Hello Fairview!
I’m finally home from the travels of this month –and I’m exhausted. When I wasn’t in another state at a conference or meeting, I was racing around here trying to get things done! And now that I’m home I feel like I’m playing catch up. I’m sure you can relate to this feeling! Last night, after giving my students their midterm, a friend of mine read me a devotional prayer. Now, I’m not always the best at devotional time, I have to admit –I often consider my life an act of devotion. However, the prayer he read resonated with me “I’m running Jesus..” I realized how often I am running. Even as I write I’m running late for another commitment. “I’m running, Jesus…I’m running. Are you running with me?”
As I return back to continue these thoughts the words of this prayer touch my heart. I am a scheduled person. My calendar is filled with good deeds to do, and I never feel as though I’ve done enough. I’m running, Jesus. I’m running from Seattle, Washington to Green Lake, Wisconsin, to Costa Mesa, California. I’m running from No on 8 phonebanking, to interviewing secretaries, to meeting with staff. Running from wedding to wedding, to class, to the phone, to speaking events -- I’m running to write, to eat, to write some more…I’m running Jesus.
And if it were not for the fact that I believe so deeply in my soul that Jesus is running with me I would get off the track. But as I was reminded over and over again these past few weeks I am called to run with Jesus, even when it is difficult to run. And it has been difficult. Perhaps we all feel like the journey wears on us every once in awhile. I don’t know that Jesus always calls us to run at this fast of a pace, but I do know that even when we’re tired, even when we feel like we can’t go on, even when we just want to give up, Jesus remains at our side urging us onward…and maybe even giving us the opportunity to pause and catch our breath.
I started this month at camp with many of you, and if you remember our incredible Sunday morning service together, we examined Matthew chapter 11 and heard Jesus’ words speaking from antiquity directly to us today, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Yes, it is sometimes hard work to be a Christian. It is hard to speak your truth in a society that calls you to be silent. How easy it would be to pull up the covers and go back to sleep! We’ve got meetings to run, people to call, babies to care for, emails to write….and the days are long. But even these burdens, which I know are many, can be lifted off, even for but a moment, if we rest in the words of Jesus. Remembering his promise to us, God’s spirit is with us, giving us hope, calling us onward, journeying with us along the way. We are not alone.
I’m looking forward to being back in the pulpit this week. Though I know I’ve got big shoes to fill –our worship intern, Rachel Bennett, blew y’all out of the water last week, huh? I heard her sermon, and agree with all of the positive comments you’ve sent me. We are blessed to have such talent in our congregation! Truly –we are in the midst of incredible talent –with a strong music director, Sean Burns, a vibrant minister of Christian Education, Susan Reed, and creative and energetic worship intern, Rachel Bennett –who could possibly complain with a team like this! I’ve missed you all!
Be sure to check out all the upcoming events on the calendar below –from this Saturday’s Care of Creation conference for all you environmentalists, to Sunday’s Crop Walk –to raise money to feed the hungry (click on link to donate or sign up to walk on our team). Interested in protecting equal marriage rights? Contact me on how to volunteer. Don’t forget Safe Trick-or Treating here on Halloween!
See you on Sunday!!
The Wide, Wide World of Theology!
|
|
Love the Lord, your God
with all your heart
with all your soul
and with all
your mind.
with all your heart
with all your soul
and with all
your mind.
Lord,
let this be,
show us how,
teach us to love your life.
let this be,
show us how,
teach us to love your life.
And love your neighbor as yourself.
Lord,
let this be.
Take us where we need to go.
let this be.
Take us where we need to go.
Be
the energy for our lives,
let us love all the neighbors we pass.
Be the light that brightens their path and ours as well.
the energy for our lives,
let us love all the neighbors we pass.
Be the light that brightens their path and ours as well.
Kindly fill us with your love
Running alongside Jesus,
Sarah
Bookmark/Search this post with:
