Learning from the detours

And God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Throughout the city of Concord, all my familiar routes are detoured. This has caused more traffic, less patience, and greater inconvenience. As I tried to navigate all these changes with an out-of-town guest, I apologized for the twists and turns we were taking as we skirted around town to our destination. She replied, “Aren’t you blessed to live in a community that has a vision of improving things for its citizens? It might be an inconvenience, but it is also an opportunity. An opportunity to experience new things along a different path and to embrace and enjoy the changes going on around you.” All things will be made new.

For a minute, I thought, “isn’t that what our Triune God wants for each of us – to be thankful for detours and to see them as new opportunities, to allow ourselves to be changed and transformed in the loving spirit of our Lord?” We are called to be kind and gentle with each other. We are called to walk in love into the chaos and storm of life in faith knowing God has a plan not yet revealed to us. We know that God will make all things new.

The storm of life has been raging the last couple of years. We are exhausted and have been inconvenienced. The pandemic has caused us as a church community to change and move on new paths, to detour the familiar. The ways we worship are different and yet familiar. Sometimes we forget to walk in love and patience with each other. God has given us everything we need to move through the detour.

We are the beloved of Christ. Each of us is uniquely made and gifted, with gifts we are called to share.

In this season of detours, the community of church needs each of us to gather: to pray, to share stories, to sing, to cry, and to laugh together. The church needs you and you need the church.

Whatever your path, whatever the detour, the love of Christ welcomes you back into loving community.  Let us see the opportunity in the detour. Our Triune God is making all things new and has given us everything we need according to the riches in Jesus Christ.

Blessings,
Jackie+