Scripture: Romans 9:22-24
What if God, advice although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, sales bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, ed whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

Thought for the Day: What if the things we see as horrible are revelations of ultimate good? Is it naïve to see God at work in a society where mass shootings are common? Is it foolish to see God at work in a political system where cooperation for the common good—the very purpose of government—is seen as anathema to reelection? Or instead, as Paul suggests, what if God’s presence is made known to us even through polarized politics and a society so apathetic that even as our children are killed in schools—in schools! We still allow weapons to be sold at Wal-Mart.

It’s my fervent hope that the atrocities this country is going through now will serve as an impetus for a deeper understanding of justice and safety, understanding that can only come from knowing whose we are. We are not individuals with individual agendas. We are one people of God, indivisible, and we have a responsibility to start waking up from our nightmare and acting like the loving energy in whose image we are created. I hope this dark period of both American and world history is the storm before the calm.

Prayer: Slap us into a new reality, God. Wake us vigorously from our long slumber of separation. Calm the storms in our lives, in our nation, and in the world. Please, God of mercy, prepare us for a brighter, more peaceful and love-filled era, and make it start now. Amen.