The
Dogs We Love
Read:
Joshua 4:1-7
Over
the years, it has been our tradition at the beginning of Sr High UMYF
meetings to start by reading a devotion from the Upper Room. One of
the best parts was when we would all try to guess what the prayer
focus was from what had been read.
One
day, and I have no what the devotion was anymore, Ben guessed that
the prayer focus was the dogs we love. It wasn't, but it was such a
great thought, that – week after week – that was almost always
the first guess at the prayer focus.
It
became as much a part of the tradition as the reading itself.
That
makes me wonder how traditions and rituals start, and why do they
start? Why are they important?
Sometimes
it may just be that the first time made us feel good, or loved, or
happy, or worshipful; and then we repeat them to try to regain, or
retain, or relive that feeling.
Sometimes
that works, and sometimes not; sometimes it’s good, and sometimes
not.
The
key is that they can be signposts for our journey to come, and not
just reminders of where we've been. They can be used for getting us
to live our faith, not just to think about or glory in someone
else's.
These
days, hearing “the dogs we love” takes me back to those days of
sharing the Upper Room – but it also makes me want to share more of
those times – with even more friends.
May
all our rituals and traditions serve us as well.
Charlie
van Becelaere
Prayer
focus: The Dogs We Love
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