Ocean

In Meditations of the Heart, Howard Thurman talked about his innermost soul as an altar, where God’s gifts to him are placed:

“The quiet hopes that flood the earnest cargo of my dreams

The best of all good things for those I love

A fresh new trust for all whose faith is dim

Seeing in each new day the seeds of the morrow

Finding in each struggle the strength of renewal

Seeing in each person the face of my brother.”

In other parts of his writing, he also talks about tending to the fires that burn on “the various altars of his life.” We all have so many fires going. This week the Lawsons and I are heading down to Synod Assembly in Worcester, MA. The 150 congregations of the New England Synod are putting on four workshop sessions, each with four offerings! How will we ever choose from the mountain of ministries to learn about?

No matter. When the flood waters receded and the ark landed, Noah built an altar to make God an offering. He remembered something important:

Flood all around you?

It’s no problem. Have no fear.

You contain the sea!

Ultimately, all we have is God. And God is enough.

with love, Pastor Chelsea