Dear Church Family,
It's been a hot week. Heat like this slows me down - but there are a lot of tasks that I assign myself - and I feel obligated to accomplish them. Obligations are like that - we feel compelled to complete what we think is expected of us - even when the obligation is self imposed - like many of these are.
Because it is hot, I attempt to get all of my physical tasks done early in the day. This week we (the little dog, spouse and I) went to Fiesta Island early in the day to take our weekly walk. Because of the heat, the dog park has been mowed down to make the landscape look very barren. It is barren compared to 6 months ago and it was teeming with waist high green plants and yellow flowers. Each visit then was a treat for the eyes everywhere you looked on the landscape was a rich green color with millions of little dots of yellow.
I remind myself of the cyclical nature of this life form. And we are in a natural pattern of hot and dry weather. Physically it is unpleasant, but simply a temporary span of time. I remind myself of winter which will be here soon and I'll look forward to the cool days and perhaps grumble about being too cold.
Like the weather life has "seasons" of experiences that we deem good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, seasons to savor and seasons we hope pass quickly. All in all, I've learned to count them all as Good. And even when they appear unpleasant, I know, through my faith, that Good is being revealed. Revealed in its own season.
It is written in Acts 1, "It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority." I take that as a reminder to be patient about how and when divine order unfolds. We will understand when it is time for us to understand. Until then I slow down and work with the heat in the ways I now understand. And I enjoy the walks with my little dog and I hold in faith, "that this, too, shall pass."
Many blessings,
Pastor Robert