Today’s devotional comes to us from Rev. Megan Peglar, Admissions Associate at Brite Divinity School. An ordained Disciples of Christ minister and graduate of TCU and Brite, Megan brings wisdom and tenacity to her new role. As classmates at TCU, we actually studied abroad one summer together in Spain. Our friendship blossomed over cups of café con leche near the Catedral de Sevilla, and I feel lucky to call her a dear friend. As a reminder, you can find previous devotionals on our website: https://faith.tcu.edu/devotionals/
Reading:
Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Isaiah 55:1-2
Reflection:
Even though I enjoy variety and novelty, I settle into old habits and automatic responses startlingly well. Driving the same routes to the same places. Mindlessly scrolling through social media. Eating the same meal again and again (leftovers? Yes, please!). Having painfully predictive reactions.
Some of our habits and ways of being are just part of who we are. I’m someone who will nearly always cry at a poignant song; it’s almost guaranteed I’ll put off folding laundry for as long as possible; I’ll pretty much always unwind by reading or watching a rerun of a favorite show like Parks and Rec.
What do I miss by doing the same things and by presuming that the way it is is how it’ll always be? During this time of Lent, we can wake up to the world and what God’s doing in it. Patty Griffin’s song No Bad News has a lyric that says and we’ll grow kindness in our hearts for all the strangers among us till there are no strangers anymore. It’s a new approach to seeing others – not as scary strangers, but as beloveds we just don’t know yet. She’s woken up to the expansiveness of Love.
This Lent, as we take on new prayer practices, abstain from that which distracts us from the divine in our midst, and explore the inner crevices of our hearts, may we find fresh meaning in old truths. Like how everyone’s welcome at the table of God. All who are thirsty can drink. You have money, or you don’t? Come on in anyway. This bread and wine are free to each and every one.
Prayer:
God of all love, wake us up to what you are doing in the world. Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and hands, so we might see and share the goodness of your table of grace.
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