Thought for Today
Hagai 1:5 Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared . . . 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared.
Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses also "was faithful in all God's house."
As we age, it is easy for us all to drown in the deep pools of our memories. There is a temptation to get lost in those memories. In the movie The Way We Were, Barbra Streisand’s character sings "Memories light the corners of my mind / Misty watercolor memories of the way we were" . . . "Memories may be beautiful and yet" . . . "What's too painful to remember / We quickly choose to forget"
Some memories are truly beautiful. Some memories are not beautiful. There are good memories and bad memories. That song says correctly, we choose to forget the painful memories. When we do so, however, we lose the opportunity to learn from those memories and to benefit in the future from our lessons.
I’m thinking about memories this morning, because I met this morning with a committee from the denomination I serve. The committee’s purpose is to periodically meet with clergy to reflect with the clergy on their ministry’s status. The basic idea is much like the intention of our nation’s State of the Union address. Clergy are called to reflect on our call, the current state of our ministry and how that ministry meets our sense of call. It is a chance to reflect in confidence on the state of our lives and to discern any problems or issues and any resources the denomination might offer to address those issues.
During my first career, every company for which I worked mandated annual performance reviews. The company policy in every case specified that salary reviews and adjustments were totally independent from performance reviews, as though that were possible, much less desirable. Company policies say a lot of things.
Many churches also have annual performances for their clergy. Although subject to possible abuse, it is a good idea to regularly address expectations for each party and how those expectations are being met. It is better to identify an issue and resolve it than to let it remain and slowly, over time, grow into a major impediment.
Today’s meeting was more oriented toward offering support to me in my ministry from the denominational level. I believe that same dictum holds true, it is better to identify an issue and resolve it than to let it remain and slowly, over time, grow into a major impediment. Fortunately for me, there are currently no major issues . . . beyond the empty parking lot and vacant pews.
Preparing for today’s meeting, however, did afford me the chance to reflect on my sense of call to ministry, my current ministry itself, and the general state of my life. I believe such reflection is important for us all. Clergy and laity alike should regularly assess the state of our lives. Recall, remember, reflect and assess.
It can be fun to let my "Memories light the corners of my mind / Misty watercolor memories of the way we were." Greta and I met while in high school. We dated until we had both finished college and then were married. Many years later, memories of those years are misty watercolor memories. And, those memories still light the corners of my mind.
I have other memories of the subsequent years of career, parenting, church life and the middle years of our lives . . . and those memories are mostly beautiful. There were other memories of being laid off, of watching our own children go through the normal hurts and sorrows of their own youth. Like most, I do choose to quickly forget those painful memories.
Now, we are making ‘new’ memories. I shared with that committee this morning the fact that I offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God each day for calling me to ministry in this phase of my life. I’m sure that as I age, these memories also will become " Misty watercolor memories of the way we were" and that they too will “light the corners of my mind.”
As I remember and reflect on the years following my first career, my memories are beautiful. Years of enjoying the company of our children and grandchildren. New friends made. New families of faith. New opportunities to serve our Creator God.
Take a few minutes today to remember and reflect. Enjoy the misty watercolor memories. Paint some new watercolors. Look for new memories upon which to reflect.
Stay safe, thank God for the opportunities in your lives, trust God,
Pastor Ray