How will we live in chaotic times? We are pushed by strong winds: COVID lingers, war on the other side of the world grinds, the price of a gallon of gas and baby formula goes up, Lake Mead is low enough to expose a water crisis, political polarization paralyzes the body politic, to name a few. Despite these forces, like the birds, we can angle our lives to redirect the pressure and keep our eyes on the goal no matter where we are temporarily moved.
As Christians, we know that Christ is alive and he has conquered death, sin, and the devil. We fix our eyes on Christ, who is both our leader and our goal. On June 4-5, we celebrate Pentecost: God gave us the Holy Spirit to help angle our lives, that is, to redirect our energy and time to what serves God and our neighbor in whatever situation we find ourselves. We keep our hearts and minds on God by our daily prayer, weekly worship, study of the Bible, and discussion with other Christians. When you are anxious or distracted, which of these helps keep you moving and focused? Now God may be calling you to strengthen these spiritual disciplines. Confirmation students will share their statements of faith that weekend at each service, and God may inspire you through them!
As St. John’s Lutheran Church, we keep our minds on Christ by focusing on our mission and vision: we celebrate God’s love, proclaim the Good News of Jesus, and serve our neighbor. That’s our goal. During the current season, we angle our body on deepening our relationships and developing leaders. In what ways are you deepening relationships with others? How are you developing as someone who helps others direct attention and energy towards our goal?
Water shortage is one of the powerful crises we face. Like tides on a beach or erosion that shapes canyons, the most powerful forces operate over a long period of time. This water crisis has been developing for at least 20 years and exposed not only bodies at the bottom of Lake Mead but our assumption that there will always be water when we turn on the tap. If you haven’t been following this, I encourage you to google “AZCentral Joanna Allhands Water.” For example, see her article https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/joannaallhands/2022/05/02/arizona-has-too-many-homes-without-water-how-stop-trend/9577225002/
As people who keep our eyes on Christ, the water crisis is a “serve neighbor” issue—and also an opportunity to deepen relationships and develop leaders. Taking short showers, fixing leaks quickly, switching to desert plants or filling in a pool—every act of conserving water helps a neighbor. Writing the mayor, city council, state and federal leaders about your water concerns helps show our leaders that we care about this long-term issue and need bold vision. Discussing water issues with our neighbors, people at work, family and friends helps us deepen relationships around a basic issue. As we discuss water, we will develop leaders who are passionate and direct our energy and time.
While we would never have chosen to live in such times, these times are an opportunity for Christ to shine through us—through the ways our lives focus on his call to celebrate, proclaim, and serve despite the winds that blow around and against us. In fact, even those forces that seem to blow us off course, are opportunities to deepen relationships and develop leaders.
Asking God to guide and bless,
Pastor Peter
