Friday, June 20

By Carl Mesle of Independence, Missouri, USA

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. …Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 2:1–2, 4–5 NRSV

Smitty, as everyone called him, paid his US$7 for his week at Scout camp. As you can tell by the cost, this is a story from long ago, but one worth telling.

Smitty took his duties seriously, and he took his joy seriously, too. He never passed a chance to share it. He had happiness to spare and share.

Smitty brought something special to the camp experience. He had a gift for cheering up other Scouts and Scout leaders wherever he went. He had such a positive influence on morale, the camp director thought it would be worthwhile to have him stay another week—for free—just to pass along his happy presence to the new Scouts!

Prayer for Peace God of joy and peace, we thank you for those who have the gift of joy to share. We thank you for opportunities we have to share Christ’s peace and love with others. Help us be a positive influence and cheer up those we meet.

Spiritual Practice: Offering Blessings of Community Receive and share Blessings of Community. Begin with a prayer of gratitude for the relationships in your life. See and feel connections with family members, spiritual friends, people in your congregation and community, and people and creatures in God’s sacred web of life. What blessings flow to you from these circles? How have you felt the love of the community?

Reflect, pray, or write in your journal about the call to be “Community of Christ.” Go deeper each day as you discern what act of blessing you are invited to complete.

Peace Covenant Today, God, I will share my smile with a lonely or homesick person.