Twentieth Day

Daniel 2.49; 3.1, 4-6, 8-13a

2

49 At Daniel's request, Nebuchadnezzar appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to administer the province of Babylon while Daniel remained in the royal court.

3

Nebuchadnezzar ordered a gold image to be built, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and had it set up on the plain of Dura in Babylon.

4 Then the herald proclaimed in a loud voice, "This is the command for all peoples of every nation and tongue: as soon as you hear the sound of the royal orchestra, 5 you must fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will be immediately thrown into a blazing furnace."

8 But some of the Chaldeans came forward to inform upon those who were worshipping YHWH. 9 They told Nebuchadnezzar, "Great Ruler, 10 you have decreed that everyone fall down and worship the image of gold at the sound of the orchestra, 11 and that whoever does not do this will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some who you have set over the affairs of Babylon - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - who have ignored your order. Great Ruler, they neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold that you set up!"

13 Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

"Myself"

by Edgar A. Guest (1881-1959)

found in The Best Loved Poems of the American People (Doubleday, 1936)

I have to live with myself, and so

I want to be fit for myself to know,

I want to be able, as days go by,

Always to look myself straight in the eye;

I don't want to stand, with the setting sun,

And hate myself for things I have done.

I don't want to keep on a closet shelf

A lot of secrets about myself,

And fool myself, as I come and go,

Into thinking that nobody else will know

The kind of a man I really am;

I don't want to dress up myself in sham.

I want to go out with my head erect,

I want to deserve all men's respect;

But here in the struggle for fame and pelf

I want to be able to like myself.

I don't want to look at myself and know

That I'm bluster and bluff and empty show.

I can never hide myself from me;

I see what others may never see;

I know what others may never know,

I never can fool myself, and so,

Whatever happens, I want to be

Self-respecting and conscience free.

Today’s Art Practice

What You’ll Need

From Your Home:

• Your Prayer Talisman from last week's practice.

• A pen, pencil or other drawing utensil.

From Your Envelope:

• Sheet of Art Paper.

Directions: Last week, we used our prayer talisman as a receptacle for our fears. Today we will connect with our talisman to see what it might give to us.

Start by spending some time hold, looking at, feeling and studying it. Once you feel ready, lay it on the table in front of you where you can look at it.

Using a sheet of the art paper in your envelope, draw your talisman.

Take care and effort in this practice, but don't get lost in the perfection of drawing it perfectly the way it looks, instead focus on conveying its essence.

If you like, this playlist can help you keep track of time. Once it stops playing, 20 minutes will be over.

Let’s Pray…

Prayer

by Daniel B. Randall

We have heard it said:

Look after number one...

Get them before they get you...

Better be safe than sorry...

What's someone else's problems got to do with me...?

Only the strong survive...

Money makes the world go round...

Revenge is sweet...

Avoid pain at all costs...

May God forgive us when we, as Christ's own people,

believe these words to be life giving

when Jesus has shown us a better way.

Amen.