Dear Grace,
This week is going to be such a contrast of emotions for me. I began the week leading one of the most heart-wrenching, but beautiful funerals I’ve ever been a part of. Hundreds of folks from our Maple Lawn community came out. Such an outpouring of sorrow and love. Powerful examples of courage and raw lament. Laughter. Reflection. Proclamations of hope in Jesus alone. The gathering had it all. I was so honored to be a part of it.
Would you pause right now and pray that the Spirit would take the seeds that were sown, while souls are a bit more permeable and hearts softened, to bring a harvest of salvation? There’s no hope for a way forward after this tragedy if Jesus is not in it and alongside.
In contrast, the end of this week will bring the close to a pretty significant chapter for our family. Our oldest son ends his organized soccer career by playing (with his younger brother) for Centennial High School in the MD state 3A Boys Finals on Saturday, 11/15, at UMBC at 2:30 pm. All are invited to come out! This whole season has been SO. MUCH. FUN.
A sentimental part of this is that my son is ready for this chapter to end. He’s filled with gratitude to be able to end his career as a captain, with the last game he could play, for a championship no less. So there’s such a chill peace he’s expressing.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be tears. I think that’s going to happen for all of us – win or lose. But the prevailing emotion is joy. God’s been so good to allow this little enjoyment over all these years. It has brought me much Sabbath delight to watch him play, to drive him to games: the conversations, the adventures in meals we’ve had. I’m grateful for all of it. And by his grace, we’ve kept ourselves (mostly) from making sports an idol.
On a larger sense, I’m recognizing the importance of observing necessary and good endings. In the past, I’ve tried to hold on to things too long or not taken the time to process and let go – whether that’s relationships, a chapter, a stage of ministry, or some other natural or unnatural transition. Endings are hard, for sure, but I’m learning (and Calvin has been an example to me in this) that there is a beauty and power to endings because God can birth something new out of them.
The weekend will then conclude with my friend, Michael Bethany, conducting a workshop for our worship teams on Saturday, then leading us in worship for both Sunday gatherings. You don’t want to miss experiencing the ministry of this gifted and sincere brother. Michael and I have had many heartfelt conversations around multi-ethnicity, the glory of Christ, and the beauty and heartache of the church. Invite someone! We’re going to be blessed.
Tomorrow, I will gather some area pastors in a quarterly gathering to work on our preaching and deepen our relationships. This year’s theme has been developing the skillset and framework to preach in light of trauma. We’re going to be focusing our discussions and workshop sermons around helping a community make sense of acute mass trauma (think a school shooting, or a hurricane, or a public health crisis). It comes at a time when I’m still processing Monday’s funeral service, and I feel a sense of affirmation from the Lord that I stewarded the people and the message faithfully. I’m eager to come together with these pastors who have become friends (including Fr Michael from St. Francis next door!)
I’ll leave you with one of the quotes that I read from a sermon given by William Coffin back in 1983. He preached, “Alex’s Death” ten days after his adult son died in an accident. While the whole sermon is filled with powerful images and raw emotion, I’m reflecting on how I’ve experienced the truth of this statement with so many of you.
“Love not only begets love; it transmits strength.” – William Coffin
May the Lord strengthen you with his love so that it might not only beget love in you, but might also transmit strength to someone in your way today.