MONDAY MEDITATION: A Needed Vaccine (November 27)

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? — Psalm 8:3-4

Barb and I got Covid, for the second time, back in August. We had mild symptoms, suspecting it was allergies and not the disease. Had we not been vaccinated and boosted, it would have been much worse.

Vaccines are wonderful things. Not only do our bodies need them, but also our souls.

When we see the divisions around us, it’s important to regularly boost our spiritual immune system with doses of humility. Humility is a vaccine against raging atheism and thundering fundamentalism. It makes the political circus we see just that–a circus.

Our fundamental myth is believing we’re right. Our fundamental reality is that we’re incapable of achieving absolute rightness. We’re hopelessly flawed and biased, limited in our perspectives and experiences, and dependent upon a developing (and aging) brain. But media, social and otherwise, push us to make statements that only God or crazy people should be making.

So, regularly remembering our limited place is a healthy soul-exercise. Why not meditate on those things that are awe-inspiring?

The mysterious beauty of a robin building her nest above the entranceway door, so she can prepare for her young. Who put wisdom in her to do that?

The mysterious beauty of a tulip pushing through the soil to greet the sun. Who put wisdom in it to do that?

 The mysterious beauty of a baby’s birth. Who put wisdom in sperm and egg that, knit together, grow into the most magnificent creation imaginable–a child?

 The mysterious beauty of a child’s growth. Who put wisdom in the little one’s body and brain to grow and evolve and make sense of this beautiful world?

 The mysterious beauty of a crimson sunset, that quiets the daysounds and brings hushed stillness.

The mysterious beauty of a dark night sky, punctuated by the light of a gentle moon and the twinkling of planets, stars, and galaxies, all greeted by the sounds of the night.

The mysterious beauty of a sacred morning, as sun brightens and warms a colorful creation composed of every living thing.

The mysterious beauty of a friend shaking hands with another friend, as one walking miracle greets another.

The immensity of the world around us shrinks us back to our rightful size. We’re better able to relate to God and one another when we’ve been vaccinated like this. Indeed, we are only mortals dependent upon Jesus’ Father for life in this beautiful creation.