Thursday - May 28, 2026

SCRIPTURE John 7:37–39 Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever trusts in me, as the scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. WORDS OF HOPE World Otter Day There are moments when the sacred does not arrive through arguments, systems, or carefully managed theology, but through something far more alive—playful, slightly chaotic, and full of unexpected joy. World Otter Day feels like one of those moments, when creation itself seems to pause and remind us that holiness is not only found in seriousness or certainty, but also in laughter, splashing, and delight that refuses to be contained. Because sometimes the truest theology does not come as an explanation. It comes as laughter. As splashing. As otters sliding into rivers like joy itself decided to become visible—without permission, without apology, and without needing to prove anything at all. When I think of otters, I think of creatures moving through water as if they were made for joy itself—tumbling, floating, playing, holding hands so they do not drift apart. They do not seem driven by anxiety, control, or performance. They simply live—present, relational, and free in a way that feels like a quiet interruption to a world that constantly trains individuals to be guarded, hurried, and afraid. Creation keeps whispering another way. Whales sing across oceans like connection has no borders. Giraffes stretch into the sky like curiosity is built into existence. Birds cut through air like freedom refuses containment. Cats rest in sunbeams like peace is sacred… then suddenly sprint through the house at 3 a.m. like mystery itself just knocked on the door. And otters turn rivers into play, reminding us that joy is not extra—it is part of being alive. None of this looks like fear. It looks like an abundance. And it raises a deeper question that quietly unsettles and invites reflection: what if, instead of us being made in the image of God, we have sometimes tried to remake God in our image—shrinking the Divine into something shaped by fear, control, and the limits of what we can comfortably understand? Because when God is reduced that way, love becomes narrower, belonging becomes conditional, and individuals—especially those already pushed to the margins—are measured instead of welcomed. Difference becomes suspicion. Mercy becomes rationed. And fear begins to sound like wisdom. But creation refuses that smallness. We see galaxies beyond counting, oceans still more mysterious than space, and life overflowing with difference at every level. Nothing in the natural world suggests a God threatened by variety. Instead, everything suggests creativity without fear—an imagination too vast to be contained by any single category. That includes humanity. Across race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, language, ability, neurodiversity, gender, sexuality, identity, age, and class—every individual is part of that same overflowing creativity. LGBTQIA+ individuals are not outside divine imagination, but within it. Immigrants and refugees are not interruptions to compassion, but beloved neighbors carrying dignity, grief, memory, courage, and hope across borders that do not limit God’s care. Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Indigenous communities, seekers, doubters, and those with no label at all are not outside grace—the Sacred has never been confined to one language or one expression of truth. A God who creates without repetition is not threatened by difference. A God who says “it is good” does not revoke that goodness when life looks unfamiliar or diverse. It is good. It is good. It is very good. Not “if it fits.” Not “if it conforms.” No conditions. No exclusions. No fear attached. Just good. And very good. And when that truth is taken seriously, it begins to widen how we see everything. It widens how we see immigrants seeking safety and dignity, refugees rebuilding life after loss, LGBTQIA+ individuals living truthfully and beautifully, and every individual who has ever been told they are too much, too different, or not enough. It widens compassion, softens certainty, and challenges us to see that belonging was never meant to be conditional. It also calls us back to what God requires: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly. Because repeatedly, the sacred story bends toward the widow, the orphan, the stranger, the excluded, the wounded, the prisoner, and those denied dignity. That is where God keeps showing up—not at the center of power, but at the edges where care is most needed. And it saddens me when Scripture is used as a weapon instead of a bridge—used to exclude immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals, or other faith communities rather than to expand love and justice. Because God is still speaking through many voices, many traditions, and through creation itself. Still speaking through prayer, through resistance, through compassion, through science, through art, through communities of care, and through individuals who refuse to let fear have the final word. So maybe World Otter Day is more than whimsy. Maybe it is a reminder that God is not tightening the world. God is widening it. Still creating. Still delighting. Still speaking. More life. More color. More love. PRAYER God of laughter and rivers, Thank You for creatures that remind us not to take ourselves too seriously. Thank You for otters, for joy, for play, for creativity, and for the holy freedom found in delight. Teach us to hold on to love, to rest without shame, to laugh without fear, and to live with wonder. When life feels heavy, remind us that creation still knows how to dance. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Reed Kirkman

SCRIPTURE  Mark 7:7-8 These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it. They act like they are worshiping me, but they don’t mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy, Ditching God’s command and taking up the latest fads. WORDS OF HOPE In a conversation with a friend the other day, I mentioned that I am having a hard time right now calling myself a Christian, not because I am having a crisis in my faith in Christ, but because the word “Christian” looks and sounds like so many different things right now. And if I may be honest, many of those expressions of Christianity are nothing like what the Jesus that I carry in my heart looks and sounds and feels like. When asked about my faith, I simply say that I am “a follower of Christ.” Those that are confused by this response and looking for something more concrete usually ask the follow-up question: “What church do you attend?” Often, my answer leaves them still wondering. In our conversation, my friend and I tried to unpack our feelings about the word “Christian.” At its core, faith is what nourishes our spirit; it is food for our soul. Christianity is like food. And with that, it all made sense to me. There is junk food and there is healthy food. That is the dichotomy that exists in Christianity today. Food that is less healthy often seems more appealing. The doughnut covered with brightly-colored sprinkles that catches our attention, the fast-food burger that is quick and easy, the plate of nachos at the local bar—all these things taste and feel good in the moment, but are they the best thing for our bodies long term? After indulging on junk food, there is no room left for a healthier meal. within the meaning of the act, we “ate.” It’s like saying, “I went to church.” The question is, were we fed? Reading and quoting the Bible, and even going to church, doesn’t feed your soul if you are not taking in nourishing “food” that can be digested and used to fuel the work of Jesus. The words of Jesus in the above passage from Mark, “These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it” remind me of people who are hungry and are enticed by the sugary doughnuts because they are pretty and easy and taste good. They then exist on a short-lived sugar high, eventually leading to a crash and the hunger soon returning. “They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy,” The true work of being a follower of Christ requires feeding ourselves with “the leafy green veggies, the seeds and nuts, the fruits” of faith, things that nourish us deep down and sustain us for the long haul. This often means not taking the “fast food” route, the sweet route, the fun route. When we strive to live our faith fully and do the work that the gospels call us to do, it doesn’t always taste good, but at the end of the day, we are filled up with good things. PRAYER “ O Bread of Heaven exposed upon the altar, nourish my soul, strengthen my faith, and inflame my heart with divine love.” -Pope Leo XIV DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

READING "Not every sky will be blue and not every day is springtime. So, on this spiritual pathway a person must learn to find her kind of happiness (contentment) without a whole lot of nice things happening outside." -Depak Chopra WORDS OF HOPE On this Memorial Day, our reading is from the well-known New Age writer, Depak Chopra. We are reminded of what is only too obvious today. Not every day is filled with "blue sky" happiness. How can spiritually attuned persons find their own happiness in our present turbulent world? They must first learn to focus their "spiritual eyes" on the value of each interaction which they have with the world, interactions with other people and the environment. It is the first step on a path to peace. We live in a world of clashing messages which often lead to bitter disputes or physical conflict. Some days are so distressing that it seems like we're running over a path of broken glass. There is no stop to the painful stimulation. Where is a place of peace? Who can clear some of the glass shards and create a zone of peace... a place for healing? As a follower of Christ, you are that one! When Jesus sent his disciples to go into small Galilean villages, he instructed them to meet people with peace. In Luke 10:5, Jesus says: “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ It's important that as I am in contact with others, whether I’m in their home or not, that I am fully aware of that magnificent gift which I can bring to others. Jesus said, in John 14:27: "My peace I give to you." So, when you meet others, you can give them the blessing of holy peace. I use voice recognition software to jot down my thoughts or write devotions. As I dictate the word p-e-a-c-e, it usually writes p-i-e-c-e. That's a less than helpful software error. But it reminds me that when I enter into any interaction with someone, I can bring "peace" to them only if I carry a "piece" of Christ's loving presence into that action. PRAYER Lord Jesus Christ, may I always remember that your peace resides in my soul and in my spirit, so that I may say to those around me “my peace I give to you” by my presence alone. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR  Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE  James 3:5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. WORDS OF HOPE “It only takes a spark to get a fire going” is from the gospel song “pass it on” and that’s what activists who step up, speak up, and lay their lives on the line for others have done and are continuing this legacy today. Each year on May 22, Harvey Milk is remembered for his work as a gay activist before his assassination in 1978. Harvey Milk Day commemorates an amazing advocate for gay rights who stood up for injustice along with the likes of Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, and Anna Mae Aquash who was assassinated for supporting indigenous rights. The minute each of those spoke out, they understood their lives were in danger yet willingly made enough noise until others heard the cry for justice and joined in. They each pioneered a cause sparking a fire in individuals so enormous that even after their deaths, those flames continue burning today. Harvey became the first openly gay person elected to serve as a San Francisco city supervisor. He urged and encouraged people to come out of the closet and openly fight for their rights. He championed anti-discrimination laws and coined the phrase “you gotta give em hope” which inspired folks to fight for their rights. After his assassination, instead of the fire being extinguished, his legacy began to catapult the movement toward greater national awareness and mainstream influence. Milk’s activism sparked the quest for justice and radical inclusion ensuring the same rights for ALL who had been expelled, dismissed and harmed by injustice. The Bible is full of individuals who stood up, shouted out, lost their lives and sparked movements that are still burning today. Our best example is Jesus who’s teaching to love one another was given as a command, not a suggestion! PRAYER Sovereign, Omnipotent God, Creator of ALL things everywhere, we give you thanks and praise for the sacrifice Jesus made creating the spark that burns in our hearts with hope! In Jesus name, Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donna Jackson

SCRIPTURE  Acts 2:1-11 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” WORDS OF HOPE This is an interesting passage, which when I reread it, I noticed something I had never realized or heard preached on. Our Pentecostal siblings frequently use this passage to show that the gifts of the Holy Spirit include speaking in tongues. And I am not certainly one to dismiss or to discourage the infilling of the spirit. But two thousand years after the events recorded here there always questions about whether what we are reading has somehow or another been changed through translation and usage. The thing that I noticed that I had never noticed before is that those who are reportedly speaking in tongues, are Jews. The gathered crowd asks “are not those who are speaking Galleans?”. Indeed, a careful reading of the Passage seems to say that perhaps it was not so much that they were speaking in tongues, but that the people gathered around heard them speaking in their own language. This possibility changes the story. If those speaking has suddenly begun speaking in tongues other than their own it implies that the power of the spirit is the ability to speak God’s word. On the other hand, if those listening are hearing the word in their own language, it implies the power to understand God‘s word. What gift the Spirit is bringing depends on which side of the equation you stand. Are you a speaker or a listener? The interpretation that the gift of the spirit is the gift of understanding through listening is much more hopeful to me personally. It says that no matter what language God‘s word is spoken in, it will be understandable to the listener. That will speak to me in a way that I can understand. And by extension, I feel it means that it will speak to me when I needed it most as it did in that moment when the apostles were speaking to the crowd. In the next section of the book of Acts, Peter begins his fiery speech to the crowd. And the fact that he is one speaking to many, and they all understand him seems to indicate that they have received the gift of understanding as much as he has been given the power to speak. So, I would say for your devotion time, contemplate the understanding that you have been given of God‘s word. God is still speaking through ministers and pastors, and through your own heart. PRAYER God who comes to us through the Holy Spirit, give us an understanding of your word and teachings, such that no language barrier can separate us from you or from each other. Help us to be mindful that those who speak a language other than that which we might speak are no less capable of understanding the Word. DEVOTION AUTHOR Weber Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare .