The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

[From “A Tiny Flame” by Everett Graffeo, Mar/Apr 2026 Herald, p.33]

A tiny flame is light.
It seems so inconsequential.
It is so small against the light of the sun.
But in the dark of a moonless night,
It is the glow of warmth, safety, and peace.
That is how we feel today, Lord.
Like a tiny flame of no consequence
In the brightness of your presence.
But amid the uncertainties and fragilities of life
A single soul or a tiny quorum of persons,
or petite community of faith,
Can bring warmth, safety, and peace.
It is in such small enclaves that we learn
so much about how to live.
The simple but complex issues of living together in community
Are played out daily in our individual and corporate stories.
There are so many things we do not know,
Our questions persist, they are countless
like those of Seers and Prophets, past and present.
With Moses, we ask, “Why do the heavens weep?”
With Jesus, we ask, “Why hast thou forsaken me?”
We wonder at our blessings. Why us?
We flourish in our relationships and in our diversity,
yet fall short in our actions. Why?
We live with an awareness of the holiness
of the planet we walk upon but abuse it to its death.
We ask, “How does it happen?”
We cherish this place; it is our home;
We cherish each other; we are family;
Yet we forget. Why?
We say peace, peace, but there is no peace.
Devastating tornadoes destroy lives and property,
Earthquakes and tsunamis lay siege to peoples and nations,
Unrelenting wars and atrocities leave people alone, without home.
Our hope, our faith is like the tiny glow of the candle of peace,
We pray to become instruments of your peace,
But we fail to be an answer to our own prayers
Help us be the presence of your warmth,
your safety, and your peace.
Help us to care for each other,
Cherish each other,
Encourage each other,
Teach each other,
Forgive each other,
Lift each other up,
Bless each other,
Love each other,
Not for ourselves alone,
But all.
And when we do so, humbly, do it in the name of your son, Jesus,
the source, the presence of our peace. Amen.

Prayer Phrase

“See, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

Weaving a Life

Hold, or imagine yourself holding, a piece of patterned cloth. Examine it carefully. Notice overlapping threads, mingling colors that form the design. Write a journal entry or meditate about the threads and patterns of your life. What design do you see? How does the life pattern you are weaving create justice and wholeness in God’s world? What new pattern is God calling you to weave?

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.