This past week, Amy and I took our boys to our old hometown of Macon, Georgia – the town where Amy was born and grew up, and the town where I lived on-and-off, for eighteen years (from 6th-10th grade, my college years, and my years as an Associate Pastor at Northminster Presbyterian Church). Last Sunday, we had the privilege to take our boys to church at Northminster Presbyterian. There were plenty of new faces in the pews (we’ve been gone twelve years!) but there were also plenty of more familiar faces. Some of these familiar faces have aged a bit over the past dozen years. There are a few more grey hairs and a few more “smile lines” around the eyes. Some of the little kids we knew years ago are now all grown up and some of the grown ups that we knew years ago have shrunk an inch or two. It would seem that time has a way of bringing changes – some of them welcome and others, not so welcome.
Last Sunday, as I was singing a hymn in church, I saw Gwen, whose husband Beau died a few years ago. I loved Beau – such a good person and faithful Elder – and the sight of Gwen without him brought me to tears as a I sang. But that’s not all. . .
- Jeff has cancer, and it doesn’t look good. His son is graduating from college, and his daughter is graduating from high school this Spring. He’s hoping to see them both graduate.
- S. got divorced in November, and it was so, so hard.
- Allison’s mom, Karen, died last month of cancer. Karen was such a good person and faithful Elder.
- D. is struggling with sobriety, but he’s made it a year – God bless him.
- Freeda and Marsha are having a hard time walking.
- M.’s daughter doesn’t really talk to her anymore.
Maybe I am feeling my age a little bit, but I have reached the age when people of my generation and my parents’ generation have encountered some of the hardships that happen to a lot of people who live long enough.
The saying is sure and worthy of acceptance that you can never go home again. Home will never be exactly the same as it was when you used to live there. This much is true.
And yet, this is also true: some of the old bonds of love and friendship are still strong – even though some of the years may have not been kind. These bonds are a blessing in unkind times.
As the old hymn goes, “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.” The bonds of fellowship that we share are not unlike those that we will one day experience in at home in the kingdom of heaven. In this life, we are given the gift of Holy glimpses.
Going home again, I was blessed to get more than a few glimpses this past week and I am so thankful, even as I hold those who are going through seasons of hardship in the Light of God’s grace.
This Sunday, as we (finally!) hold our Annual Meeting of the Congregation, we do so acknowledging the persistence of change in the life of our culture and church home, but we give thanks for the bonds – the Holy bonds that tie us together.
See you in church!
Grace and Peace,
John
Prepare for Worship
This Week: “It’s Beyond Me. . . Let Go and Let God”
- Read Luke 9:28-43
- Read Psalm 99
- Read or sing Hymn # 191 – “We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding”