|
Hello St. John’s Family,
I think most of us understand that, as much as we like to think we can anticipate what the future holds, we truly never know what each new day will bring. We wake up each day with an idea and plan of how that day will proceed, yet one moment, one phone call, one email or text message can change that completely. Typically, the impact of an unexpected change is short-term. Sometimes, though, the trajectory of our life can be altered in the blink of an eye.
Perhaps it’s coincidence, or perhaps it’s the fact that both of my children were on flights last week… but I’ve found myself more closely attuned to aviation updates lately. While two recent high-profile incidents have dominated headlines, another story caught my eye: Monday, January 15 marks 15 years since the “Miracle on the Hudson,” when Capt. Chesley Sullenberger and his crew made a miraculous emergency landing in the Hudson River. One of the major news outlets recently gathered Capt. Sullenberger and some of the passengers on that flight to speak with them about their experiences that day, and in the years since.
The responses of the passengers interviewed were markedly different – which I found fascinating. While all were significantly impacted, some saw the event as a new lease on life, approaching each new day with renewed energy and focus. Some discovered new apprehensions, like claustrophobia. Others emerged feeling down and lost, for reasons they could not understand. One woman experiencing this noted that while some areas of her life have improved, she “will never be the same person that walked on that flight.”
A psychologist interviewed for the story noted how each person responds to traumatic situations in different ways - which we know is true. Yet as I read and reflected, my mind went to God’s presence in challenging and traumatic times. We know and trust that God is present with us when we face uncertain times, and yet struggles often remain in the wake of those times. We still hurt; we often carry scars.
The more I reflect on that article, the more I see our strong human tendency to want to quickly fix or speedily resolve every difficulty we face. When encountering a challenge, we feel as if we must press through and come out better, stronger, and whole. And if we can’t do that, well, then God should. I’m learning that God, though, has a different understanding of “fixing” than us humans.
While we all want pain and struggle to yield in favor of peace and restoration, God understands how peace and restoration can only come through placing our full trust in God. Sometimes full restoration occurs here; sometimes it’s on the other side of eternity. God also understands the process of trusting cannot be forced or rushed; the process of fully trusting takes time. And God understands our frustration that builds when we trust God fully, yet do not see the restoration we desire. Thankfully, God is right there with us, every step of the way, revealing how peace is possible even as pain or scars may remain. As Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Know that Christ makes that same promise to you as well – Christ’s grace is more than sufficient for any challenge you face.
I hope you’ll join us in worship this Sunday, as we reflect on Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist. In a powerful moment of beauty and grace, God affirms and marks Jesus as beloved… a message that God longs to share with every one of us. Check out Mark 1:4-11, and then join us on Sunday-
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
| 
