Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Radiators Against the Cold (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

Mrs. Maguire’s algebra class wasn’t just cool. Some days it was downright cold!

Our spritely Algebra teacher could not abide attention-drift from any student. To make certain we paid attention, she opened the windows—in the dead of winter. 


Winters could be harsh in our little river city. When the wind off our two rivers came blowing up through the town? Bone-chilling. 

 

What saved us were the radiators. 

 

Lined up just below the classroom windows was a row of steam-heat radiators blasting hot air into the room. You could still feel the cold air slicing in, but the radiators kept radiating heat to offset the worst of it.

 

A radiator—or “radiant” as it is sometimes called—draws its heat from a central source. Without the right energy coursing through the radiator, it could not radiate the heat we needed. If not connected to that central source, those algebra class radiators would be just so much cold metal—and no use at all in mitigating the winter chill. 

 

In this week’s Psalm 34 selection, it says, "Look to Him and be radiant.” A person can be a radiant, a conduit for energy outflow. It certainly was true of Moses. He spent so much time in God's presence, he glowed! Moses became a radiant. 

 

Those radiants kept us warm that winter in Mrs. Maguire's classroom, but only because they were connected to the source, the generator of all that steam heat. What about us? Are we radiants? Are we connected to the source? Do we spend so much time in the presence of God that others cannot help but experience God's warmth and glow?

 

Look to Him and be radiant.



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PHOTO (and why steam heat leads to open windows…on purpose!):

https://lopcocontracting.com/why-that-old-steam-radiator-heats-up-so-hot/



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Fall is such a busy time. Make time to enjoy DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast on Friday morning. We gather at 8:00 for an hour of fellowship, scripture reading, discussion, prayer—plus a few laughs along the way. Join us on Zoom** or at Our Breakfast Place for a sure-fire way to start a great week.

 

Blessings,

Steve

 

**Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414

 

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK 

Find them here: 

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=382&z=p&d=81

 

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Bx_Proper25.pdf

 

Job 42:1-6, 10-17

Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22)

Jeremiah 31:7-9

Psalm 126

Hebrews 7:23-28

Mark 10:46-52

Proper 25 (30) (October 27, 2024)


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