Director’s Discourse

February 2010

Silver Linings

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

It was a big fall that day in December – about twenty feet from the top of my ladder to the ground. Maybe you read about it in the January Spotlight: “Pray for Pastor Mark Peterson, who recently fell, breaking both wrists, one was a minor break, the other will need a second surgery. Pray for Mark’s doctor that he will be able to set it properly. Pray for healing for Mark and patience as he recovers.”

It turns out I needed all sorts of patience while I waited for my bones to heal, giving me lots of time to think – particularly about that little verse from Thessalonians: “Rejoice always . . . give thanks in all circumstances.” My dear Paul - you’ve got to be kidding! This old preacher’s wrists are the least of it! What about my friend Jim who is in the end stages of ALS, or another Jim who struggles with chronic back pain? What about our co-worker who is trying to manage the care of her parents, both of whom are seriously ill? What about my brother who had a stroke or a colleague who told me about the death of his grandchildren in an automobile accident? What about our clients who live with poverty every day and have little if anything to go home to? What about Haiti? What about that?

Some days it seems like there’s not much to rejoice about. Unless of course, you talk to the people who suffer. We might look miserable from a distance, but close up most of us are thankful. Within moments of my quick fall to earth, compassionate, capable people arrived to manage my care. They’re still working to mend my broken body and spirit. Others held me up in prayer, asked how I was doing, cooked meals, sent cards and drove me where I needed to go. I’ve discovered it’s gone that way for all of the friends I mentioned above. I pray it will also be true for the people of Haiti, soon.

It may seem like God came in an unlikely place, at an unlikely time, in an unlikely package. Yet the circumstances of that birth in Bethlehem didn't weigh God down, because Jesus didn’t stay cooped up in a dusty manger for long. Soon he was running loose in the world, in our cities and in our homes.

So – thank heavens for the silver linings! One of my best was Bruce, a middle-aged fellow who broke his wrist about five months ago. The first time we met he said, “How are you doin?” Then he quickly added, “Oh never mind, I know exactly how you’re doin. Now, shake my hand!” He stretched out his left hand – the one both of us had broken, and gave me a shake. It wasn’t a linebacker kind of handshake, but strong enough that I could feel hope flowing from his outstretched arm, to mine. I rejoiced!

I don’t blame God for my fall – that was my fault. Nor do I blame God for my friend’s ALS, my brother’s stroke or the earthquake in Haiti. Falling rocks, speeding bullets, car crashes – that’s physics, and often the result of our own mistakes. On the other hand, I do thank God for noticing me and others like me, laying there on the ground, and sending all sorts of people to help. Without them, we’d be a mess. Human beings, as an old rabbi once said, are God’s language.

By the way – that’s what we do at CES every day. We give people reasons to be thankful. On a good day, most of our clients leave here rejoicing and full of hope. It looks like St. Paul knew what he was talking about after all!

Pastor Mark Peterson