“Where are you?”
I begin most days answering this question in my
journal at the start of each morning.
Lately the words have been similar.
Rushed...
Stressed...
Frustrated...
Hurried...
Irritated...
Bitter...
Exhausted...
Worried...
Absent...
Tired...
Anxious...
Saddened...
Spent...
Usually when I get to this place, I realize I’ve
lost center. Somewhere amidst the running from here
to there, between the four churches I moderate, and
the everyday going-ons of adulthood, I forget to
take time to
just
be.
The other day I stumbled across these words and they
stopped me in my tracks:
13-16 The people brought children to Jesus, hoping
he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off.
But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t
push these children away. Don’t ever get between
them and me. These children are at the very center
of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept
God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll
never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in
his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.
It was the last line that spoke to me the most.
Friend, you don’t have to do everything. You don’t
have to be everything to everyone. You don’t have to
have it all figured out right now. Take your time.
Take a moment to breathe. And do so with your
spouse, your friend, and with yourself. Return to
the center. Allow the child within, the one who
cannot be weighed down by all our worries, and let
God hold you against Her heart.
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In just a few days we begin our
preparations for the nativity of Christ known as the
season of Advent. Once more we will hear the
invasive news that it is time to think about fresh
possibilities for deliverance and human wholeness.
Amidst the news of war and rumors of war, between
the pages of bad news, and in light of the darkening
days, the message we find during this season is...
peace.
But peace takes time. To get to the center of this
promise, we have to want it, move toward it. This
means we need to make space to lean into what we are
preparing for: the vulnerability of God made known
in the birth of Christ.
Friends, before the calendar gets away from us,
remember, don’t be afraid to ask yourself, “Where
are you?” Take time to see where the holy breaks
into the daily. In the days to come, I invite us to
open our broken, wearied, or tired hearts to the
healing grace of God, who always stands inviting us
to that place of peace...
the center, where the light of Christ dwells.
As you go about your day and through this season,
may you know God’s presence; may you hear the good
news of Christ’s love for you; and may the Holy
Spirit surround you as you walk and wait for peace.
[Adam Quine, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church
in Lincoln]
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