The next time you brush your teeth

"O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You known when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away." Psalm 139:1-2

     The Bushmen recognize that human beings have two kinds of hunger. We need food for the body and food for our spirits.

     Psalm 139 offers abundant food for our souls with the reminder that God cares enough to search our hearts and minds. This amazing God knows us better than we know ourselves, and loves us beyond our wildest dreams. God notices when we sit, walk, stand, or lie down. This wonderful God understands our hopes and feelings, fears and dreams, while loving us lavishly and unconditionally. There are no secrets of the heart and mind with this Higher Power.

     Wherever you are in Zimbabwe today, you can rest assured of God's enormous love for you. The God of our ancestors knows if you are hungry or full, sheltered or homeless, healthy or ill. God knows your cares and concerns for Zimbabwe, and understands the deepest worries of your heart.

     Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, "If I do not spend a reasonable amount of time in meditation early in the morning, then I feel a physical discomfort. It is worse than having forgotten to brush my teeth."

     The next time you brush your teeth, remember day or night, God is always present in the inner chapel of your heart. In doing so, you will find strength and hope for your journey.

     Prayer: O God, come sit in my heart today and bless me with a sense of your loving, holy presence. Guide and strengthen me for the tasks at hand. Hear my prayers for the people I love and for Zimbabwe. Amen.

Written by Rev. Dr. Sandy Bochonok
http://soulfoodministry.org
September 5, 2002
Permission is given to freely distribute and share this reflection with the people of Zimbabwe.