Russia’s devastating war against Ukraine has gotten our attention. The TV has made the extent of destruction and suffering vivid. The death and suffering is bringing “Crimes Against Humanity” charges against President Putin by governmental leaders.
Recently the story of persons unable to get food and water for over a month…30 days without access to the essentials of life.
Most of us know nothing about the extent of that hunger and thirst. Yet, even the hunger pains that come from a day or two without food is enough to remind us that we must have food to eat. The thirst that comes from even a few hours without water tell us how essential it is.
As I have reflected on the suffering for the lack of food and water in Ukraine, I have been reflecting on our nature as humans. We have spiritual needs that must be met. Jesus expressed its vividly in one of his Beatitudes: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.”
The desire for the presence of God within our hearts is a part of who we are as humans. Time and attention are required to satisfy these desires. We remember Jenny Lind, one of the nation’s greatest singers. People were shocked when she retired from the stage. One evening after retirement, she was sitting at the seaside looking at the sunset with an open Bible on her knee. A friend found her there marveling at the sunset and meditating. The friend began to lament her withdrawal from the stage and suggested that she return to her career.
Jenny Lind, looking at the sunset, said, “If I had remained in my professional life, I should have thought less and less of that,” and then looking at the Bible on her knee, “nothing at all of that.”
This suggests the dilemma in which we all find ourselves. Though there are deep spiritual yeanings within us, because we do not take time to meditate and pray and read, these aspirations go unattended.
Soon they become less and less earnest. Eventually they may even be unrecognized.
Though most of us cannot retire from our busy lives and give the greatest portion of our time to the cultivation of our spiritual lives, all of us can develop effective disciplines that feed our spiritual hunger and thirst. One, we can spend a set amount of time in prayer and meditation each day. Two, we can attend formal worship regularly. Three, we can adventure with God daily. Aside from set meditation and prayer, aside from our weekly hour of community worship, every day we can adventure with God. We do that by entering into the struggle between his world and man’s.”
No matter who and where we are, we can live day by day conscious of our relationship to God and the tasks to which he calls us. Thus, His presence is real and our experience of him is vital.