Sunday
He really is leaving! I walked into Phil's office this morning and it is empty! No books on the shelves, no clutter on the mantel (he really did have a cluttered mantel). Movers are coming to the house today. It is going to be a tough day Sunday.
And that's okay. I am thankful for a religion that allows sadness. Phil's, and his family's, departure reminds us that the work of God's kingdom has its personal cost. We do not have to pretend that it doesn't. And, indeed, the costs make the work all that more dear. We cannot speak of sacrificial service to God that leaves out sacrificing what actually hurts to sacrifice. Nor may we leave out whatever it is we do not understand. God gives his orders and carries out his purpose - some of which we understand and some we do not.
It is okay to be sad on Sunday for our loss, but all the more then we are to demonstrate to one another and to witnesses what it is to nevertheless trust our God to know what he is doing and to act for our good. And thus we must worship our Lord to our fullest. We know that our Senior Minister will point us to Christ and to the unfailing love of God that we have in Christ. Even now be meditating upon the passage he will preach - Romans 8: 38-39: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
And that's okay. I am thankful for a religion that allows sadness. Phil's, and his family's, departure reminds us that the work of God's kingdom has its personal cost. We do not have to pretend that it doesn't. And, indeed, the costs make the work all that more dear. We cannot speak of sacrificial service to God that leaves out sacrificing what actually hurts to sacrifice. Nor may we leave out whatever it is we do not understand. God gives his orders and carries out his purpose - some of which we understand and some we do not.
It is okay to be sad on Sunday for our loss, but all the more then we are to demonstrate to one another and to witnesses what it is to nevertheless trust our God to know what he is doing and to act for our good. And thus we must worship our Lord to our fullest. We know that our Senior Minister will point us to Christ and to the unfailing love of God that we have in Christ. Even now be meditating upon the passage he will preach - Romans 8: 38-39: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
posted by M Clark at 6/25/2010 10:43:00 AM
2 Comments:
Thank you Marion, for writing these words of comfort for a difficult time. I am certain I will share them with others in the future.
I have been physically away from Tenth for two and a half years now but I have attended Tenth's webcast services at 9am prior to attending church here in Minneapolis. I still feel the loss of the senior minister. Thanks for these words of comfort. The Lord will send the man he has appointed. I am praying for the pastoral staff during this huge time of transition.
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