09-07-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 7, 2023
For the last two Sundays, we have been talking about stretching and reaching beyond certain things that too often hinder our capacity to grab hold of whatever it is that God is putting before us. I believe God is always inviting us to seize the goodness and kindness, the hope, and the affirmation found in God’s everlasting and unconditional love. Of course, sometimes those hinderances are not our own doing. In fact, many of the obstacles we face in our individual journeys in this life were not placed there by us but by other people or circumstances. I think back to when I was first diagnosed with MS. It was frightening news that appeared to be an immense barrier between where I stood and where I believed God’s presence would be found. It’s interesting how uncertainty and fear can skew our perception of God, yet what I quickly learned was that God was more than even my skewed perception. So many people came alongside me, their very lives becoming an expression of God’s presence. All I had to do was reach out with an open hand and take the hand of that person who showed up with a word of encouragement or simply as a reminder that I was not alone.

I truly believe, O Amazing God, that you are forever seeking to come alongside us as an encourager, counselor, and friend. And today, I give thanks for those who hear your call and serve as a tangible expression of your love. Amen.