September 12

Yesterday we marked 22 years since the September 11th assault on our nation. Although it happened more than two decades ago now, sometimes it feels like it still just happened yesterday.

September 11, 2001 was the date that the terrorists used planes to wreak destruction, but for me, it was September 12th when it all started to really sink in. On the day of the tragedy I think we were still trying to fit our minds around what had happened and makes sense of those searing images.

And I think that this is often true. It’s the day after or even the week after when we can really begin to get a handle on what has happened to our world. I think of the devastating earthquake in Morocco and the flash fires in Maui and floods and hurricanes and all sorts of disasters that hit our world take some time to sort out, and often the day after can be as disheartening as the actual day.

I think of the disciples hovering in the upper room for a full week after Christ’s death and resurrection, or the two travelers on the road to Emmaus, walking with the crucified risen one, but not understanding all that his presence meant.

I had a seminary professor who often said, “Not everything that happens is God’s will.  But in everything that happens, God has a will.”

The truth is that it takes time to see how God is at work in this world. Sometime it can take more than two decades or even a century to see the movement of God among us.
But God is at work among us. The risen Christ is in our midst. And whenever disaster and tragedy strike, God is by our side. Our job is to watch for God among us, and when we come upon that ever present, risen life to help further that healing for our world.

In Christ,

Pastor John D. Morris

P.S.  On a lighter note, the new By Heart books have arrived and are available just outside the sanctuary. Sorry for the late arrival, but they are here now and ready to be picked up and read!!