The Oasis - December 31, 2019
Author: Rev. Estelle Margarones
December 31, 2019
December 31, 2019
Rev. Estelle Margarones
Many years ago,I handed each of the children in church a note card that I had paper-punched. In the corner of each card was a tiny circular hole. I asked the children to hold it up to one eye and look through it. Each did and then they described what they saw: "the cross", "the flag", "my mom", "the front door", etc... Once each child had a turn, I asked them to remove the note card and look around.
Now what did they see? The entire sanctuary including Bibles, hymnals, the organ, the piano, the flag, the cross, moms, dads, grands, friends, etc....
I told them that the little exercise we'd just done was to show them the difference between what we can see and what God can see. Not only is our perception limited, but so, too, is our sense of time.
As we straddle the cusp of another new year, we may take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments or lament our lack of achieving certain goals. We may be glad to let the year go or we may fight to try to hold on to it.
When I first got into ministry, I was amazed at the resilience I saw in some of the most elderly in my congregations. I mistakenly thought they were the most fragile because of what they'd seen or endured. I came to understand that it was precisely because of their experiences and their faith, that they were stronger than many. They had been through a lot, but they still had a sense of meaning, a sense of hope, and a sense of humor.
The Bible is a living history spanning centuries and it shows us that there are peaks and valleys in every life. The Book of Ecclesiastes, in particular, points out the unfairness of life through a series of opposites. Yet through it all, God offers us hesed, steadfast love. We can be comforted knowing that we live as people of faith. God is, was, and will be for all eternity. Our perspective may be limited and our time may be limited, but God's is limitless.
Happy new year!
Blessings,
Rev. Estelle
Revelation 21:5-6 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End."
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