For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
[Adapted from “A Simple Meal, a Profound Encounter” by Carol Caplinger, Jan/Feb 2024 Herald, pp. 21–22]
It’s a warm Arizona day, with the sun descending toward the evening hour. I’ve been invited to have supper with a quiet Navajo woman who has attended our healing and Native worship services in the next village.
The village seems fairly empty as I knock gently on Rosa’s door. She opens with a smile that comes from deep love and generosity. In this one-room home, sheepskins are piled in the corner with a sleeping bag, one four-legged wooden chair, and a tiny table. For our meal, we sit on the floor and enjoy our indoor picnic.
Rosa serves two pork chops. She places them on the floor between us, and we each eat, realizing our nods and smiles will have to suffice for conversation, as neither of us speaks the other’s language.
As I drive home, I am filled with an understanding that I had just shared a divine moment with this woman, and I would never be the same again!
I think of all the racial injustices my new friend endures. The healthcare system is failing her community, not to mention the promised government food commodities stolen more often than not by a nearby tribe. Boarding schools are restricting parental visits. Government checks are “lost in the mail,” and local authorities threaten to harm sheep and dogs if people fill out paperwork to recover them.
Yet, she serves. She doesn’t wait until she has a Christmas goody basket delivered with extras for a more elaborate meal to place in front of me. She serves. Rosa teaches me more about racial justice and equality than all the books, seminars, conventions, and protests I’ve been involved in. Telling another that he or she needs to accept other’s uniqueness needs to be replaced with action—an action so viable that deep within our core a spiritual change occurs.
The Creator pulls us up beyond the hurts, mistakes of the past, bias, unfairness, and wrongs, to a most desirable state of love, generosity, and equality with all we meet.
Prayer Phrase
“What can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Spiritual Practice
Breathe Hope
Find a quiet space where you can sit without distractions. Light a candle. Take a few deep breaths, allowing your body to relax with each exhale. As you breathe, let go of any tension or worries you may be holding onto. Take notice of the way the flame dances and flickers, casting light and shadow in the room. As you observe the flame, imagine it symbolizing the spark of hope within you. With each breath, imagine the flame growing brighter and stronger. Visualize this light spreading throughout your body, filling you with a sense of hope and positivity. Take a moment to express gratitude for the blessings in your life, no matter how small they may seem.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.