Today, by zoom, I met with our Finance Committee, the Bayou City Blessings and a Backpack Board, corresponded with our Stewardship Chair about our upcoming campaign, and had a phone conversation with Holy Spirit’s Head of School.  At each turn I heard good news and each moment of encouragement was due to a group of awesome people who are committed to this wonderful community.  Every conversation was filled with creativity, thoughtfulness, optimism, and laughter.  We all know that this is a difficult moment in the world as the future of so many things are uncertain.  None of the meetings I had today ignored or were naïve about this backdrop.  But still there was a joyful and determined approach to do the very best we can to serve Holy Spirit and trust in God. 

My kiddos got home from school today and found me staring at a blank screen. When asked what I was up to, I told them that I was writing this article for the Spirit Shot. They looked confused and pointed out that there weren’t any words on the screen. I explained that sometimes I have to wait for a spark. Then one of them said, “You could write about Jesus.” I said “Great idea! What about Jesus?” “Well how good he is to us because he made the world…and he made our houses…and he made us…and animals…” I told them how helpful that was and thanked them for their help.

“Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” - Psalm 124:8

The last couple of days Sarah and I checked Space City Weather almost compulsively. We got things ready and moved all possible projectiles off our yard and porch. We prayed constantly as Hurricane Laura made its way through the gulf. When it finally became clear that the storm had shifted east we started worrying about the people in the path. I wanted to feel relieved we were no longer in the path and I was aware of some of the possible repercussions of experiencing the storm in our community, but I just worried about people who would inevitably experience the impact of this massive storm.

As both of my kids started school on Wednesday at Holy Spirit, I was surprised at how emotional it was to drop them off. Just to offer them a chance to have what felt like a normal day was a true blessing. Before this pandemic, celebrating what was normal seemed counterintuitive. That is to say, if you are anything like me, you took more for granted than imaginable. Having had the chance to sit with some of you in your driveway or yard, I have been reminded how much I am fed by being with you. Having a routine of dropping off and picking up kiddos brings rhythm to the day. I can actually, fairly accurately, remember what day it is. I am reminded that in unobserved normalcy, we are surrounded by the easily missed presence of our loving God.

I visited several people on their lawns this past week and it was clear after the first two that I was going to be arriving way behind on the rest of my appointments. I just couldn’t get enough of spending time with you wonderful folks. It makes me wonder what re-gathering will look like. Will we all look up on Sunday afternoon around 3:00 and realize that hours have passed? The Church are most authentically ourselves when we are together, after all. That said, I think God has us all in the palm of his hand and in God’s economy nothing good is lost. This time will pass while God’s presence, grace, and love won’t.

The novelty of watching the Houston Rockets play basketball this week came with an awareness of how abundant our choices for entertainment were a few months ago.  Sports, concerts, restaurants, coffee shops, and more were there for us to freely navigate. While there were so many venues for enjoyment, there remained one steady and constant source for meaning, comfort, assurance, and community: Church.  While so many of the sources for fun and entertainment have abated during this pandemic, church has not disappeared, even if it has been different.

I was talking to a friend the other day and we were discussing the breakdown of truth.  For any particular truth you feel like you have before you about any issue in this world, someone else could easily have any vast variety of differing accounts.  I am reminded of Pilate at the trial of Jesus asking “What is Truth” in John 18:39. Relativism is unmooring and complete uncertainty is worrisome at the least.  Earlier in John’s Gospel Jesus is trying to comfort his friends and let them know that he will go before them to prepare a place for them and Thomas says “Lord, we do not know where you are going.  How can we know the way?”  This is the famous passage where Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  There is a reason this is the claim carved into most crosses you will find at Camp Allen.  This is a proclamation of certainty, maybe the only true certainty that we will ever hear.  Jesus is our way.  He is our life.  Jesus is truth.

“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.” – Romans 8:31-34