Eastertide
May 17, 2017
Scripture Reading: Psalm 66:8-20
Bless our God, O peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept us among the living,
and has not let our feet slip.
For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.
You brought us into the net;
you laid burdens on our backs;
you let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a spacious place. –Psalm 66:8-12
Every child is different, but the tests are similar from encouraging that first step to taking off the training wheels. Babies plop on their diaper draped bottoms more times than not learning to walk. Parents watch for signs when their child is ready for each milestone in their growth and development. The Psalmist tells us that God, our Parent, does the same. Parents must discern when a child develops to the point of knowing the difference between right and wrong and the ability to choose right. My paternal grandmother died when I was five, so I must have been very young when she discovered me turning the gas knobs on her kitchen range. Her gentle fear wrapping her arm around me and pulling me away while readjusting the knobs probably cured me of playing with the range more than anything she said. As young as I was I remember the incident well.
Milestones do not end with infancy. We face them at each stage of our lives. I recently attended a retreat on Aging and Sage-ing dealing with the continuation of ministry in the fourth quarter of life. The Psalmists gives us assurance that God is actively engaged in our growth and development throughout our lives. What is God nurturing in us currently? Are we being called to the next progression of our faith work?
Prayer: God we thank you that you have brought us out to a spacious place which indicates the opportunities for our service are varied and many. Guide us to where we are most needed and can best help. Amen.