An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?" (Jeremiah 8:22) Rapper BigXthaPlug, behind bars for his son’s first birthday, unraveled, with behavior landing him in solitary confinement. "I knew I was mentally gone when I was counting the bricks in the cell.” “One day I just screamed out my door, ‘How the hell do y’all stay sane?’”. How does one stay sane? That’s a good question, especially today filled with external and internal violence and turmoil around us? Jeremiah’s calling from God was to speak a message to Israel of God’s coming judgment and destruction due to idolatry, social injustices, and moral decay. The judgement and consequences were Jerusalem’s siege and Babylonian captivity. Jeremiah's message in the catastrophes was: Yes, there is death, destruction, and multiple catastrophes, But there is life and restoration on the other side. Begin with Prayer. Staying sane, I believe, begins wi...

The Widow's Coin “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” (from Luke 15:1-10 )  People lose stuff. The woman in the parable lost a single coin equal to her day’s wages. Naturally, she’s looking desperately for the single coin! Desperate Search As a poor woman, without status in Jesus’ time, she’s frantically searching thoroughly , extremely thoroughly. She’s looking everywhere by lighting a lamp, first making sure she has enough oil to keep the candle lit. She is sweeping an earth floor stirring up dust and dirt. Finally, she finds it! Celebration When she finds the coin, she celebrates by throwing a huge party with friends and neighbors probably spending all ten coins a well. Jesus’ parable tells the listeners this how God works. Embraced By Love Mr. Perkins was living in a group home for men He was lost to his family who were unable to care for him. Sun...

‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’ (from Jeremiah 18:1-11 ) The Lord instructed Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house.  Jeremiah watches the potter at work, notices that the clay on the potter’s hand spoils the pot. The potter destroys that one, picks up more clay’ and begins creating a new one. Jeremiah gets it. If the potter can do that to clay, can’t the Lord do that? Can’t I, the Lord, also destroy and create? I’m about to destroy, but I can also create. If the people change from their evil actions, then I will not destroy them. Repent and turn from your evil actions. God is waiting for the people to decide if they will behave. God is open to changing directions, rethinking possibilities, and relenting from devastation. God’s actions are ultimately affected by the people’s willing to turn from destructive beh...

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (from Psalm 1 ) As I was reading Psalm 1 again as if for the first time, I rediscovered by the obvious message that humans always have moral choices. Additionally, all our moral choices, even the smallest of decisions, construct a life path for us. We are not born good or bad, we are made one or the other through moral training and choices. So, the ancient wisdom of choosing God, such as Deuteronomy11:26-28 or Joshua 24:15, "Choose this day whom you will serve..." promises new life to those stuck on bad roads. It seems to me that praying Psalm 1 will help strengthen my moral choices. To pray Psalm 1: First: Begin by reading slowly, several times, the meaning of each verse as it applies to your life. Second: Personalize your prayer by lifting to Go...