Salt and Light

January 18, 2021 by Mary

“You are the salt of the earth…
You are the light of the world.”
From Matthew 5:13-16

A compilation of the people who have influenced my life for the better would hold its own against Santa’s list. I’m most grateful for the long-term and minute-long encounters which have opened my eyes to one aspect or another of myself, this life, this world and God. You know, we never really know whom we’re helping along the way. The briefest encounter can be life-changing for those involved.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that, whatever our named occupation or standing or relationship to others is, we are all called to be our best and to bring our best to whatever the situation may be. Whether our influence is world-wide or confined to a single room, that influence will change everything for those within this realm. As we begin New Year 2021, our response to this call is more important than ever!

You know, Jesus didn’t target the temple hierarchy, government officials, local celebrities or the wealthy when he proclaimed that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. God holds each of us in such esteem that God calls us all to be the salt and the light that only we can be.

Creator God, thank you for trusting us to make this world a better place. Help us to use this power with wisdom, generosity and love.

Called To Do Something…

June 18, 2020 by Mary

Happy are they who observe what is right
and who do what is just.
Psalm 106:3

Events in reaction to George Floyd’s death inspired a friend to adjust her career path in an attempt to bring about meaningful change. She wrestled with the notion because she will travel into seemingly unknown territory in the process. In the end, she embraced this opportunity because it will allow her to serve others in a hopefully significant way.

I can certainly relate to my friend’s initial ambivalence. I think we all can. I also share the notion that we’re meant to serve others in this life as best we can. God’s generous gift of free will and God’s absolute faith in our choices allow us to choose just how to go about these things. Nonetheless, we sometimes delay because we aren’t sure that we will make a difference after all…

When we spoke again, my friend bubbled with enthusiasm regarding her new position. The potential for her to contribute to meaningful change is far greater than she dared to hope. Her work with children will allow her to plant seeds which will grow into something much stronger than the ills which contributed to George Floyd’s death. With that, I prayed, Dear God, help those seeds to blossom into something amazing! After offering my silent prayer for my friend, I wondered what I will do to bring about meaningful change…

Loving God, be with all of those who are working to make this world a better place. Give each of us the courage to follow our hearts’ call to do good.

Holy Land

February 26, 2020 by Mary

Know that the Lord is God;
God made us and we are God’s;
the flock whom God tends.
From Psalm 100:3

I admit that a trip to the Holy Land was never on my bucket list. Yet, today I tell you that I have been there three times. I overcame my dislike for small places to endure a ten-hour flight and a subsequent four-hour flight in order to get there. The first time, I found my courage when our tour director listed the places we’d visit. A lifetime of images filled me up at that meeting. Suddenly, the events which occurred in Nazareth, Cana, Magdala, Caesarea and Jerusalem and on the Sea of Galilee so long ago filled a void in my own family history. That long flight seemed a small price to pay for the treasure of memories I’d find in the end. Yes, I’ve returned twice more because that treasure was truly worth the effort.

I invite you to journey through Lent 2020 with me. In the process, I hope you’ll discover as I did the significance of Jesus’ story and the significance of our own individual stories. Though I’ll frequently reference that place which the world calls the Holy Land, remember that you and I are important members of God’s flock and every place we find ourselves has the potential to become holy land as well. This Lent, it’s up to you and me to make it so.

Let’s begin…

Dear God, none of our stories are complete without you. Be with us this Lent and always as we strive to make every place we walk a bit of holy land.

I’ll Do My Part

July 10, 2019 by Mary

Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
Luke 1:58

I admit that I’ve continued to worry quite a bit as of late. Though I consider myself to be a concerned member of our human family, I used to keep the world’s worries in perspective. Currently, it’s very difficult to do so. Every newscast brings more violence, injustice and inhumanity to light. It’s impossible to miss our need to change this world for the better. Not many of us have influence at the global level, I know. However, we can all make a difference in our little corners of the world.

As I consider how I might make a positive difference in the space I occupy, I look back to my teaching career. If I expected my students to interact peacefully, I had to model that behavior consistently. I couldn’t tell these children to speak kindly to one another if I freely corrected and embarrassed them with unnecessary harshness. My interactions with family, friends and neighbors are equally instructive. If I wish to live in harmony with those God has given me to love, I must make a positive contribution to the mix.

The truth is that our work in this regard is great. Whether we approach others with a positive attitude, give our time to the lonely or the needy, write letters to our legislators regarding the issues before us, or take a deep breath before we say something we will regret… Whatever we choose to do will make a difference.

Loving God, be with is as we tend to our small parcels of this world with compassion and love.

Be Salt! Be Light!

January 18, 2019 by Mary

Jesus said to his disciples,
“You are the salt of the earth…
You are the light of the world.”
From Matthew 5:13-16

I admit that I’ve developed some interest in the obituary section of our daily newspaper. This began some months ago when I inadvertently came across the obituary of a classmate and friend with whom I’d lost contact after we both married. Ed (I called him Eddie.) was a great guy, a talented musician and a truly supportive friend. He’s one of the special people who have influenced my life for the better. I’m most grateful for both these long-term and minute-long encounter. Each one has opened my eyes to one aspect or another of myself, this life, this world and God. As I used to tell my students and my own sons, you may never know whom you are helping or who is helping you along the way. Still, even the briefest of these encounters can be life-changing for those involved.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that, whatever our named occupation or standing or relationship to others is, we are all called to be our best and to bring our best to whatever our situation may be. Whether our influence is world-wide or confined to a single room, that influence will change everything for those within this realm.

You know, Jesus didn’t target the temple hierarchy, government officials, local celebrities or the wealthy when he proclaimed that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. God holds each of us in such esteem that he calls us all to be the salt and the light that only we can be.

Dear God, thank you for trusting us to make this world a better place. Help us to use this power with wisdom and love.

Spread Peace On Earth

December 3, 2018 by Mary

Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Psalm 145:10

As I passed the calendar in our kitchen this morning, I was tempted to count the days until Christmas. Since my math skills allowed me to rely on subtraction rather than counting day by day, I used the time saved to enjoy the snow falling outside my window. Afterward, I took a few minutes to sit near our Christmas Tree.

Ornaments which mark our grandchildren’s births caught my eye. This year, we added another to mark our new grandson’s arrival. Our granddaughters usually celebrate the wait for Christmas by attending to their Advent Calendar. Each day, one of them places a little stuffed figure onto the calendar’s Nativity setting. On December 25, Baby Jesus will complete the scene. While I’ll older grandson will do the same, his younger brother will observe the season by eating and sleeping, growing, cooing and smiling. He will continue to stare at his family Christmas Tree with great interest and little understanding of its significance.

As for you and me… The troubles of this world quickly distract us from the joyful hope of Advent. Whether these things affect our own families and communities or others far from us, they detract greatly from the sense of peace which should characterize our wait for Christmas. Though we cannot change these things alone, we can all do something to improve the state of those around us. It seems to me that the best way to make the most of Advent is to bring some semblance of peace to every day that leads us to December 25.

Loving God, though we cannot make everything right, please help each of us to do something to bring peace to our own little corners of this world.

Mary Penich

Author & Speaker

Tag Archives: Make A Difference