GPS and God

I made a recent trip to Detroit to assist our new youth minister, Steve Corp, move to Salem. A member of our congregation accompanied me on the trip. He is a truck driver by trade. That was great for me because he liked to drive. It was not so good for my GPS that I brought along.
Truck drivers have their own way of getting from point A to point B and that might not be interstate or even a well travelled road. It may be quicker or even safer, but the GPS has its way of going and when you get off the “approved” path the GPS lets you know by saying, “recalculating.”
To say the least the GPS and my truck driving member were at odds the entire trip. I expected at any time to lose a GPS or a driver.
Aren’t we like that? God has given us a direction that he wants us to travel, but we know better. We have a better way. We know a shortcut.
God seems to be recalculating all the time. Not that he changes his will, but that he is always recalculating the direction because of the decisions we make. It is not that he doesn’t know. It is not because we surprise him. But he wants us to be on the right path. His word gives us the road to travel. It is not travelled by many, but may we learn to hear his voice and turn where he tells us to.

Ministry

I have just returned from my second funeral today. In about an hour I will be at another funeral home planning the funeral of the two-month-old boy that passed on Monday.
As I was traveling back from the first funeral (60 miles away) en route to the second funeral I reflected about my work as a minister.
Some weeks it is all about studying, planning, and administrative type stuff. Then other times it is interacting with folks and then there are days that serious ministry takes place. Talking, studying with people who are struggling with their faith, others that want to know God and still others that are facing tragedies. This has been this type of week.
Funerals are challenging. What do you say? How do you comfort them, really? Is there a need to go beyond just attending or officiating a funeral?
A good thing that has happened to me this week is that I have been a keenly aware of God. Very few moments pass that I am not seeking wisdom, courage or discernment.
I ask God to help me as I minister to this young couple. I ask your prayers as I say a few words tomorrow. I pray that the events of the next two days will give this family comfort and peace in the storm that they are now experiencing. I ask Jesus to shout those powerful words, “Peace be still.”

Sid

Grief

I have just left the local hospital. I was there to give comfort to a young couple that had just lost their two-month old son.
What do you say? What comfort can I give to a couple that I don’t even know and to try and give them some stability during this tragedy?
A few hours ago the baby was alive and now it is gone. In one part of the ER is a mother that is grieving and a father that is out of his mind. In another part is a grandmother that is asking, “why God?”
No church background. No faith to hold on to. No church family to just be there. Alone!
Prayer was the only thing to do. You ask for comfort, strength, compassion and peace. Words don’t flow well during these times and maybe for a reason.
It is never easy to face death. It is especially hard when you don’t have the foundation of God. May God give them what they need to go on. May God give them hope when right now they see none. May in the fog of despair may God give them peace.
This reminds me oh so well that words are not the answer, but just caring.
May we always be willing to reach out.