Partnership

Keatings reflected: "Peace is something greater than joy or any emotion. It is beyond joy and beyond suffering. ...Peace is defined as the tranquility of order: everything in its right place....We live waiting for the right moment to be converted and to start to practice the virtues, to pray, or to enter some ministry. All of us are waiting for the perfect situation when at last we have the time for prayer, reflection, spiritual reading, service to others, we can forgive our enemies, our early education, the church, our mothers and fathers, and finally ourselves..."
 

Hope, healing, and well-being within the midst of all that brings un-peace are miracles of divine proportions. Glimpses and expressions of these miracles of peace truly are celebration times. To experience such 'miracles' with those who come is a wonderful re-awakening occasion. "Right Moments" to give thanks....for the peace seen and shared, for those (individuals, congregations and judicatories, foundations, etc.) who partner with gifts to help LCS serve, and for Him-the never leaving, truly present Prince of Peace.

And then I reflected on the fact that I have worked this year with many whose present is vastly different now than what their recent past was and even more different than what they imagined that their present and future would be. I worked this year in Alabama following over 130 tornados in that state in one day; in Haiti still recovering from years of unbelievable poverty and the earthquake from which they are still recovering and will be for a while; I've worked this year (as well as other years) with folks grieving over the loss of loved ones, or a job, or a marriage, or dreams, or the ambiguity of pending loss in disease, congregational/organizational instability, changing life situations, and questions about economic security. And the list could go on and on. Gratefulness in the present?...The present is not yet comfortable for some, so maybe for that reason gratefulness is hard to feel because the reality of instability is felt so strongly.

Feelings of instability and "not yet comfortable" are pretty normal in times of loss and grief! Recovery from grief and loss is a process which takes time. We often feel as though we want things over and done with quick. At times we even convince ourselves that things are over and done with. But for many that may not be the case. In disasters many are dealing with home repairs, insurance claims and the added expenses from all of the storms. For others experiencing loss or impeding loss they are dealing with loneliness, mixed feelings about memories, anger, economic struggles, issues of personal value and worth, questions around the upcoming holidays and possibly the "clouds" around the year(s)to come. Many of these realities might influence one's view of the present. Recovery also has to do with a new sense of vulnerability and/or a new discovery of how we are protected and empowered to survive. I think that was what the prophet wrote about in Isaiah 40 when he said "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That's God speaking in our present about our future...that's knowing God in our present as God was in our past and will be in our future. And for that we might be able to begin to be grateful. I know I am and I pray that for you as well.