PJ’s Page –
Recently the office got a voicemail message that brought us joy. In it, a woman left a fairly lengthy message, thanking us for “showing up in the world” through the messages on our Greenwood sign. She said she drives by every day and has been encouraged by the messages there and she wanted to thank us.
She was not the first person to offer her thanks. The sign is almost famous on social media. Neighbors and others regularly stop and take photos of it. It’s even been featured on the ELCA website.
This recent voicemail, however, made me wonder about the other messages we receive in the world. Perhaps they are messages we’ve internalized about our self worth. Maybe they are messages filled with the word “should.” Maybe they are things we tell ourselves. Maybe we read them on social media. Maybe they are sent to us on Snapchat, or Instagram, or even Pinterest.
Maybe the messages we are hearing sound something like… …..you will never accomplish this…. …you will never be good enough… …you are such a disappointment…. …everyone else is doing better….
Into this, God comes into the world. Because we aren’t the first people to hear and receive and believe such messages. And we won’t be the last. So, I think it’s pretty amazing that God would come and walk among us and live among us and even, die for us, preaching a message of love. A message that says… …you can accomplish this and even if you don’t it will be worth trying… …you are good enough simply because you exist, formed in God’s own image and beloved…. ….you are loved beyond measure by God, who delights in you… …everyone has joys and struggles in life. You are not alone.
Lent walks us through some of the stories of the struggles of God’s people. When we think that our lives in this time we are living in might be the hardest ever, take heart….look around. There are signs of hope everywhere. This is why we exist as the Church in the world….to share that hope and love. To remember the stories of our ancestors, who wandered in captivity and wilderness and despair, and who were still, beloved and carried by God.
It has been a hard season of late. Our nation is grappling with issues that are big and divisive and important. But do not lose hope.
Children are leading us.
God is with us.
We are beloved.
As a congregation, we share that hope in all that we do. In our worship. In our music. In our fellowship. In our service to others. In our building homes. And yes….on our sign!
With great hope, Pastor Julie+