Greetings of Grace, Hope, and Love,
One of the great perks of being a pastor is having the opportunity to have unrushed authentic conversations with the people I am called to serve. Last Sunday’s picnic was a great event for a multitude of reasons. However, for me, having the opportunity to get to know each other with food and fun in an informal setting feeds my soul.
We need more moments like last Sunday. In the informal spaces, we begin to see each other past our titles, positions, and acts of service rendered to the church. Walls come down when we each can bring our whole selves to our community without reservation. It is in these times memories are made and shared. Don’t ever diminish the times when good memories are made because the world can feel chaotic and cold sometimes, especially when we focus on competition instead of cooperation, discord instead of harmony, separation instead of unity, what we don’t have instead of blessings we do have, and exclusion instead of inclusion. We will need the feelings of good memories to conjure in our hearts when life is challenging to remind us of our everlasting hope in Christ.
When we look at the world strictly from our human perspective, we may find it difficult to feel hopeful. But when we begin to see the world through the lens of our divinity, our perspective lifts, and we start to feel optimistic. Suddenly, we will be able to behold God in everyone and everything.
To be clear, this is not pie-in-the-sky thinking or a way of being. We should never shy away from the more challenging aspects of our daily lives, but from our elevated perspective, we are able to discern a greater truth. You and I will begin to sense the comfort beyond the pain, our desert experience, the blessing beyond the struggle, and the love that binds us all together.
“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds. Not neglecting to meet together, as in the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching” Hebrews 10:23-25