Reflections...

On a retreat some time back, I was asked to take a moment or two to reflect on my ministry thus far. I remember thinking that it had been a long, winding road, from a college student in Abilene, through the Rocky Mountains of seminary, to the wind-swept plains of western Nebraska, to the deep south Texas Rio Grande Valley. It had been an interesting journey, one filled with mountaintop highs, and deep, dark valley lows. It was always exciting, never boring, and filled with the signposts that marked where the Spirit's guiding had led the way.

Early in my ministry, Jan gave me a notebook that resembled an old, tattered spiral-bound notebook that her grandfather had kept as a record of his ministry. In that old, lined ledger, Grandpa Otto had written down every baptism, every wedding, every confirmation, and every funeral over which he had ever officiated. Page after page, line after line, names were written - recorded for all history. The new, leather-bound notebook was engraved with my name. Jan had given it to me to begin to record my own ministry's milestones, perhaps as a way to carry on the tradition of her grandfather. The names that are written there are more than just names. They are the people whom I have encountered on my own faith journey - not just as a pastor, but as a fellow traveller. From the baptism of my own nephew, to the burial of my grandmother and grandfather, and the many names in between, I have been blessed to witness what this faith journey is all about.

As I sat reflecting on that journey, and where it has taken me thus far, I am amazed at how much it has been the people who have shaped my life. Not the books, nor the lectures, nor the sermons, nor the degrees. It has always been the people - people that I believe God has placed in my path to show me the way. People that have been loving enough, and bold enough, to point out when I have fallen away from the path I am supposed to be on. People that have been gracious enough to forgive me when I have messed up royally. More than names. People.

Perhaps that is a small part of what Lent is about. It is about how we have managed to share with one another the path that we know is truth - the path that comes from knowing and following our Lord Jesus Christ. The path that is light. Lent is a wonderful time for us to get back in touch with our faith, to re-learn the practices and disciplines that distinguish us from the worldly, and help us to be more in tune with the Godly.

Perhaps you also might take this time to get back in touch with your faith-roots, and re-learn your spiritual disciplines. You might just bump into God there!

See you in Church!

Grace and peace,
Brad