We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 27, 2013.
Prayer: Dear God, this day we especially pray for the moments in our lives right now that are giving us gray hairs. Help us overcome our challenges and see you in all we do. Amen. Reading: Genesis 44 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
Reflection: Oh yeah—the gray hairs. If you look closely at my hair in the temple region above my ears, yes, you will see gray hairs. When the gray hair starts sticking out too far, I know it is time to get a haircut. I started getting gray when I was 28-years-old. Funny thing—it was the same year that I started as director of Mount Luther. I like to blame my gray hair on that first summer’s staff! They are the ones who discovered the gray. They are also the ones who would pull out the gray hairs on occasion. I guess they wanted me to look youthful. Gray hair on older men is a sign of dignity, I’ve been told. But I have a few friends who grayed or even lost most of their hair and they are not even the 28-years-of-age I was when I noticed the color change. So, are they seen as dignified as well? Certainly they are in my eyes! Often gray hair is a sign of stress or troubling times in your life. “My kids gave me gray hair,” you might hear. The gray hair makes up the person you are and tells your story of life. What are the gray hair moments in your life? What has caused you pain or anguish or suffering? What did you do to overcome those moments? Did you turn to God and ask for guidance, help, and reassurance? Or, did you try to do it alone? Remember, God can fix your gray hair situations. Turn to our creator when you need to turn your gray hair day into something brighter! --Chad Hershberger
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