Today’s Reflection
OUR TIMES CRY OUT for a mass movement of compassion. This urgent need coincides with the goal of the Christ-following life, for unless our faith makes us compassionate, it can hardly be called Christian.
Following Jesus means moving out of our privatized, isolated, and self-enclosed worlds into a compassionate engagement with our suffering neighbor. As we open ourselves to the pilgrimage experience, … we journey from self-centeredness to compassion. May you and I become everyday pilgrims whom God can use to bring healing to our broken world.
– Trevor Hudson
A Mile in My Shoes
From page 112 of A Mile in My Shoes: Cultivating Compassion by Trevor Hudson. Copyright © 2005 by Trevor Hudson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
In what ways can you become more compassionate? Share your thoughts.
Today’s Scripture
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”
And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
Mark 1:25-26, NRSV
This Week: Pray for world leaders. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.
Did You Know?
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This week we remember: Agnus (January 21).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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23 Comments
I can be more compassionate by going outside of myself to help others who need God’s love- I can think of two people in my church that I can reach out to.
I can also try to be more patient with my 16 year old who often thinks I know nothing and tries me dearly. Help me be more compassionate Lord to the three mentioned and for those I need to help but may not even know yet.
More of you Lord-
Less of me.
Lou, I’m sure those you extend your kindness to would appreciate it! It’s good that you can get out and about! Thanks be to God, you are feeling well!
Have been able to help people with transportation along a route I travel to the gym. I agree than the world is in great need of compassion, hopefully soon my ability will be increased as finances improve although compassion is more than financial aid.
This will be a long day for me as I’m on the road for about 6 hours and man the booth of a railroad historical society at a train show. Prayers for safe travel. Thankful I am able to help.
Prayers that the UR family has a blessed Sunday.
Robert, I believe you would enjoy serving by working in a homeless shelter, serving food or in a food pantry. You are in my prayers for travel mercies. Looking forward to hearing a bit about the train show once you’ve rested up tomorrow. God’s blessings!
Had a good trip down and back, three hours each way. Good weather and no traffic problems. Was successful in giving away some unwanted Märklin items, saw the CNR Café Grill Car, my kit will be mailed to me when the instruction sheets arrive, got some help with the St.J&LC combine, manned the CVRHS booth – we had 7 new members sign up, saw Old Peppersas from the Mount Washington Cog Railway and a steamed up Edaville locomotive. It provided steam whistle toots all day, and I brought the CVRHS display back to VT. It will go to SAB for a show at the gym of my high school.
This show was the 50th. Steve and Harvey Allen, also CVRHS members, were founders of this show which was in a high school gym before the Big E. Don’t get to see as much of the show the you man the booth, but had some good visits with people interested in the CV.
The parking area was a bit muddy with the warm weather. It made getting to and from the car a bit messy, but activity outside more pleasant on firmer ground.
There were 10,300 people at the show on Saturday, have no idea on Sunday’s attendance.
Have worked in a homeless shelter, would do that again. That was very rewarding work.
Hi Robert! What is CNR Cafe Grill car and is it part of another project? Marklin items? St.J&LC stands for? And what kind of combine now? CVRHS – Central Vermont Railroad Historical Society? Sounds just magical!!
Never expected to be writing about trains on this site, it’s magical that you are interested. The Canadian National Railway (CNR) Café Grill Cars 423-424 were meal service cars, 1946-1958, on the AMBASSADOR, a passenger train from Montreal to Boston. Two railroads were in my boyhood hometown, Central Vermont, a subsidiary of Canadian National, and the Saint Johnsbury and Lake Champlain later Lamoille County (St.J&LC). A combine is a car with several functions. In this case a railroad post office, baggage compartment, and passenger seating. It was the last or second car on a mixed train – mostly freight with some passenger train service.
Märklin is a very old, 140 years, model train manufacturer in Germany. I model German trains that represent trains from the area my family comes from and what I saw on trips to Germany in the ’60s.
Old Peppersass is the original Mount Washington Cog Railway engine, the first cog railway in the world. It took 6 hours to make it up the mountain, you stayed at the mountain top hotel, and came down the next day. Without cogs the engine can not climb that steep grade. The Swiss make great use of cogged railways in the Alps.
I looked up the locomotives you mentioned. Delightful! They showed the grade (as best as can be shown) for Old Peppersass; what a climb for back then!
There is always a need for more compassion. May it begin with me. I believe our youth needs to see compassion, amongst other things, demonstrated. Society today is so “me first”. There is joy in putting others first – but it would be difficult convincing many of this. I think of how so many strive to better themselves and still come up feeling empty. Father, thank You for drawing me closer to Your Son’s likeness. Yes, I echo Lou’s words…more of You, Lord, and less, much less of me.
Spent most of yesterday with the parents and sister playing cards. Dad seems to be doing well in his recovery. Mom is calling the doctor on Monday to try to get test scheduled…tired of waiting on the appeal with the insurance. They are hoping to get to Florida the end of February. Last evening went to my god daughter’s basketball game. I can’t believe the season is almost over and that it is almost February. This month has been a blur.
Grateful for church this morning. May we all worship in Spirit and Truth, today and always.
Jill, this is so true! Your students have a great role model. Learning by example is good if the example is good!
So happy to hear how well everything is going with your sister and how you both enjoy your time with your parents. I feel like I missed a big chunk of time, with Advent cut short and no Christmas church worship. Feels so strange. Blessed to have all of you!
When visiting my dad at the hospital, sometimes i can hear cries of agony and suffering, i just pause and pray for the patient.
Grateful for my dad’s progress. Today, the nurse in charge of my dad told me that my dad is making good progress even being able to stand and shower.
Praise God and thanks everyone for your prayers.
Blessings
Mary, such good news concerning your Dad. Praise the Lord! Hopefully, you’ll be able to slow down some yourself, sweet sister!
Thanks so much dear Marcy
Yes, I just managed to trim my hair and get ready for the Chinese New year
Blessings
Praise the Lord and thanks for your prayers
Compassion means to me to think with empathy. How would I feel if I was faced with a struggle? Stepping out of my self-enclosed world (I like that) into radical newness with another person. Help me to do that, Lord.
So glad to hear about continued healing for aging parents, Jill and Mary. God is good. Surround us this day, Lord, during worship. Bring us peace and strength. Amen
Amen!!!
I could be more compassionate with the man I live with, technically my husband. We do not talk frequently, but when we do I tend to snap at him. This is a verbal manifestation of our hostility. I pray every day for strength to resist this tendancy.
My daughter thanks you for your prayers. She continues to do well.
Good news from Mary, so thankful. You have so much on your plate to deall with, I pray for your continued strength.
Prayers for and thanks to all who visit here and give so freely of themselves. You are full of compassion for me and one another every day.
Blessings and love friends
Thanks so much, Julie!
Praise God your daughter is doing well!
Blessings
Praises your daughter continues to do well, Julie! Will pray for strength for you in your brave and generous response for your husband. I wouldn’t have dared snap at mine!
I read Upper Room daily, & it helps me tremendously.
Praide the Lord, Paul!
Blessings
God is good, all the time! Welcome, Paul
I just try to be compassionate to other people’s points of view, but this is close to impossible when the ideas espoused are so hostile. So, I pray compassionately, every morning, not only for those here in the UR family, among whom are the family members of my siblings, friends and family here, but also for those with whom I disagree elsewhere.
Prayers for all to heal, regain or maintain health, happiness and harmony. Praying travel mercies for all traveling. And praying for world leaders to be filled with God’s wisdom and compassion.
And these three remain: Faith , Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE! God’s compassionate LOVE to all who visit UR Reflections and beyond!
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