Hosea 11:1-2 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me….
As I was working on my reflection this morning, I came across a literary quote that I was wholly unfamiliar with: “What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other?” ~George Eliot. It reminded me of another quote that I love: “We are all just walking each other home.” ~Ram Dass.
Hosea 11:3 “It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.
Who do you think teaches us how to walk each other home? God. Who teaches us how to be there for each other, how to forgive, how to show mercy and compassion? God shows us these things daily, but if we aren’t looking, if we aren’t seeking, we will miss the lessons, we will get so caught up in ourselves, in the idols we lose ourselves in—money, possessions, status, etc—that we will try to live only for ourselves.
Hosea 11:9 “I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man—the Holy One among you….
Lord, You made us for relationship, for community. You want us to make life less difficult for each other by drawing closer to You, by helping each other, by walking each other home. Help me, everyday, to seek You, to shine Your light, to walk with my fellow travelers home toward heaven. Amen.
Hosea 11:11 “They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.
Have a blessed day.