Over the last couple of weeks I have walked, rode, flown, canoed, and swam to get to where I needed to be next. Yes, I have been on the move seeing the world and encountering new places, ideas and people. One of my particular joys during my travels has been witnessing members of this congregation grow and challenge themselves beyond their comfort levels. It has been amazing to see God calling people forward to stand up and proclaim the faith they know to be true. This was particularly evident during General Assembly as I heard one of Westminster's very own stand up on the floor of GA and share her belief and understanding of God's amazing love (how proud I was of her!). But that was not all. I saw another member, strong in her conviction to worship God, seek to help guide and discern with many others how we as Presbyterians are called to come before God in praise. And then I felt and experienced two more outstanding people of Westminster come to support, pray, and remind everyone from WPC and the John Knox Presbytery that God is with us and guiding us on this journey.
However, my summer experiences did not end in San Jose at the General Assembly. They continued as fourteen of Westminster's finest youth and parents climbed into a van and headed to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota. There I saw the determination and strength of three young adults motivate and care for those in their camp site. I saw parents teach basic wilderness skills to our middle school students. And, most importantly, I witnessed God calling everyone on the trip to stop and listen for the "sheer silence" of God as they sat in the beauty of our Maker's creation. Yes, the trip offered a time for rest, growth, and challenge, and a time to be still and know God.
Today, as I sit in the office and recover from all my travels, I am once again preparing to take off - this time for Mexico with a diverse and interesting group of people from Westminster and First Presbyterian Church. Some are veteran travelers to Mexico; others are venturing out for their first time. My prayer for the group is that they encounter God and share the Good News they know to be true in Jesus Christ.
So far this is what I have seen this summer: people sharing the Good News. In the coming days and weeks I pray that I continue to see this during my travels and at Westminster - people sharing the Good News. Yes, this sometimes requires us to go beyond our comfort zones, but when we extend beyond those barriers we encounter God in a very sacred way.
Sharing the Word of God is a powerful and rewarding calling. In doing so, we recognize the words of Isaiah 55: 10-22:
"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that which goes out from my mouth; it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
God is calling us to share our faith, to tell the world the Good News, and to witness God working through us and in the people around us. Go forth and share the Good News and you will find that this is a sacred blesssing from God.
PAX,
GHF
