Monthly Devotion-Pastor John

Dear Friends in Christ:

I am writing my letter to you from my favorite chair in my home. It is an old leather recliner that fits me just right.   My feet are up, my lamp is lit, and my laptop is humming.   One of the things I love most about this work venue – I am not alone.   As I hunt and peck away on this mysterious contraption that connects me to so much I know I have an ever-faithful companion near.   My sweet beast, my dog, Sugarbear, always sits, or lies, right next to me.   She does this because periodically I’ll put my hand over the armrest to touch and pet her.   I guess she needs that.   She wants to be near me.   It comforts her as it surely comforts me.

Labradoodles need to be near the people they love.   At least mine does and I am thankful for it.   And my touch reminds her that my love is near.

A strange change has occurred in our world.   With the advent of computers and other electronic devices we are more “connected” than ever.   For many of us – computers, smart phones, twitter, Facebook, e-mail, et al enables us to connect in more ways that we ever could before.   And yet as often the case, the readily available forms of connection can often do the opposite.   They serve to separate instead of connect.   We no longer need to talk to each other – we text, we e-mail, we tweet….(Don’t ask me about tweeting – In my day Tweety was a bird that Sylvester the cat was trying to eat).

You can go to the mall and see three young girls walking together and instead of enjoying each other’s company they have their faces buries in electronic gadgets furiously honing their thumb dexterity skills.   I want to ask them: Why are you three together and not talking with each other?

I am thankful for our church.   I am thankful for the multitude of opportunities that we offer for people to connect in a real way to each other.   I love to watch friendships; connections, being made over time as people deliberately work, fellowship, and worship together.   My heart soars when a baby is comforted by a loving grandparent who cannot love their own progeny (who may be in another state) but rather uses a surrogate who needs their touch just as much as their own absent “flesh and blood” does.

I cant help but think about Scripture and the mysterious way that God tells us – you love them (the stranger, the alien, the downtrodden, the child) means you love me.

I am so proud of the work we do at our church.   I am so grateful that God has blessed us to become blessings for others.   I am so grateful that God  has given us the means to journey through this life, not alone, but with others who need affirmation, touch, connection, just like we do.

For those who are reading this thinking: “I don’t feel connected to the church” understand this as both a challenge and an invitation.   Relationships are hard.   Being and staying connected is hard.   And for that matter faith isn’t an easy thing either.   It takes work.   It takes effort.   Anything of any real value always takes real effort.

If you don’t feel connected – jump in.   Where?   That is up to you.   We have plenty of places (just keep reading this newsletter!) But you have to be near in order to be touched.

Shalom,

Pastor John W. Beckman