Great Plains Daily Devotional for 3/24/2021

Psalm 118:1, 9-15, 29

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever!

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to put confidence in princes.

All nations surrounded me;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
They surrounded me like bees;
    they blazed like a fire of thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
    but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my might;
    he has become my salvation.

There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

Clatter, clank, plunk! Oh no! It was broken. I had hit my favorite coffee mug on the side of the sink, and it had broken. It was a special cup, given to me by a friend from Russell. It was so pretty -- black with silver script. The weight was just right, and the cup fit my hand perfectly. Plus, it bore the words, “This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” How could I have been so careless? I picked up the pieces, setting the handle parts and the shards of the top half all into the bottom intact half. Taking it to the trash I looked at it one last time before plunging it into the can.
 
Then I realized it had broken right above the words, “This is the day . . .” Quickly I decided to save it and took it in to the top shelf in my closet.
 
Every day I try to think of those words, as I get up from sleep. That has been especially true during these past 53 weeks. The words are a reminder to me that the dawning day has been made by God. That does not mean it will be perfect. It does mean God is in it, in the whole thing. Thank you, God.
 
As I look at that cup now my thinking goes further. Due to how the cup broke its current top edge simply highlights the truth that God is in the day. It is a very jagged break and very sharp. It could cut deeply and really cause some bleeding and pain. One needs to be careful with it. The best place for the cup in this condition is on the shelf so it cannot cut or harm.
 
Or, is that the best place? Yes, it has sharp, cutting edges, but even so it is a lovely thing. Yes, this year has been one of odd-shaped days, of scary experiences, and of potential great harm caused by cutting edges. Yet, even in all that we can rest knowing God made the day. If God created the day, God must be in the day. As we enter and move through the day, God will accompany us.
 
We should take the risk. We can risk being injured by jagged pointed edges in order to be in the midst of life. Only when we are willing to take such a risk can we step into the jagged, scary world in a way that will spread God’s love.
 
 As we take steps back into the world, we do risk suffering breakage or injury ourselves. Though life can be risky we may be able to make a difference for someone who has to live in a constant broken state. Perhaps we can be the dab of glue or ceramic cement that will fix a break here or there. Maybe we can live this day that God has made and that has been given to us in a way that will help the broken and scarred to know they are loved. As this happens some more pieces may chip or break away from us and will need to be repaired. I imagine someone will come along with glue to put a piece or two back together for me, for the broken, and for the whole of creation. Let it be so.
 

Prayer for Reflection

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 52:1-12
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33