Twenty-Third Day

Daniel 5.1-6

5

Many years later, Belshazzar, ruler of Babylon, gave a great banquet for a thousand nobles, and drank with them. 2 Under the influence of the wine, he sent for the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar, his forebear, had looted from the Temple in Jerusalem, so that the royal family, the nobles and their families, and the entertainers might drink from them. 3 When the gold and silver vessels looted from the Temple of God in Jerusalem had been brought in, and while the royal family, the nobles and their families, and the entertainers 4 were drinking wine from them, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

5 Suddenly, opposite the lamp stand, the fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the palace wall. When Belshazzar saw the hand as it wrote, 6 the ruler went pale; his thoughts terrified him; his hips went slack and his knees began to knock.

"Terror"

by J. Ruth Gendler (b. 1955)

from The Book of Qualities (HarperCollins, 1984)

Terror is stricter than my first Latin teacher. She doesn't want anyone to become friendly with Ecstasy or run through the hills racing the Wind. On the west wall of her living room she keeps a long list of rules and a tally sheet of those she frightens and those who frighten her. In the margins she records your weaknesses. She demands privacy, but she doesn't hesitate to bother others at any hour of the day or night.

When Terror wants power, she has many ways to silence those who oppose her. She is willing to use violence to achieve her ends; often she prefers less obvious means. Terror knows that she can control the body by controlling the mind. When people are in states of confusion, Terror's propaganda passes for truth.

Terror came to our meditation class for a while. It was hard to breathe when she was in the room. However, she never stayed long. After a few minutes, she always opened her eyes. She knew if she sat really still she would scream.

Today’s Art Practice

What You’ll Need

From Your Home:

• A space (inside or outside) where you can explore a textured surface. (e.g. brick walls, grave stones, public sculpture)

From Your Envelope:

• Piece of Rubbing Paper.

• Charcoal Stick

Directions: Today I invite you to explore a space that you are less familiar with than the previous places you have explored. Perhaps this is a cemetery, a public sculpture park, or even your basement that you avoid.

Bring the Rubbing Paper and Charcoal Stick from your Envelope.

As you explore this unfamiliar space, notice something that compels you to take a rubbing of it home with you.

Perhaps this is a grave stone or a plaque, or a wall with an interesting texture.

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

Let’s Pray…

Not in My Name

by Johnny Baker

Not in my name

Will we fight terror with terror

Not in my name

Will we exploit the resources of those who are poorer

Not in my name

Will the bodies of the innocent be broken for the evils of a few

Not in my name

Will we deny life to those for whom life is a struggle

Not in my name

Will the name of god be used as an excuse for our own self interest

Not in my name

Will we be blinkered by our flawed sense of justice

Not in my name

Will the bread of life be robbed from the mouths of the worlds hungriest

Not in my name

Will we find salvation in the defeat of our enemies

Not in my name

Will our government wipe out innocent families

Not in my name

Will we reap reward from terrorism and invasion

Not in my name

Will the west get rich through the debts of the poor

We thank Christ for his body broken and blood shed.

We acknowledge his sacrifice for the salvation and redemption of the world.

We acknowledge innocent blood shed and bodies broken

to be enemies of God's Kingdom and a sin against Creation.'

We acknowledge love, truth, grace, justice, righteousness, mercy and humility

to be signatures of God's rule.

May God bless us as we seek to send a clear message to those in authority...

Not in my name!