The Scripture ~ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
The Spiritual Focus ~ “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
John Wesley, 18th century English theologian who founded what became the dominant form of the Methodist movement
The Breath Prayer ~ Inhale ~ Be good, Exhale ~ Do good
The Devotion ~ The news in recent days seems to be on steroids. Everywhere we turn we hear stories about extreme weather patterns, violent political unrest and pandemic illness. Despite these worrisome events, we also see stories of courage, of people getting up every day and doing the best they can in trying times. Ordinary people trying to do good and to BE good. We ought to pay attention to these stories, so that we have balance in our lives. These are the stories that remind us that God is at work in the world and God is working through us.
The Coronavirus has dominated the World Health News for the last several weeks. A BBC broadcast featured an interview with a volunteer from Wuhan, China who, when the epidemic began, decided he would voluntarily drive hospital and emergency workers to and from work. He described working from 6:00 am until 11:00 pm daily, disinfecting his car routinely, showering and changing clothes often in order to control the potential spread of the virus. When asked why he risked his life to do this volunteer work, he replied because he was meant to do it. Having grown up in Wuhan, he knew it as a beautiful place and great community. He was the right person to do the work.
One kind of yoga, Karma yoga, is known as “yoga of action”. It teaches that a spiritual seeker should act according to their dharma, the Sanskrit word meaning “your truth.” In Christian language we might say your calling or vocation. Karma yoga is the yoga of action without expectations or being attached to the fruits of your labor or personal consequences.
This week our spiritual practice is to notice the good that is happening around us. Notice if or how you feel called to do good. God has prepared in advance the good work you will do.
