Meditation for June 21st - Father's Day/First Day of Summer

(The early morning light, Stonehenge on the Summer Solstice)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (The Message)
"The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli's direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested.

Then God called out, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Yes? I'm here." Then he ran to Eli saying, "I heard you call. Here I am." Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed." And so he did.

God called again, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, "I heard you call. Here I am." Again Eli said, "Son, I didn't call you. Go back to bed." (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.)

God called again, "Samuel!"—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, "Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am." That's when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, "Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, 'Speak, God. I'm your servant, ready to listen.'" Samuel returned to his bed.

Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen."
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Father's Day was first held in Spokane, Washington in 1910.

A Prayer for Men for Father's Day (Written for Father's Day 2008. Originally posted on Facebook)

"O Lord Our Heavenly Father: You, who adopt orphan children and care for the widows; You stand at the door staring at the horizon, desiring that your prodigal children come home. Bless fathers and men everywhere this day that the orphans may have role models, that the widows may be provided what they need, that the future men may see Christ reflected in the love of piggy-back rides and hard-learned lessons. Through Christ and the Spirit to the Father, Amen."