Pastor's Word for August 2010

Last month when I was helping to serve a meal at the Guest House in Milwaukee, I was humbled and gratified to be there. Sometimes I felt like an intruder in a community in which there was such openness and vulnerability. “Should I be listening to this because what these men are sharing seems rather confidential and personal? After all, they don’t know me.” It was refreshing in another way to watch how this ever changing community of men had strength. Each of the men had different backgrounds and were of different races and possibly even different religions, but they had a common thread – they were all recovering from some form of addiction. But there they were a community of strength based on vulnerability.

Sometimes we don’t come to church because we feel that we always have to show our strong side. “I feel a little depressed today, so I don’t want to be with my friends at church.” “After all, isn’t it better to give than receive and right now I have nothing to give?” I remember not being able to attend church for 3 months after my mom died. I thought it would be too painful to hear the choir sing – since she was an active choir member at her church. Plus, I didn’t want to show my vulnerable side and risk being comforted by the people there. I know it is silly, but that is how I felt at the time. When I finally did go to church, I heard the choir sing and felt the rush of sadness go through me.

I sat in the pew and let the “water works” take its course throughout the rest of the service. At the end of the service there were people who comforted me, who gave me strength. They shared freely because some of them had gone through the same thing themselves not long before me. I felt a sense of peace and joy – if you can believe that – being in that community of faith. Kelly and I grew closer to the people that day because I was able to share my so called “weakness” with them, trusting that they would “handle me with care.”

We come to worship with all that we are: strong, vulnerable, unsure, etc. and we give it all to God who “handles us with care.” We believe in a God who strengthens us as we are often downhearted and “weak” and gives us hope and love in a way that we don’t often expect.

Peace be with you always for God is with you always.

Peace,
Pastor Brent