By Merna Short of Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Delicate shards of broken glass shattered onto the bed. Gently, I picked them up. As I looked intently from all angles, I saw tiny, glistening fragments. It soon became obvious I could not find them all, even with the use of a vacuum upholstery brush. I would have to dispose of the blanket.

As I worked, a tiny piece of glass lodged in the pad of my finger. It was too tiny to see and remove. The practical first step was to apply a poultice and draw it out.

I thought, “What a good lesson for life this is.” There are times when we need to remove items or issues that offend or detract us from God’s purposes. Often, we must discard the offense and anything tainted by it, as the blanket.

Hurts, grudges, and pricks of life left unforgiven or unresolved work their way into our lives like the unseen, but painful, shard of glass. If left to fester, they keep pricking, irritating, and disrupting our spiritual formation.

We should pray for those who have hurt us. We need to attend to these distractions without delay and remove them from our lives, leaving us free to be the useful disciples we want to be—leaving us free to engage in Christ’s mission.

Prayer Phrase

“…my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28).

Spiritual Practice

Light

Close your eyes and become centered with your breath. As you breathe gently in and out, reflect on the statement, “The light of God is in all things.” The light has a bright, soft beauty and radiates God’s healing love. The light of God reaches you and permeates you with a deep sense of peace. Rest in the light as it surrounds and fills you. Thank God that you live in God’s light, and it lives in you.

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.