July 24, 2012

July 24, 2012

Beloved:

    As mother, gardener and pastor, this summer’s spiritual task is waiting.  I wait for the sound of my almost grown son to arrive safely.  I wait for the workers to finish my concrete.  I wait for rain.  I wait with a family at the loved one’s bedside. I wait for discernment. In the meantime, tempted to worry I try to pray.  Praying I discover knowledge that brings enlightenment.  With enlightenment comes peace.  
When he isn’t caring for his campers in 100 degree weather, my son is studying Latin.  He is a good boy who knows everything necessary to make faithful decisions.  If he doesn’t, he’ll ask.  Mine is to trust him and trust the Lord in him.  

Finished concrete is what my oldest daughter calls a first world problem.  Fussing about a luxury item is prideful and a poor witness.   

Alas, these tricky summer clouds that promise rain at 6 am and break their promise within the hour.  So the people who manufacture garden hose and sprinklers hire more workers and unemployment drops, even if the rain doesn’t.  

Heaven’s gate finally opens so the family weeps and heals.  

Discernment is the greatest challenge of all; understanding what qualifies as grace, knowing how and when to speak, finding heart to speak clearly, humbly, lovingly.   

Not until things need doing and I can’t do them or don’t know how to do them is faithfulness an issue.  Then and only then comes the opportunity to trust the Lord, to pray expectantly . . . and wait.   I wonder how long one must wait to learn that faithful waiting is not doing nothing?  This summer anyway, it is everything.  

May our waiting prayers be faithful and full of joy.  peace, pastor annette


PS ~ Ever find yourself in a daily devotional slump?  I’ve just discovered these 10 minute podcasts of guided prayer and bible reading and I love it!  Check it out at http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/