Reflections from Pastor Anna – August 2021
I give thanks to you that I was marvelously set apart.
Your works are wonderful—I know that very well. — Psalm 139:14, Common English Bible
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation! –Psalm 139:14, the Message
To me, the month of August is like ‘between time.’ It is still summer, hot and humid, and feels like time for vacation for rest and renewal in body and mind. But I know it is time to get ready for the new school year opening in two weeks. I understand there is a bit of uncertainty in our life together as the Delta variant and ‘breakthrough’ infections of vaccinated people cases rise in some areas in our nation. As far as I understand, we continue to open our space for gatherings, including in-person worship. And we will take every precaution as we follow the federal, state, and local government instructions.
We all now know how effective wearing masks is to prevent the virus from spreading. I’ve always been carrying an extra mask in my pocket or purse. Perhaps it is time to wear it again when I congregate with others, especially when children are around.
For the last two weeks, I had an opportunity to be with a group of clergies to learn how to lead the Biblical Reflection using images. Images convey rich messages much more so to many people than words can do. And I have been delightedly amazed that each participant sees a unique way to approach the images and takes away a different message from them. And the gem of such a way of reflecting on the biblical scriptures is that it opens each participant’s heart and leads into telling a story of a piece of their life. I am reminded again how uniquely, how wonderfully we are made, each and every one.
Friends, do you feel time passes fast or slow? When have you wished time moves slowly or quickly? On many occasions, we want things to happen at the speed of light instead of the speed of a seed planted in the ground, but someone writes that almost all spiritual realities in Scripture are described in agricultural terms. We want our dreams to become a reality overnight. We want our prayers answered immediately and in a way that we want. But that doesn’t seem the way it works in God’s kingdom.
In this ‘between time,’ as summer winds down and a new season is around the corner, I invite you to ponder the questions I offered about time. May God continue to walk with us whatever time we may find ourselves.
Peace,
Pastor Anna