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MEDITATION:

Written by Ken Shigematsu, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book, “God in My Everything.”

My friend Elizabeth was a nationally ranked javelin thrower in college. As an undergraduate she would sometimes walk around the Stanford campus with her javelin perched on her shoulder—even when she wasn’t headed to track practice. Elizabeth also carries a “javelin” with her in her personal relationships: the ability to speak well-aimed, incisive truths that her friends need to hear. Not only does Elizabeth see and name good things in me that I don’t see clearly or have forgotten, she just as regularly points out rough edges such as my tendency toward workaholism. After the birth of my son, she urged me to spend more time at home with my wife and him. I remember her saying to me, “Others can travel and speak, but no one else can be a husband to Sakiko and a father to Joey.” When she sensed that I was slipping into a place of unhealthy emotional vulnerability with someone, she charged me to make sure I had appropriate boundaries in place. The book of Proverbs tells us the wounds of a friend are better than the kisses of any enemy. I am blessed to be wounded by a friend as candid as Elizabeth.

No one has a 360-degree perspective on their life. Just as there is a blind spot in the retina of the eye, there is also a blind spot in the soul where we cannot see the truth about ourselves. A spiritual friend will identify our blind spot with love, but they will identify it. If they see us walking down a path of over- (or under-) committing to work, making poor financials choices, or placing ourselves in a compromising relationship, they will care for us by naming these things. A true friend will name the attitudes and actions that are causing us to drift from God even as they actively point us to God.

PRAYER:

This prayer is from the Gregorian Sacramentary, a 10th century illuminated Latin manuscript ascribed to Gregory 1.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your  holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

What a Friend We Have In Jesus:   Performed by Alan Jackson.

This hymn was written by Joseph Scriven (1819-1886) in 1855. An Irish immigrant to Canada, his life was filled with grief and trials and he often needed the solace of the Lord described in this famous hymn.