, but there are many people, like the Micah Corps interns, working for peace and justice in this world. Perhaps one day, we can proclaim: there was a time for war, but now there is only a time for peace.

Prayer for Reflection

Genesis 29:15-28
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52