Today I want to suggest an exciting idea – I want you to try giving yourself away.

I once knew a man who suffered a nervous breakdown, during which he sat for months in gloom and mental darkness. One day I suggested he try to turn off his dark, depressing thoughts by practicing thanksgiving. I said, “Start thinking of people who greatly helped you in your life.”

So, he wrote an elderly school teacher, a Miss Elaine Smith, who had been a positive influence on his life. A reply came, written in the shaky handwriting of an aged lady. “Dear Willy,” she wrote, “When I read your letter I was blinded by tears, for I remember you as a boy, and as I think of you now I see you as a little fellow in my class. You have warmed my old heart. I taught school for fifty years. Yours is the first letter of thanks I ever received from a student, and I shall cherish it until I die.”

Friend of Dial Hope, writing a letter of thanks – a project like that – may involve taking a little time – but it’s an opportunity to give a little of yourself, and really that’s the best you can give. Strangely, when you give yourself, you find yourself.

Let us pray: God of hope, we come to you when our hope is vanquished, and our faith is small. We come to you when the promise of the “good life” has been found lacking when clothes and cuisine, cars, and cappuccinos become insufficient nourishment for the hunger of the human spirit. We come to you because we have nowhere else to go. O God, save us from ourselves; from self-indulgence, and self-idolization. Heal us from the sickness of the body but even more from the sickness of the soul. May we get caught up in the current of your compassion, the flood of your forgiveness and so lose ourselves in the wide ocean of your love. In the name of the risen Christ. Amen.

Today, I am deeply grateful for those of you who have supported the Dial Hope Foundation with a financial donation. So many people benefit from your giving!

Francis de Sales was one of the most revered saints of French history. Back in his day, there was a bishop who intended to write a biography of de Sales so he planned an extended visit. Wanting to know what this man was really like, the bishop went so far as to drill a hole in the wall so he could spy on his conduct. What he learned from his spying was absolutely nothing! He discovered that de Sales was the same in private as in public. He was a man of integrity.

I once heard Christian scholar Martin Marty talk about why he liked a friend so much. He said, “Her inside matches her outside.” Again, that’s integrity. It makes me smile to think about it, and I have to believe it’s worth striving for.

May we all learn to live more in harmony with what we believe – in public and in private. And, in doing so, may we experience deeper peace.

Let us pray: Loving God, you know our hearts. You know we want to live lives that are more integrated, more whole, more in tune with you. Give us eyes to see where we come up short, but give us grace so we don’t get stuck in despair. And then, give us the will and the help we need to refine, readjust and renew our lives; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today I want to share a quote on prayer from renowned Russian author, Feodor Dostoevsky. He wrote, “Be not forgetful of prayer. Every time you pray, if your prayer is sincere, there will be new feeling and new meaning in it; which will give you fresh courage, and you will understand that prayer is an education.”

Have you heard the expression, “Prayer changes things?” Many people certainly find that to be true – though not always exactly like we’d expect. Part of Dostoevsky’s point is that more often than not, prayer changes us – aligning our hearts with God’s heart.

Let us pray: Remind us again, O God, of the power of prayer. Remind us that there is wisdom and courage and guidance that we receive only by sitting in your presence. Grant us the ability to make space and time to hear your voice, and to be shaped into your image.

We pray especially today for those who need you near. We pray for men and women in the military, for law enforcement officers and all who risk their lives to serve others. We trust that you are at work even now to bring peace in its fullest sense. We give you our lives to that end; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

I remember hearing about two different visitors to a particular church on the same Sunday. Both had a similar experience. No one spoke to either one of them, and both left with the feeling that it was an unfriendly congregation. The first visitor decided that he would go back one more time, but resolved that if no one talked to him next time, he’d never go again. The other man decided that he too would go back, and if no one spoke to him, he’d make an effort to find someone to talk to.

On that next Sunday, the two men returned to the church as visitors. And, it just so happened that they sat next to each other. Since once again no one was speaking to either of them, the man who had resolved to find someone to talk to, turned and spoke to the man who had sworn he would not return unless someone engaged him. Wouldn’t you know it. The two men hit it off immediately and they became fast friends. They both ended up joining the church and over the years took on leadership roles. And both worked hard to make sure everyone felt welcome – especially visitors.

This story just reminds me that we never know what effect even our smallest actions might have on others. Our lives, whether we realize it or not, have a ripple effect. Although we don’t always see the results, our kindness, generosity, and compassion, all have a way of impacting this world for the better.

Let us pray: Loving God, may we be more like the man who resolved to take the first step. May we see all around us, opportunities for making this world a little better place. Give us a quick smile, a kind word, a generous heart, and open arms. And then, help us to trust that our efforts are in your hands. May your peace rest on us, and work through us. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.

I remember sometime back riding in the car with my friend Hunter and we passed by a large cemetery. Hunter asked me, “So, how many dead do you suppose are in this place.” “I don’t know,” I replied. He said, “How about all of them!”

We laughed hard, but underneath the lightness, his joke was a reminder to me that life is not a dress rehearsal. We get only one shot at life, and this is it.

Later, as I stepped out of the car into the crisp January morning, I looked up at the bright blue sky and I lifted up a prayer of thanksgiving. I gave thanks for the blessing of life, for friendship, for health, and for the ability to laugh in the face of the abyss. “Today,” I said to myself, remembering my friend Roger Kunkel’s words, “Today is an unrepeatable miracle! Let’s make it a masterpiece!”

Let us pray: Gracious God, we thank you for the gift of life. Even with all of its blessings and challenges, there is such great beauty. Help us appreciate our time here on earth, especially the people who surround us. Remind us to forgive and to love as fully as we are able.

We pray today for those who regularly risk their lives for the sake of others, for those serving in the military, for law enforcement officers, firefighters, peacekeepers, and aid workers. May we all live with open eyes and open arms that we might receive your blessings and in turn, bless others. Amen.