"Jesus is Here"

Dear WRC,

It’s been quite a day. This morning Owen and Hannah headed off to Washington School for their first day of second grade, bravely entering a new door to meet new teachers and new classrooms. We saw the Leaches, Wards, and many Nursery School families also excitedly stepping into a new adventure and a new year. Later in the morning the copier in our office decided to go on strike, throwing a large wrench into the finely tuned machine that is our office and school. I’ve been working on Sunday’s sermon about how to deal with enemies. We’re trying to nail down all of our plans for the fall so we can get this Bellringer out to you. Then, this afternoon, I got to spend some time bedside with a former member entering her last hours beside two of her children.

Beginnings. Endings. Frustration. Celebration. Something about this time of year seems to bring up so many things. Life begins to get exponentially busier as the calendar turns to fall, and with all those renewed activities can come a whole host of other experiences and emotions.

I don’t know how you’re doing today or what you feel as you survey the next month or two on your calendar. However you’re doing, I want to remind you of this: Jesus is with you!

He was there this morning as little friends held hands and walked bravely into the unknown. He was certainly there this afternoon in the nursing home as the gaps between breaths lengthened and death continued drawing near. He’s always with us, if we only have the eyes to see him. That’s what he promised you, remember? “And remember, I will be with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

There’s nothing new or revolutionary that I have for you this month, but I am in constant need of this same reminder so I offer it to you again and again: Jesus is right here with you!

God, give us eyes to see!

In Christ,

Pastor Andy