Pastor Nancy's Reflections

The regular transition from summer to winter has been somewhat abrupt this year. The cooler weather after such a hot summer is a sure reminder of the seasonal shift, as are the backpack laden children and teenagers boarding the yellow busses around town. 

The movement of the seasons in our part of the globe is regular and somewhat predictable from year to year as is so much of God’s handiwork in the world: the ripening of the summer fruits: strawberries in June, blueberries in July, peaches in August.

I have been reading a wonderful new book (new to me although it was first published in 1999) written by Calvin Seerveld. I was drawn to it by the intriguing title, Take Hold of God and Pull. In it he presents a series of scripture passages in his own translations and offers some fresh interpretations that I find inspiring. 

His translation of Psalm 1:1-3

"That man or woman is a happy one who does not practice the clever thought-habits of godless people, who does not go and stand around with sinners or sit down in mocking, scoffing company.

That man or woman is a happy one whose pastime rather is the Law of the Lord, who considers the Law of the Lord day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by running waters, a tree that bears fruit on time and whose leaves do not fade - - all that man or woman does, is prospered.”

Joy, in other words, says Seerveld, is to be found in studying and meditating on the Law of the Lord. But the Law of the Lord is not confined to what is traditionally thought of as the Commandments and the laws of the Book of Leviticus.  This for some of us might not seem such a joyful reading pastime.  But The Law of the Lord here refers to the revelation of God.

He writes, “A happy person is occupied by studying the Lord God’s revelation in that they find joy and blessing… “to watch the sun come up out of the night like a bridegroom - - a strong man - - leaving his chamber and ready to run the race with pleasure;  to watch the beasts of the forest creep forth into the night, young lions roaring, seeking their food from God; to examine the human body so mysteriously and wonderfully fashioned and to consider man and woman’s honored rule over all creatures.”

So, The Law of the Lord includes the orderly unfolding of God in creation that gives a great blessing to those who investigate it as the miraculous handiwork of our God.

On one of those humid, late summer mornings I saw the dewdrops on the tips of the blades of grass on the lawn outside my window looking like a blanket of diamonds. While pushing my cart down the aisle of the supermarket I saw a child of about a year trying out its new skill of walking. Unsteadily tottering beside his parents while they and the other shoppers stopped and smiled as he demonstrated the Law of the Lord in human development. Or the nest full of baby wrens born and raised in the wreath on our front porch. They grew strong and now they fly and sing - - anonymously - - in the trees of our neighborhood. The regular waning and waxing of the moon as the earth moves and turns in its orbit in the vastness of space.

All of these are signs of the revelation of the Law of the Lord that God has given to bless us.  Take some time today to meditate on the Law of the Lord in all of its grandeur as it spreads out wherever we look.

Happy Autumn. May you find many miracles!

Pastor Nancy Becker

Parish Associate