What A Difference A Day Makes

As I sat at my daughter’s wedding a few days ago, I began to reflect on the milestones of our lives—those moments that clearly designate a significant change in our lives. When we pass a milestone, life can never be the same. We all have moments like that.

Sometimes those moments are the result of circumstances beyond our control—such as an unexpected death of a loved one. Other times, we are not aware of their significance until sometime later-- when I took a job at a summer stock company in Waterville over 25 years ago I thought it was just another job. I didn’t know I would meet Kelly Nelson and find the love of my life.

But we actually have control over most of our lives milestones—they are the result of our choices, decisions and actions. God gifted us with a free will that allows us to determine and create milestones at any time. I believe God wants us to do just that because in creating milestones, we are choosing to move out of our comfort zone; choosing to risk; choosing to trust in God’s promise to provide for our needs. Milestones can bring us closer to God.

I urge each of us to take some time in the coming days and reflect; prayerfully discern where we are and where God may be calling us to be. Let us intentionally create a moment that clearly designates where we are from where we are going. Let’s have a milestone of faith that brings us to new understandings of service and love. Let’s have a point in time that we can point to and say, “That’s the moment I chose to move closer to God.”

Shalom,

Tom

Some Thoughts

I remember back in the seventies when the twin towers were being built. It was not universally desired that they be constructed—petitions to stop the project were circulated, traditionalists were concerned about the status of the Empire State Building, nearby residents were concerned about the shadow cast by the towers. But they were built and soon became an everyday part of life in a city that is noted for always changing.

I remember going to the towers because there was a TKTS booth inside (where you could purchase half-price theater tickets.) It was the only indoor TKTS booth in New York and was great when it was raining.

I remember taking Patsy and Irene to New York in the summer of 2000. We didn’t visit the Twin Towers, but went to the top of the Empire State Building and viewed them from that vantage point.

I was serving as Election Warden in the town of Mount Vernon when the planes struck. Being at the polls the information came in bits and pieces until a television was brought in and we saw for ourselves. I remember trying to call New York, trying to locate those I knew who were supposed to be there that day. I remember in the many days following hearing names of those I didn’t know were there—names I hadn’t thought of in years became etched in my mind.

Here we are. A decade has passed. Much has changed, but much has not.

We were talking about this upcoming anniversary at our Cluster meeting the other day and the cries of don’t forget.

“Don’t forget.” The words have a connotation of desire for revenge; of I’m going to make you pay. So I choose to Remember. Re-member. Finding a way of coming together, a way of building up from the rubble. There we will find God.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.”—Psalm 42:11 (NIV)

September 11

We will be gathering for a time of prayer and reflection 8:30 am on Sunday, September 11. Our regular worship will begin at 10 am. This is also the first day of Sunday School.