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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

 

Today’s Reflection

To be human is to know and experience loneliness and, in that loneliness, the longing for connection and communion. Some of the most soulful, simple, and compassionate people I know are financially wealthy and, like me, have a longing for love, friendship, community, and communion. Some of my most generous friends are people with an intellectual disability who have no money and who experience an almost unthinkable vulnerability in our modern world. They, like me, long for friendship and communion.

One of the myths we tell ourselves about money is that money will bring us happiness. Years ago, someone with a lot of financial wealth said to me, “You know, don’t you, that people who have money are neither less lonely nor happier than others? We are just more comfortable.” My superficial response was to smile and nod. When I realized he was not making a joke, I replied, “Tell me more.” We had a short but heartfelt encounter in which he shared some of his loneliness. I could connect with him because I too know about loneliness.

—Henri J. M. Nouwen with Nathan Ball, A Spirituality of Fundraising: Workbook Edition (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today’s Question

Do you sometimes think more stuff and more wealth will make you less lonely and happier? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.
—Mark 10:25 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Creator God, Give me vision and mission, so that I may find new life and direction.
Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

For inspiration and encouragement for aging faithfully, visit UpperRoom.org/OlderAdults.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

4 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted October 17, 2021 6:17 am

    I think money can make you more comfortable but not happier and less lonely, Happiness and ending loneliness take effort money can’t buy. There’s also being satisfied with what you have. Getting rid of what you don’t need helps too.
    Lay led worship begins today, Thankful for those who have volunteered.
    Need to review this past week’s posts otherwise i have vague to none existent news of how you are doing. Bless you all, stay safe.

  • robert moeller Posted October 17, 2021 6:17 am

    I think money can make you more comfortable but not happier and less lonely, Happiness and ending loneliness take effort money can’t buy. There’s also being satisfied with what you have. Getting rid of what you don’t need helps too.
    Lay led worship begins today, Thankful for those who have volunteered.
    Need to review this past week’s posts otherwise i have vague to none existent news of how you are doing. Bless you all, stay safe.

  • Lou Posted October 17, 2021 6:31 am

    After my husband left I was left with a huge three story beautiful Victorian home filled with all that a family accumulates after 24 years of marriage and three children. I ended up getting rid of nearly all of what we had accumulated because being with all of that “stuff” was too difficult. I started over and created a much more modest version of a life which is ok. Things do not bring happiness, money doesn’t bring happiness. Yes – it does make life more comfortable, but if we put our hopes and desires in earthly “treasures” we will always be disappointed. If we put our hopes and dreams on earthly beings- we will always be disappointed. But if we put our hopes and desires on the Lord we will never be wanting. It’s a hard lesson to lose all that you once built up – things that you valued and once thought were important. It’s harder to lose the people that you trusted in and thought were everything in your life. Going through that experience shows the only true thing that matters and the only thing you can rely on- is not riches or people- but God.
    God will provide. blessings and prayers for you all today.

  • Jill Posted October 17, 2021 1:52 pm

    I feel like I live a modest day to day lifestyle, which gives me the liberty to travel some and enjoy my athletic habits of tennis and golf. When I bought my house in the city in 1998, I had no idea how long I would live in it. I am grateful to still be here today, that my neighborhood is safe enough for me to run at 5:00 in the morning without incident, and that I have paid off my mortgage. I am grateful my dad got me investing in my retirement many, many years ago – which at the time I wasn’t thrilled with. At that time, it was a significant amount of change. Even today, most people would consider it a substantial chunk of my monthly income. But – being single, I need to be financially secure in the future and situated to face financial situations that could occur due to health circumstances. I am happy to be at home, sitting quietly with my cat. Social situations are not my cup of tea. So, I feel like in that way – I am frugal with my money; whereas other people – that is there priority. I count myself fortunate to make the money that I do and am grateful for a secure job.
    Wonderful to be in church today and catch up with a few people. I was surprised to see a lady from the cancer support group at church. She lives near my school and it is much closer to come to my church than the original “main campus” church where the support group is held. She said she has been visiting for a few months.
    I ran a quick errand after church and have been doing just about everything I can around the house to avoid school work. But – I guess there will be about an hour here to crack open my school bag before I fix dinner and head off to tennis.
    May each passerby here have a blessed Fall week ahead.

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