What Do You Want?
I hope you’re managing to keep warm in this cold and snow!
I feel like these past four days have been a bit of a chaotic blur – navigating closures, cancellations, adjusted plans – all caused by weather, is a lot. I’m not a huge fan of having to adjust my plans. I usually spend quite a good amount of energy and effort, setting them up. And when something like… oh, I don’t know, 14” of snow and bitterly cold winds throw havoc into those plans… I put a good face on, but I’m struggling.
Sunday’s message stemmed from the question that Jesus asked Bartimaeus, as he was begging outside Jericho. If you didn’t jump online to YouTube or Facebook to check it out, I’d encourage you to do so! And interestingly, it got played out the very next day!
The premise of the message was that we don’t always know what our deepest desires really are. Jesus’ question invites us to consider our desires, to understand them, and in so doing, to seek Jesus. Because that kind of honesty with ourselves and with Jesus, leads to life, and encourages others to follow us into that life too!
Well… as I sat in my office Monday morning – while the parking lot was being slowly cleared over 6hrs – I fielded several phone calls. Two stood out in my mind.
First, there was a woman who lived at the Canon High Rise, with an important Doctor’s appointment set for Tuesday. While the parking lot was cleared… they had plowed her car in, and she was desperate to get unstuck so as not to cancel her appointment. She very clearly, knew what she wanted. I felt a little helpless as I quickly scanned around – no shovel in hand, no car (I’d walked down) to even get there… who among our membership had even got themselves out yet? And then it dawned on me… Brennan was still home, not heading back to college for another day. He was strong, available, and could probably stand to earn a few dollars, as she had said she was more than willing to pay for the help. Three hours later, he had not only shoveled her out, but several of her neighbors too, with the help of Aidan as well!
She knew what she wanted. She asked clearly. God provided a way, and blessings were multiplied!
Second, I received a call from another person… who was desperate for food. Again, I didn’t have a car. I wasn’t sure what to do… but when they gave me their address… I realized, it was barely two blocks away from our house! I called home, and after a little bit of back and forth between our family, we were able to show up with not only a few groceries we’d picked up from the store, but an emergency box of food from the Food Pantry, and a phone number for ongoing help through Meals on Wheels! When we dropped it all off, she was in near tears of joy!
She knew what she needed. She asked clearly. God provided a way, and blessings were multiplied!
Toward the end of last week, as I mapped out the weekend and the coming busy Monday… this wasn’t exactly what I had imagined. (You could say I wasn’t paying attention to the weather, and that would be fair). But as I look back, I can see God’s hand at work, despite things not being the way I had planned. And if I peel back my own heart, I actually realize that my desires were being met too.
I responded to God’s call to pastoral ministry, not to push papers and schedule meetings and run an IT department. Those are all good and necessary things, and some of you are gifted and excited to do those things. Thank You! I responded to God’s call to pastoral ministry, so that I could help, and empower others to help people, so that together we could grow into the image of Jesus Christ.
And guess what? I think that happened Monday. And I think that’s been happening for years, and that it’s going to continue happening here… even or maybe especially in those times when we have to adjust our plans and pivot in a way we hadn’t planned.
My desire remains,
Welcoming You to Grow in Jesus,
Pastor Don