June 19

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."  1 Corinthians 12; 12-13

Many years ago, I heard someone described as a "sand paper" person.  I asked what that meant and was told that a person who rubs us like sand paper, which may be a bit painful, is actually making us more beautiful.  That person helps to smooth our rough edges and bring out pieces of us that may have been hidden.  Of course, it isn't pleasant to have that kind of friction in our lives, but we grow more lovely (and loving) as a result.

Gracious Lord, you have put us all together to complete your will.  Help us to learn from one another.  Help us to be humble.  Help us to lift one another up so that we can become more together than any of us could be alone.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray.  Amen.