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Not even fools go astray
Isaiah 35:5-10I had this brilliant idea, back in 2003. At the time I was serving as Director of Fellowship, Inc. and thus not preaching regularly. I wanted to confront and struggle with the scriptures, and I thought of writing a weekly article addressing and commenting upon one of the lectionary passages. That article would then be printed on the back of the Tecumseh UMC worship bulletin each Sunday. It seemed so simple, and Dottie said yes, so I jumped at the challenge. (This is all a way of saying that if you have any complaints, it was all Dottie’s fault!) And so that journey began, and along the way there have been many times when I kicked myself, screaming: You fool, why did you ever think you wanted to do that? Every week - are you kidding? Anyway, you get the picture. But then, once I regain control of myself, I realize that I now have to write these articles – whether you want to read them or not! I have to continue to read, study, confront and be confronted, seeking to reach a better and fuller understanding of just who God is, how God is present in my life and in yours, and how my life and your life is not complete without God.
With Tecumseh UMC, both Dottie and I have arrived at the end of one piece of our journey. Today marks that bittersweet day when Dottie says goodbye to a faith community she loves and admires, and I walk beside her (and a little behind her – she is an ordained person, you know!). The articles will continue, and the beloved folks of Big Springs UMC will still have to deal with my occasional diatribes, and they – as you have done for now more than four years – will just shake their heads and say: There he goes again! O well, that’s just Piet, and we love him anyway. Come to think of it, that’s not unlike what God says - about me, about you, about all of us. Such as this, from Isaiah: A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. (35:8-9) I oft go astray, in spite of my efforts not to do so, and admit to being a fool from time to time. And yet, and yet – God loves me, and works to keep me on the Holy Way. As people of God, we in turn love each other, perhaps imperfectly – but love each other we do. I thank God for you, my beloved sisters and brothers of Tecumseh UMC. I thank you for accepting me, listening to me, and loving me. Above all, I love you and thank you for what you have been for Dottie. May the Lord keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. (Ps. 121:8) Grace and Shalom, from your brother in Christ - Pastor Piet.
March 30, 2008
