Expectations vs Reality

About once or twice a month, I lead the first portion of the worship service at Redeemer Church. One part of this is the Prayer for our Needs. We pray for the folks in our church both generally and specifically, for our community, ministries, and more. This past Sunday, I included in this prayer a portion on our expectations for the Christmas gatherings and celebrations coming up. We live in a world under the curse, so it shouldn't surprise us when our gatherings of family and friends fall short of what we expected them to be. 

In all these times of getting together we may have accidents, such as knocking over the gravy boat, or we may have strained relationships with individuals we will see. Both of these are hard and try our patience. Also, we may have a bit of melancholy as we look around and think of individuals who have died or are not able to be with us.

Well, sometimes these prayers during worship are needed most by the person that prays them. This week, we came back to Sylva from visiting family and Kristy came down very sick at her stomach. No one wants that kind of reality to intrude when we have a few days at home before going to another Christmas gathering. These were supposed to be a few relaxing days at the house, plus a little last-minute shopping and preparation. This turned in to laundry, dad alone doing the final shopping and wrapping (scary), sleeping in the "guest room" (a.k.a. Lydia's spare bed), making tea and toast, etc. We had to give up on making a trifle to take to the family gathering when I saw the preparation of it was anything but trifling.

I can say that all the presents are purchased and physically here. Their wrapping may be a bit... asymmetrical but they are covered and very likely labeled correctly. Kristy is on the mend and we'll get to the gathering eventually. 

I share all this for a few reasons. First, don't think your pastors or elders are above sin. My attitude was mostly good, but certainly not perfect about all this. I so easily grow weary in serving others. I admit my own disappointment and anger over this change in circumstances. Second, this is a reminder that we'll all find expectations unmet sometime this month, and probably this very day. I encourage you to do your best to love and serve others and look for what is good and encouraging when your circumstances change.

Third, for my brothers and sisters in Christ, there is an event, a gathering one day that will exceed all our expectations. 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:3-4

Our brother, Jesus, will return one day to make all things new. No more death, mourning, crying, or pain. Forever. No more strained relationships. No more stomach bugs. I don't know if we'll be able accidentally spill the gravy boat, but it won't result in disaster and anger. And we will have the presence of our heavenly father with us. So, I encourage you to plod away today. Do your best to look back and celebrate the incarnation of Jesus, but also look ahead with hope to his coming again.

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/food-summer-office-garden-6518667/

In a Mirror Dimly

(Apologies to all both of my readers for a lack of posts!)

I had a beautiful experience yesterday evening. All three of my kids are taking piano lessons and my oldest is learning a version of Canon in D by Pachelbel. That piece is a favorite of mine, so I enjoy when he practices it.

But, right now he is still learning it, and is far from mastering it. He stumbles, hits many wrong notes, drops the left hand while working on the right, and the tempo is uneven. No concert hall would let him perform at this point. He himself is frustrated. You can see it on his face when he messes up and has to backtrack.

In spite of that, I loved it.

I loved it because I can hear that beautiful piece even through his fumbling and mistakes. I know what Canon in D is supposed to sound like, and even that little taste of what his effort can do brings me joy. It reminds me of the wonderful moment when I saw my bride march down the aisle toward me before we made our vows. That was nearly 20 years ago and I love her more now than in that moment, but that was the beginning. Of course I love a reminder of her and that day.

I also love it because I love him. Stephen is 13 and for fellow parents perhaps that's enough to have a sense of where he is in life right now. He is absolutely my son; introverted, computer gamer, math brain, sees issues in black and white, and sadly (for the rest of the family) has my sense of humor. He's probably going to be taller than me. And I love him dearly. Whatever he does has value to me because he is immeasurably valuable.

Our relationship with God is described in many ways, one of which is like a parent and child. We are told to pray to him as "our father in heaven." Yesterday evening, I had a glimpse of that. In spite of my fumbling, sin, and foolishness, God knows his great sovereign plan for creation and even uses my fumbling work to bring it about. He also knows me and loves me; he loves me enough to sacrifice his own son for me.

Brothers and sisters in Christ: you are loved dearly and your good works, though tarnished by our sin and foolishness in this life, do glorify your father in heaven. Plod on in the good you do now and look forward to an even better day.


For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. - I Corinthians 13:12