Dear Friends,
I’m writing this on the cusp of Rummage. Early last summer, when I began talking with the search committee from KPC, Rummage was one of the first things I was told about, and it keeps coming up—people share tales of joy, hard work, laughter, fellowship, friendship, pride, and a certain amount of reverent awe. Often I am warned to get ready, the warning accompanied with a laugh that doesn’t diminish the mammoth size of what I’m supposed to be preparing for. Now, watching the tents erected outside, and the beehive of activity buzzing with more and more bees in constant motion, I am dutifully filled with large anticipation.
For some reason, though, I’m mindful of the anticipation I was feeling earlier this week, when Cindy and I went with some friends into the city to see a matinee of Cabaret on Broadway, a big show with some big names and big buzz. We’d planned a big day on the town to go with the big-ticket prices. We arrived at the theatre only to find that the performance was cancelled due to cast illness. Suddenly, our big plans were deflated like a hot-air balloon plummeting to the ground. But while some patrons around us at the theatre were receiving the news with anger and frustration, our group took our disappointment out to lunch at a nearby outdoor café and had a pleasant afternoon together, though not the one we’d been planning.
Life can be like a roller coaster of highs and lows, cranking its way to the top of the rise and plummeting to the depths. There are big moments of happiness and big moments of sadness on our journey through life, so it’s best to gather around ourselves a group of caring companions we can laugh, cry and pray with through it all. Then when we need help pulling off the large events of our lives, we’re not in it alone, and when the balloons deflate, we’ve got each other’s backs. As the Apostle Paul says to his friends the Philippians, and I paraphrase, “Don’t worry about me. I’ve learned to be content with whatever I have, little or plenty. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But it’s kind of you to share in my challenges.” (4:11-14)
In the six months I’ve been your pastor, that’s what I’ve come to feel is the great gift of the KPC family. You are truly here for one another, and beyond this church family, for the family of God that extends throughout the world. God bless you all in the highs, lows, and pleasant in-betweens of all that life brings.
Thanks for sharing.
Love and light,
Martin