Week after week at church, I am amazed by our pastor's unique ability to craft a message from common everyday experiences to which all of us can relate. He then weaves together a message that is consistently beyond human instrumentality.
This past Sunday, he referenced the home and neighborhood where he grew up as a child. Of his sister, he remembered her description of their home. She said: "It was the most boring house on the most boring block in the most boring town in all the world." Of course, he said she now remembers it quite differently, but it was one of those places where time had a way of just dragging by. He didn't say that, but I suspect my description probably contributed to the boring mindset.
He talked about his best friend from high school. He spent an inordinate amount of time in his home. His friend's family was always welcoming and kind. Though he hung out there often, they didn't seem to mind.
He said his friend's mother returned from the grocery store one afternoon and asked: Would you boys unload the groceries from the car?" She added: "I bought you a special treat. As it turned out it was fresh cherries from the produce section.
He liked being included in the "you" and did his best to eat his fair share of the cherries. There is something refreshingly invigorating when one is the object of kindness extended to them. It adds to the mindset that all is well with your world.
The Scripture for our pastor's sermon came from John 1:11-15:"He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
If he announced a title to his message, I don't recall. As his message unfolded, he painted a picture of what it is like when God moves into your neighborhood. God's presence changes you because of his grace and truth.
In turn, we then have the innate ability and desire to display the hands of God in demonstrating kindness to others. The other thing that seemed close to home to me was the recognition that moving into a new neighborhood can be both exhausting and overwhelming.
For us, the past few days have found us recipients of support and well-being with extended family that has painstakingly unpacked boxes, made helpful suggestions, and taken the initiative to see us through the moving process forward. After all, you are not really moved in if there is no room to park inside the garage. We are most grateful and appreciative.
The empty garage represents a miracle, and it will be a forever memory of grace provided to us.
All My Best!
Don
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