I’ve begun
a new column on my blog these last couple months called On the Journey, through which I’ll periodically
feature an essay written by a friend or family member. Of course, it’ll only
happen as often as I can convince someone to share some spiritual writing on a
nature theme with me! So if you want to take a try at it, or if you’ve done
some writing like this in the past you’d like to share with other like-minded
seekers of God through nature, be in touch with me and let’s see what we can
do...
Just this week,
though, I received something from my friend, ministry colleague and former
pastor Herb Frost, now pastor of Rochester Covenant Church of Rochester,
Minnesota. Though I’d planned something else this week, I decided to postpone
it in deference to Herb’s thoughts, especially in light of the news
developments these last several days. Additionally, Gail and I are serving this
week on support staff at Sonscape Retreats, a renewal ministry for pastors and
their spouses to deepen their walk with Christ or sort out their ministry
challenges. Herb’s word is a good one for every follower of Jesus, pastors
included.
Here is what he
writes:
We went to Bodega Bay over Thanksgiving.
The house we stayed in overlooked the bay with a full southern exposure. At
this time of year, both sunrise and sunset are visible with expansive beauty,
inviting the soul into contemplation, reflection and peace.
Down the hill a bit, a short
drive or a longer walk, was Bodega Bay itself. A wide bay with aquatic life of
the avian and mammalian kind was visible at high tide. In addition to mammalian
windsurfers, sea otters were swimming on their backs, sea lions were heard
across the water, cormorants, pelicans, cranes and gulls all found life and
sustenance from the shallow water. Yet at low tide the mammals were gone, and
the birds were bold in their search for food.
A longer drive around the
bay and out onto a peninsula called Bodega Head, the waters were no longer
sheltered and the waves of the Pacific crashed unabated on the shore. Yet the
tides still rose and fell. Of all the rhythms of Creation, how, after all this
time, do they still cleanse the beach? Marvelous and wonderful tides…
It makes me wonder: What is
the equivalent of a tide in my spiritual life? Isn’t thanksgiving also a
rhythmic discipline, an opportunity to experience marvel, wonder and cleansing?
It
makes me wonder:
What
is the equivalent of
a tide in my spiritual life?
Zechariah prophesies in Luke
1 about his own son, John the Baptist:
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go
on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge
of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy
of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on
those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the
path of peace. (Luke 1:76-79)
The knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of our sins… This also is a repeating, faithful
spiritual tide that comes invitationally and unceasingly because of the tender
mercy of our God.
As Thanksgiving yields to
Advent, and then into Christmastide, may the tides of thanksgiving and
forgiveness cleanse us, and guide our feet -- as individuals, as a church and
as a nation -- into paths of peace.
Indeed. May these
tides wash over each of you, my friends, bringing you peace and perspective in
the midst of the daily challenges and griefs of life and Christian service. Thank
you, brother Herb.
~~ RGM, December 4, 2015
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