Yep, it’s hard for me too. As you may guess.  But my heart is filled with joy to be concluding vacation in the latter part of this week in one of our special sacred spots. We’re in Grand Marais, Minn. in the far northeast corner of ‘the north shore” of Minnesota, right on Lake Superior’s shore.  We fell in love with this area nearly 30 years ago, and have spent many summer vacations here.   These couple days are the first days since 2012, and it’s good to be back. 

We had a wonderful time with my family, including the memorial service and significant fellowship with extended family.

On my mind, for me and for us all… how important it is to RECEIVE . God’s beautiful handiwork in majestic nature, silence, new experiences, family roots.  Why is it easier to remember our smallness, interdependence, and trust when we’re in nature?   I’m not sure.   I can put my intellect in that zone in the city, and I am certainly devoted to urban life and community-building.  But it’s so good to have a rhythm of time away. I don’t take it for granted!  And I always pray I would savor and safeguard these lessons upon return.  The Bible is filled with reminders to not stay fixated on the “mountain top moments.”

I’m looking forward to worship Sunday morning and the kick-off of our series on the Fruits of the Spirit (in Galatians 5).  Join me in remembering that these fruits, such as love, are the results of the Spirit’s presence and tending. Not some moral checklist we take on as a burden to gain or earn anything.  In fact, Paul begins this section with a recap on FREEDOM.  What does it mean that such attributes are as much a gift as a goal? 

See you Sunday!

In Christ’s Peace,
Pastor Jacki