Experiencing God's Presence

Happy New Year! I hope you have had a good holiday break. It is good to spend time with family and loved ones. My heart is heavy with news reports of folk whose Christmas season has been spoiled by tragedy. One family in Milwaukee lost their 4-year-old son to a fluke accident that involved a toppling television set. The father described his son as full of life and energy. He loved to run and jump, climb and watch cartoons. The description fit my own 4-year-old son.

I don’t know why we have accidents like this. There are so many times when our children fall off a step, or turn chairs over on themselves. We usually rush to the scene to help pick them up, brush them off, kiss their wounds and assure them everything will be fine. I can’t imagine the horror of discovering the incident went the other way – no fixing, no patching up, no shared kisses. How senseless…how pointless…At a time of the year when we are supposed to sit around with one another,watch each other open presents, and spend a whole lot of time just being together, we are reminded how meaningful presence is.

So born out of this holiday of non-productivity is a renewed appreciation for my loved ones; not for their performance in any way, or what they help me to achieve…just the fact that they are gifts from God to grace my life in meaningful ways. God visits us throughout our lives through other people, whether tumbling-tots or affectionate lovers, faithful friends and loyal church family. Many of our own have had troubling holidays. Some have spent their break in the hospital, others experience interior isolation none of us may ever detect.

Here is the Good News: You are not alone. God is among you. Seek Him and enjoy abundant Life.

Blessings,
Pastor Chet

“Let me hear of Your steadfast love in the morning, for in You I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.” {Psalm143:8}