In my devotions a few days ago, this was the psalm offered for reflection.
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. ~ Psalm 62:5-7
Silence is hardly my strong point. I am usually working more towards – finding a friend. Yes, there are days I can long for the silence – especially after homeschooling and working from home and refereeing the arguments of my children, who I affectionately refer to as my “coworkers.” Yet, in these days, I am hungry for a little noise. I know, I know … be careful for what you wish for.
Bring. It. On.
As we continue to live in the midst of these most uninspiring days, I am being reminded that our world continues to turn. We have missed the opportunity to celebrate anniversaries together. Birthdays are flying by. And graduations have begun. I am hungry to celebrate each one. And yet – we live in the silence of empty auditoriums, stadiums, schools, and churches. I am finding the silence of not being together to be more and more like a fog that will not disperse. And in such moments, the Holy Spirit finds ways to remind me that in the silence – God is our rock and our salvation. Our fortress. And God promises, “We will not be shaken.” A promise I need to hold onto in these lengthening days.
High school graduates in our congregation are preparing to close out a long-awaited chapter of their lives. College graduates are pondering job prospects or another degree program. Seminary graduates are pondering first call possibilities. All of them graduating via a computer screen and a diploma received through the mail. (Which for some of us is how we received our college diplomas – when we graduated in person.) I share all of this to ask you to consider the silence in your own lives. Perhaps, in these days, you might set aside your own silence to offer a word of joy to a graduate in your circle of life. If you are able to remember what it was like to walk across the stage at your own graduation from high school, college, etc…I wonder if you might hold another graduate in these days and honor them with a note celebrating their accomplishment. A phone call, a text message, a letter, a card, a small gift – what might you offer to celebrate another?
My soul waits in silence – some days. Other days, my soul wants to cluck like a chicken or squawk like a seagull. In these days of graduations happening in homes instead of on campuses, my soul wants to shout from the rooftops and celebrate each and every special moment with thanksgiving to God. So, people of God, go find a friend who is graduating – or the child of a friend – or the grandchild of a friend – or the niece or nephew of a friend – or the child of your neighbor and celebrate them in these long days of silent soul-waiting. In these days of waiting – bring your joy to another and be well. You are missed. You are loved.
Until I see you in church,
Pastor Chris
May 15, 200
2 Comments
Thank you for the beautiful thoughts you wrote here about silence. Hope to see you in church soon.
Beautiful message. Watching virtual athletic awards for my grandson last evening and not being able to hug him and celebrate with him in person when his name was read, brought me to tears and my heart ached, not only for me, but for my grandson and his parents. These moments will for ever be etched in our memory. But in the silence of these moments I am drawn to reflect on all the positives in our lives. None of my family have been diagnosed with COVID-19. All my children are still working their regular jobs, some from home, while schoolwork is being done across the workstations. But all is well and God is watching over us and guiding us through these times. He will bring us through the darkness into the light. Praise God!