I would not call myself a hoarder, but I do tend to keep those things which have touched my heart deeply over the years.
So many of the prayers, the poetry, the pages of the book I am writing are stored in a large blue container. I must admit that the size of this container has grown over the years – in fact, friends in ministry will sometimes contact me for inspiration and the standing joke has become “do you feel like dumpster diving today?”
If you recall, last Sunday we read from Psalm 119, part one. Well, way back in February 2014, while a student minister in Lacolle, Clarenceville and Hemmingford, Psalm 119, part 2 was included in the day’s lectionary. Today I found the bulletin cover from that day. I kept it because the words on the back of the printed bulletin touched my soul.
So, this week, in a flash-back moment to 2014, I would like to share them with you.
They begin with the words from Leigh Sinclair:
“Happy are those who…seek God with their whole heart” (Psalm 119: 2)
We hear about God’s love watering and warming us to growth, but where is this Gardener in the dark of winter? Where is the fertile Lover in this season of parched, frozen ground and bare trees? Where is this Gardener in our spiritual seasons of parched, frozen prayers and bear hearts? Can we still seek God with our whole hearts when faith is cold and growth suspended?
Let us remember that God’s love is not season-bound, or dependent on how we are feeling or the weather. Look up at the night sky – imagine the Northern Lights nourishing your heart. Seek the Gardener’s voice not by travel or progress but by abiding in these quiet, waiting times. For with God nothing is impossible. God made every season of faith (parched, fertile, or flooded) for all Creation. We are called to celebrate both growth and our time of Sabbath.
This season let us rest, trusting our inner dormant seeds of God’s love. Let us prepare for the adventures ahead by strengthening our faith with the wisps of dancing colors!
Amen and in peace
Pastor Beryl, DLM
The Mission and Service of The United Church of Canada: God’s Mission, Our Gifts