An experience of Hope

I had a profoundly wonderful day today. It was one of those days that did not lend itself to grandiose strides in any one project, and nothing too out of the ordinary happened. However, I have been washed over with thanksgiving and joy today.

I am so thankful to be a child of God today. I have felt the unwarranted and undeserving love of God, as if God has said today, "J, you really are mine and you can't do anything about it, simply enjoy this gift." Now, I always know this cognitively, but rarely it seems do I see and taste and touch it. And the best thing is that I haven't done a darn thing to deserve it. I woke up like I always do, got ready for work, worked, came home, ate dinner with my wife, went for a walk, ran some errands and blogged. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Yet God grabbed hold of this day for me to see it with fresh eyes. Humble eyes, joyful eyes.

I am also so thankful that God has called me to the church in which I am serving as intern pastor. Everyday I enter the building and talk to the people I am more thankful. I am filled with ideas, hopes, dreams and desire to serve with People of Hope to be the stewards for God's party, usually called the kingdom of God. The party has already begun, the festivities are in place and we as God's gathered people get to set the table for others to come and see and taste that the Lord is good. Come and taste and see. Come discover the wonders and mysteries of the Trinity, Father, Son, Holy Spirit - co-eternal, co-equal and one.

I can't wait to see what this one, whom we call the Trinity has in store for me tomorrow. What is in store for you? It is in these rare moments of hope that I see most clearly what is always in front of me. But, it is in the dimmer days of doubt that only make hope the sweet nectar that it is and God's faithfulness to us real. As great as it feels to live life in the euphoria of the experience of God's grace, we fool ourselves if we deny the reality of pain. So, if tomorrow is full of pain, I will rejoice in knowing God's goodness and mercy are not reliant on how I feel, but solely on Christ's righteousness which has been given freely to me, and there isn't anything I or anyone else can do about it. That's the good news for us today.


Peace to your house.