There’s just something about spring that makes us want to connect–with friends, with nature, with family. This month you have two opportunities to connect with me. First you might be interested in reading a devotional essay through Faculty Commons where I talk about the environment on campus that, if not checked, could cause us to worry. Second, you could meet me at a Women’s Conference in Marietta called Bloom. The theme of the conference is Rest + Victory; it’s based on the 23rd Psalm. Read it with me:
The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For you are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
One of the pastors at my church pointed out that there are many dichotomies in the 23rd Psalm, like if I am walking in the valley of the shadow of death, it seems contradictory that I would “fear no evil” or take for example the rod and staff (weapons of punishment) why would they comfort me? I could just say what you already know–God’s ways are not our ways, but that answer probably doesn’t fully satisfy you. I’m not going to say I understand these things fully, but one dichotomy makes perfect sense to me–that is “To live, you must die.” I understand that because I recognize the symbolism of baptism that Jesus modeled for us. In baptism, our old life and way of doing things goes down into the water (it dies) and when we come up (arise unto Christ) we have a new life that is led by God. We allow Christ to lead us.
In my prepared talk, Your Life, God’s Ministry, I’ll share the things God put to death in my life and the new things God has grown and is growing in me. That’s the thing about relationships. We are changed by them. The good ones leave us so much better, and the bad ones, well, they leave us scarred. The only one I know who can fix all that is Jesus. Sure a counselor may do his or her best, and I believe in good counseling, but nobody beats the Wonderful Counselor.
I hope you’re able to connect with me at Bloom, and I hope you connect with Him in relationship today and everyday.
