Friend of Dial Hope, I had a wonderful visit two years ago when an Amish man, John from South Carolina, asked to see me. He calls Dial Hope and he wanted to meet me and see where it all happens. He reminded me of a message where I greeted an Amish lady in our congregation and her many siblings in Ohio. Then we he left he grabbed my hand and said, "Could we have a prayer? You pray first and then I'll pray." John asked God to bless me and our Dial Hope ministry. Thank you, John, and thank all of you who keep me in your prayers.

I love the short story with this unusual title: "The Man Whose Wife's Hair Was Too Long But Whose Understanding of Music Was To Short." In the story, the husband is playing a cello. He plays the same note over and over again. His wife, who is slowly going crazy listening to this one note asks, "Why do you play the same note over and over? Other cellists play different notes. Why don't you?" The husband responds, "Other cellists play different notes because they are trying to find the right one. I've found mine." The husband's musical ability may be questionable, but his point accurately applies to a lot of other things. Many people spend their lives looking for the right note. They move up and down the scale forever-without playing anything that makes a positive contribution to other people and the world. If you are fortunate enough to find your note, don't lose it. Play it! The Apostle Paul wrote, "I am confident of this, that the one who began good work among you will bring to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Phillippians 1:6).

Prayer: Awesome God, life is so beautiful. Why do we often live in dread of the day ahead, or anesthetized to the magic of the present moment? Show us how to find you in other persons-in the children who skip past us on the sidewalk, in the old man pushing a grocery basket, in the patient waiting in the doctor's office. Restore us to a sense of passion and caring until we find the right note. Bless us now that we may be a blessing to others as we seek to make this day a masterpiece. In Jesus' name. Amen.