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Hello St. John’s Family,
It must be late July, as the Dog-day cicadas are here!
A high-pitched whine that builds and then tails off, somewhat resembling the sound a power saw makes when cutting wood, Dog-day cicadas serve as our local reminder that summer is pressing on. Many can find this annoying; I, though, have come to enjoy their “song”, as it takes me back to my childhood. The house I grew up in did not have air conditioning, meaning summer nights consisted of cicadas and box fans humming away in harmony. I don’t know that I particularly appreciated that noise at the time… I have grown, though, to appreciate it now.
Our senses possess a powerful ability to invoke memories. Hearing a favorite song can take us back to a specific time in our life. The aroma of charcoal and lighter fluid will transport me back to family picnics, and taking in the smell of salty ocean air (or sunscreen) inevitably takes my mind to past days at the beach. Even the taste of a specific food will remain with us and conjure memories. My paternal grandmother had a special recipe for pickles; they tasted similar to bread and butter pickles, only much better! Grandma passed away in 1983, yet I still remember the taste of her awesome homemade pickles!
As I thought about those memories, it struck me how good God is. Simple yet amazing blessings permeate our lives. Our fast-paced, comparison-based lives have a way of focusing our minds on what we lack; a mindset that can cause us to neglect the wonder and beauty that surrounds us every day. Whether it’s cicada songs, the twinkle of fireflies, the goodness of a cookout meal shared with friends, or the warmth we feel from a friend’s smile on a rough day, God’s goodness is all around us. At a time when so many challenges press in on us – and the world can seem so hopeless – I sense we need to remember how good God is, and how that goodness surrounds us daily. At least I do!
In the coming days, I hope you’ll take a moment each day to consider how you’ve experienced God’s goodness. I’d love to hear of your experiences – feel free to forward your reflections to me, and I’ll share them in the coming weeks (I’ll keep reflections confidential if you prefer).
This Sunday, we’ll gather to worship, praise, and commune with our Lord. Our exploration of “Lessons from Sunday School” will continue as we look at parable Jesus told to illustrate the often-sneaky power that possessions can hold over us, and how that power can ultimately manifest into greed. I hope you’ll read Luke 12:13-21, then join me in worship on Sunday!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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