“Let your lovingkindness be upon us, as we place our hope in you.” Psalm 33:22
Dear Redeemer Family:
August! What a surprise! As I write this, it is really July. But I noticed a thermometer which read 98 degrees today. I can’t wait to see what the “Dog Days of Summer” brings later in August. I guess that it is that strange time of year when people start to yearn for winter. And with the high humidity, it is like living in a greenhouse. I know. In high school, I spent a summer picking cherry tomatoes in greenhouses. It isn’t quite that bad yet. The greenhouses were kept at a constant 120 degrees, and high humidity. Oh, the memories. And before you ask, I consider air conditioning to be a blessing from God. Whoever invented it was surely inspired. Having said, or written, that, everyone had better take advantage of that invention. The heat now can be lethal.
Why this rant on the heat? Because I believe this is truly a time when we can echo the thoughts of the Psalmist above, “Let your lovingkindness be upon us, as we place our hope in you.” I’m sure that a number of people have already echoed those sentiments this summer, one way or another. In times of desperation, or in this case also added perspiration, it can be amazing how many people will suddenly turn to God. And yet, we forget that God is always there whether we remember to call on God or not. Indeed, no matter what the situation, God is always there showering us with lovingkindness. And ultimately, we know that God is our ultimate hope.
But those thoughts require faith. At this moment, my thoughts are “preaching to the choir.” I assume that all of you have faith. Afterall I am your pastor. But at times like this we should also think about those without faith in God. There are many of them, not in other faraway countries, but just down the street. And we are called to reach out to them in faith, with the offer of the gospel of Jesus Christ, whether it is hot, cold, or temperate in terms of weather, or not. In doing so, we share the gift of Christ to all people. That is what we are called to do, to be proclaimer of Christ.
But also, we are called to also “love our neighbors as ourselves.” In this weather, we can perhaps also reach out to those in need with “a cool glass of water.” In so doing we may share that lovingkindness of God, as well as extend hope and peace to those who may be suffering. In this weather, all are suffering. Share the good news.
In Christ,
Pastor Rose