Devotions

stones and trees

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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stones and trees

Jeremiah 3:6-10 (JDV)

Jeremiah 3:6 In the days of King Josiah Yahveh asked me, “Have you seen what unfaithful Israel has done? She has gone up every high hill and gone under every green tree to prostitute herself there.
Jeremiah 3:7 I thought, ‘After she has done all these things, she will return to me.’ But she did not return, and her faithless sister Judah saw it.
Jeremiah 3:8 I observed that it was because unfaithful Israel had committed adultery that I had sent her away and had given her a certificate of divorce. Nevertheless, her treacherous sister Judah was not afraid but also went and prostituted herself.
Jeremiah 3:9 Indifferent to her prostitution, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.
Jeremiah 3:10 Yet in spite of all this, her faithless sister Judah didn’t return to me with all her heart—only in pretense.” This is what Yahveh declares.

stones and trees

I can picture an angry husband here, saying incredulously, “She left me for that?” And, what was it that led both Israel and Judah to prostitute themselves? It was “stones and trees.” It does seem ridiculous that all it took was some chiseled stones and carved trees. God had rescued his bride from an idolatrous nation that had enslaved them, and she decided to become enslaved again.

All sin is like that. It is the choice of the impure instead of the pure, the paltry instead of the magnificent. No wonder God can speak through his prophet with an incredulous tone.

Father, forgive us for our ridiculous choices. Free us from the tyrany of the stones and trees we have wedded ourselves to.

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we are all guilty

Posted on September 27, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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we are all guilty

Jeremiah 2:23-3:5 (JDV)

Jeremiah 2:23 How can you say, “I am not defiled; I have not followed the Baals”? Look at the road you took in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young cow-camel twisting and turning on her way,
Jeremiah 2:24 a wild donkey at home in the open country. She sniffs the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can control her passion? Anyone looking for her need not tire himself out; they will find her in her mating season.
Jeremiah 2:25 Keep your feet from going bare and your throat from thirst. But you say, “It’s hopeless; I love strangers, and I will continue to follow them.”
Jeremiah 2:26 Like the a thief experiences shame when he is caught, so the house of Israel has been put to shame. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
Jeremiah 2:27 say to a tree, “You are my father,” and to a stone, “You gave birth to me.” You see, they have turned their back to me and not their face, yet in their time of disaster they beg, “Rise up and save us!”
Jeremiah 2:28 But where are your gods you made for yourself? Let them rise up and save you in your time of disaster if they can, because your gods are as numerous as your cities, Judah.
Jeremiah 2:29 Why do you bring a case against me? All of you have rebelled against me. This is what Yahveh declares.
Jeremiah 2:30 I have struck down your children for nothing; they would not accept discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a ravaging lion.
Jeremiah 2:31 Evil generation, pay attention to the word of Yahveh! Have I been an open country to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why do my people say, “We will go where we want; we will no longer come to you”?
Jeremiah 2:32 Can a young woman forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet my people have forgotten me for innumerable days.
Jeremiah 2:33 How skillfully you pursue love; you also teach evil women your ways.
Jeremiah 2:34 Also, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor. You did not catch them breaking and entering. But in spite of all these things
Jeremiah 2:35 you say, “I am innocent. His anger is sure to turn away from me.” But notice, I will certainly judge you because you have said, “I have not made a mistake.”
Jeremiah 2:36 How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be put to shame by Egypt just as you were put to shame by Assyria.
Jeremiah 2:37 Moreover, you will be led out from here with your hands on your head since Yahveh has rejected those you trust; you will not succeed even with their help.
Jeremiah 3:1 If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Wouldn’t that land become totally defiled? But you! You have prostituted yourself with many partners—can you return to me? This is what Yahveh declares.
Jeremiah 3:2 Look to the barren heights and see. Where have you not been immoral? You sat waiting for them beside the highways like a nomad in the open country. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.
Jeremiah 3:3 This is why the showers haven’t come—why there has been no spring rain. You have the brazen look of a prostitute and refuse to be ashamed.
Jeremiah 3:4 Haven’t you recently called to me, “My Father. You were my friend in my youth.
Jeremiah 3:5 Will he bear a grudge permanently? Will his wrath never end?” Notice, this is what you have said, but you have done every evil thing you could do.

we are all guilty

What Jeremiah is drawing attention to in today’s text is what I call depravity denial. It’s when a sinner looks at God square in the face and says “I am innocent, and you are punishing me anyway.” No one is innocent. We are all guilty enough to deserve permanent destruction. The good news of the gospel is not that there are a few of us who are good enough to rescue. The good news is that God allows some of us condemned criminals to be pardoned on the basis of Christ’s goodness and sacrifice on the cross.

Think about that the next time you are tempted to come to God with a “not guilty” plea. It does not work, because it is not true. Our only possible plea is the blood of the Lamb.

Lord, remove from us the sham of claiming our own innocence.

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stubborn stain

Posted on September 26, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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stubborn stain

Jeremiah 2:14-22 (JDV)

Jeremiah 2:14 Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why else has he become a seized property?
Jeremiah 2:15 The young lions have roared at him; they have roared loudly. They have laid waste his land. His cities are in ruins, without inhabitants.
Jeremiah 2:16 The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have also cracked your forehead.
Jeremiah 2:17 Did you not bring this on yourself by leaving Yahveh your God while he was leading you along the way?
Jeremiah 2:18 Now what would you gain by traveling along the way to Egypt to drink the water of the Nile? What would you gain by traveling along the way to Assyria to drink the water of the Euphrates?
Jeremiah 2:19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own acts of rebellion will reprimand you. Recognize how evil and bitter it is for you to leave Yahveh your God and to have no fear of me. This is the declaration of the Lord Yahveh of Armies.
Jeremiah 2:20 You see, long ago I broke your yoke; I tore off your chains. You insisted, “I will not serve!” On every high hill and under every green tree you lay down like a prostitute.
Jeremiah 2:21 I planted you, a choice vine from the very best seed. How then could you turn into a disloyal, foreign vine?
Jeremiah 2:22 Even if you wash with strong soap and use lots of alkali, the stain of your violation still stares me in the face. This is the Lord Yahveh’s declaration.

stubborn stain

Don’t you hate it when you get a stain on your favorite article of clothing, and have to throw it out? It feels unfair. You have all those dopey things you wouldn’t mind getting rid of, but they remain serviceable. But your favorite thing now has to be discarded! Well, that’s how God felt about the Israelites. He rescued them from slavery, and how did they respond? They decided they would not serve him out of appreciation. Instead, they prostituted themselves to the gods of the nations. God cannot stand to look at that stubborn stain. Out they have to go.

Lord, forgive us for our stubborn independence. We surrender all.

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they quit asking

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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they quit asking

Jeremiah 2:1-13 (JDV)

Jeremiah 2:1 The word of Yahveh came to me:
Jeremiah 2:2 “Go and call in the ears of Jerusalem that this is what Yahveh says: I remember the covenant loyalty of your youth, your care as a bride—how you followed me in the open country, in a land not sown.
Jeremiah 2:3 Israel was holy to Yahveh, the first of his harvest. All who ate of it found themselves guilty; disaster came on them.” This is Yahveh’s declaration.
Jeremiah 2:4 Hear the word of Yahveh, house of Jacob and all families of the house of Israel.
Jeremiah 2:5 This is what Yahveh says: What fault did your fathers find in me that they went so far from me, followed temporary idols, and became temporary themselves?
Jeremiah 2:6 They stopped asking, “Where is Yahveh who brought us from the land of Egypt, who led us through the open country, through a land of deserts and ravines, through a land of drought and darkness, a land no one traveled through and where no one lived?”
Jeremiah 2:7 I brought you to a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but after you entered, you defiled my land; you made my inheritance repulsive.
Jeremiah 2:8 The priests quit asking, “Where is Yahveh?” The experts in the law no longer knew me, and the rulers rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.
Jeremiah 2:9 Therefore, I will bring a case against you again. This is Yahveh’s declaration. I will bring a case against your children’s children.
Jeremiah 2:10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look. Send someone to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:
Jeremiah 2:11 Has a nation ever exchanged its gods? (But they were not gods!) Yet my people have exchanged what brought them glory for worthless idols.
Jeremiah 2:12 Be appalled at this, sky; be shocked and utterly desolated! This is Yahveh’s declaration.
Jeremiah 2:13 You see, my people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves—cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.

they quit asking

God’s condemnation of his own people through Jeremiah is this: they used to have a relationship with the LORD but they lost it. They became so dull in their covenant loyalty that they even stopped asking where God was. They had become religiously desensitized. Even the priests and experts in the Bible were just going through the motions, with no awareness of the presence and power of God all around them.

Do we dare ask where God is today? Most of our cultures are okay with a personal, private belief, as long as it doesn’t get out of hand, or challenge our ethics. Yes, our nations are in the same boat as the nation Jeremiah was called to condemn. Jeremiah said “Israel was holy to Yahveh” — but not anymore.

Lord, rescue us from our own ignorance of you. So many of us are so spiritually dull that we don’t know you, and don’t even know to ask for you.

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cursed commission

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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cursed commission

Jeremiah 1:1-19 (JDV)

Jeremiah 1:1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, from the priests who were in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.
Jeremiah 1:2 The word of Yahveh came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.
Jeremiah 1:3 It also came throughout the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
Jeremiah 1:4 The word of Yahveh came to me:
Jeremiah 1:5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I committed you before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:6 But I protested, “Oh no, Lord Yahveh! Notice, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.”
Jeremiah 1:7 Then Yahveh said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” because you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.
Jeremiah 1:8 Do not be afraid of anyone, because I will be with you to rescue you. This is Yahveh’s declaration.
Jeremiah 1:9 Then Yahveh reached out his hand, touched my mouth, and told me: notice, I have now filled your mouth with my words.
Jeremiah 1:10 See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and break up, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.
Jeremiah 1:11 Then the word of Yahveh came to me, asking, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I replied, “I see a branch of a shaked – an almond tree.”
Jeremiah 1:12 Yahveh said to me, “You have seen correctly, I shakad—watch over my word to accomplish it.”
Jeremiah 1:13 Again the word of Yahveh came to me asking, “What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a boiling pot, its lip tilted from the north to the south.”
Jeremiah 1:14 Then Yahveh said to me, “Disaster will be poured out from the north on all who live in the land.
Jeremiah 1:15 Notice, I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north.” This is Yahveh’s declaration. They will come, and each king will set up his throne at the entrance to Jerusalem’s gates. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.
Jeremiah 1:16 “I will pronounce my judgments against them for all the evil they did when they abandoned me to burn incense to other gods and to worship the works of their own hands.
Jeremiah 1:17 “Now, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them.
Jeremiah 1:18 Notice, now, I am the one who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land– against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population.
Jeremiah 1:19 They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you to rescue you.” This is Yahveh’s declaration.

cursed commission

Jeremiah had a tough go at being God’s servant. We can already see that he was going to have a life like that by looking at this commissioning event. God basically tells him that his role is to be against his own people, because God was going to bring calamity on them. He was not even allowed to be apologetic. God told him to stand up and fight — not the enemies abroad, but the leaders of his own people, some of whom were his friends. Who wants a commission like that?

Jeremiah struggled with that commission. Being obedient to God’s call made him undesirable, and brought him close to death numerous times. His words now speak to us, because we are also often asked by our Lord to stand up against apostasy and organized wrong among our own people.

Lord, give us the courage to speak up for you, even when our own friends and leaders are the targets of your condemnation.

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their story

Posted on September 23, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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their story

Acts 28:17-31 (JDV)

Acts 28:17 After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them: “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
Acts 28:18 After they examined me, they wanted to let me go, since there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.
Acts 28:19 Because the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar; even though I had no charge to bring against my people.
Acts 28:20 For this reason I’ve asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I’m wearing this chain.”
Acts 28:21 Then they said to him, “We haven’t received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you.
Acts 28:22 But we want to hear what your views are, since we know that people everywhere are speaking against this party.”
Acts 28:23 After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
Acts 28:24 Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.
Acts 28:25 Disagreeing among themselves, they began to go away after Paul made one statement: “The Sacred Breath was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah
Acts 28:26 when he said, Go to these people and say: You will always be listening, but never understanding; and you will always be looking, but never perceiving.
Acts 28:27 You see, the hearts of these people have grown callous, their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.
Acts 28:28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
Acts 28:29
Acts 28:30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him,
Acts 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

their story

The Acts seems to start out with a bang, and end with a whimper. All the miracles seem to have been spent, and nothing seems to be resolved. Paul is still in prison, unrescued. The Jews as a people remain unconvinced that their Messiah has come. The Romans are still in charge. Why this ending?

History reveals that not much of Paul’s story is left to tell. He was probably released for a while at some point, but was later arrested again, and executed by Rome. Acts does not record any of this. We don’t know exactly why. I think Luke wanted his story to end here, because he wanted Paul’s words in verse 28 to be his epilogue.

“Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

Paul did not prevail, but he accomplished his mission. There are believers all over the world today because some brave missionaries had the courage to obey the Great Commission of Christ, and proclaim the gospel of God’s grace to the nations. Acts was their story.

Lord, thank you for the courage of cross-cultural missionaries.

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there we found brothers and sisters

Posted on September 22, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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there we found brothers and sisters

Acts 28:11-16 (JDV)

Acts 28:11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Gods as its figurehead.
Acts 28:12 Landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days.
Acts 28:13 From there, after making a circuit along the coast, we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli.
Acts 28:14 There we found brothers and sisters and were invited to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
Acts 28:15 Now the brothers and sisters from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
Acts 28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who kept him.

there we found brothers and sisters

I took a number of mission trips where I was alone, or had maybe one companion with me, until I reached my destination. It was such a comfort to find an entire church, or group of churches — greeting me when I arrived. We know from the last chapter of his epistle to Romans that there had already been many missionaries working in Rome, so there was already an established church there at this point in the narrative of Acts.

So, if Paul was not going to Rome to plant or establish a church, what was his mission? He had been commissioned as an ambassador to the highest levels of government, representing the kingdom of God in general, and the mission of the church of Christ in particular.

How comforting it must have been for him to arrive in Rome after such a long and arduous trip to find fellow believers there to greet him!

Thank you Lord, for the fellowship of kindred minds!

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caring barbarians

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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caring barbarians

Acts 28:1-10 (JDV)

Acts 28:1 Once safely ashore, we then learned that the island was called Malta.
Acts 28:2 The barbarians showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold.
Acts 28:3 As Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.
Acts 28:4 When the barbarians saw the wild creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man, no doubt, is a murderer. Even though he has escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
Acts 28:5 But he shook the wild creature off into the fire and experienced no harm.
Acts 28:6 They expected that he would begin to swell up or suddenly drop dead. After they waited a long time and observed nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Acts 28:7 Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
Acts 28:8 Publius’s father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.
Acts 28:9 After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.
Acts 28:10 So they heaped many honors on us, and when we sailed, they gave us what we needed.

caring barbarians

Paul did not exactly visit Malta on the best of terms. He arrived as a prisoner, exhausted, soaking wet from a shipwreck, snake-bit, and suspected of being a murderer. But the locals helped him, and eventually realized that he was more than the sum of his experiences. Because they had helped him, they eventually became open to his helping them. After he healed Publius’ father, the whole island was open to his ministry.

I have many pleasant memories associated with this story, because my family had a number of times we needed the help of the locals. They may have sounded like barbarians, but they had hearts to help outsiders in need, because they are also children of our sky father. And we found it true as well that when people helped us, they became more open to our helping them, by sharing the gospel.

Lord, thank you for the care you show to us by the barbarians.

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276 throats

Posted on September 20, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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276 throats

Acts 27:27-44 (JDV)

Acts 27:27 When the fourteenth night came, we were drifting in the Adriatic Sea, and about midnight the sailors thought they were approaching land.
Acts 27:28 They took soundings and found it to be a hundred and twenty feet deep; when they had sailed a little farther and sounded again, they found it to be ninety feet deep.
Acts 27:29 Then, fearing we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.
Acts 27:30 Some sailors tried to escape from the ship; they had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow.
Acts 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be rescued.”
Acts 27:32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away.
Acts 27:33 When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing.
Acts 27:34 So I urge you to take some food. You see, this is for your rescue, since not a hair from your head will be destroyed.”
Acts 27:35 After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and after he broke it, he began to eat.
Acts 27:36 They all were encouraged and took food themselves.
Acts 27:37 In all we were 276 throats on the ship.
Acts 27:38 When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea.
Acts 27:39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could.
Acts 27:40 After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they lifted up the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach.
Acts 27:41 But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and stayed immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves.
Acts 27:42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape.
Acts 27:43 But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.
Acts 27:44 The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the land.

276 throats

The ship Paul was traveling on was immense. It had to be to hold almost 300 people. Some of them were prisoners like Paul, being transported, others were sailors, responsible for working the sails, anchors and such. There was a large group of soldiers, led by a centurion. We don’t know how many soldiers, but the name centurion meant “commander of a hundred” so it was a large group. Then there were the rest: civilians seeking transport.

God had a mission for Paul, and he kept him alive for that mission. He also used Paul to keep all 276 of those throats breathing.

You and I have a mission as well. God wants us to carry out that mission. But he does not call us to be indifferent about the lives of all those around us. We can share the gospel without destroying our communities. It is best if we help to preserve them.

Lord, give us the wisdom to preserve our communities, so that we can continue the mission you called us to among them.

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calm in crisis

Posted on September 19, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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calm in crisis

Acts 27:13-26 (JDV)

Acts 27:13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they had achieved their purpose. They weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.
Acts 27:14 But before long, a fierce wind called the “northeaster” rushed down from the island.
Acts 27:15 Since the ship was caught and unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.
Acts 27:16 After running under the shelter of a little island called Cauda, we barely had strength to get control of the skiff.
Acts 27:17 After hoisting it up, they used ropes and tackle and girded the ship. Fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the drift-anchor, and in this way they were driven along.
Acts 27:18 Because we were being severely battered by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo the next day.
Acts 27:19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.
Acts 27:20 For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging. Finally all hope was fading that we would be rescued.
Acts 27:21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, “You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss.
Acts 27:22 Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your throats, but only of the ship.
Acts 27:23 For last night an agent from the God I belong to and serve stood by me
Acts 27:24 and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And notice, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’
Acts 27:25 So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me.
Acts 27:26 But we have to run aground on some island.”

calm in crisis

One day, several years ago, I was in the midst of a life-threatening crisis. The thing that surprised me the most was the amazing calm that pervaded me, as if I were outside of the situation, watching it like a video. While hundreds of people were running around in panic and desperation, I was able to keep my head, and patiently wait for the way to clear before moving.

I think about that gift the Lord gave me that day. It was obvious that Paul had the same gift. The crisis was all around him, but he was able to think clearly, and act wisely. What made the difference? The text tells us that there were three realities that Paul clung to consistently, and those three realities were what he needed to face that crisis:

Paul relied on his relationship with God.
Paul sought his direction from God.
Paul focused on his mission from God.

Lord, when we face the crises you place us in, may these three realities keep us calm.

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