Give Thanks

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; God's love endures forever (Psalm 106:1)

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:18)

Autumn. I love this time of the year. I love the changing colors (though mostly I have to go somewhere else to see the fall colors since the pine trees that are so ubiquitous to our area are pretty much always green). I love the crisp, cool, dry air. I love how the blue of the sky seems to intensify with the cooler temperatures. I love that the gatherings of friends and families that begin in November and make their way into December.

I love Thanksgiving.

In many ways, the Thanksgiving holiday is a forgotten holiday – at least commercially. The retailers jump from Halloween directly to Christmas. But that's okay, because it means that Thanksgiving is a bit of a quieter holiday. I like the quiet, because it gives us an opportunity to focus on the reason for the holiday: to give thanks to God.

Giving thanks to God is one of the most basic expressions of faith. And yet, how many of us practice it with enough regularity? How many of us start each day by thanking God for the day as a gift and an opportunity – a gift, in that it is a new day in which we have been given life; and an opportunity in that each day presents a chance for us to use the day to serve God and love God?

I recently made a search of the term “give thanks” on a Bible search engine. Of the twenty-seven times that phrase appears as an exhortation or personal commitment (e.g., “Give thanks to the Lord” or “I will give thanks to God”), the reason for giving thanks that was cited more than any other reason is this: “for his (God's) love endures forever.” Eleven of the twenty-seven times the writer exhorts us to give thanks, it is simply because of God's eternal, steadfast, unconditional love.

When you think of it, why do we need any other reason to give thanks to God? Isn't God's love enough?

You see, God's love is the source of every blessing you and I receive – blessings which, on a daily basis are far too numerous for us to count. God's love is reason for comfort in the midst of trial and tribulation. God's love is the reason for hope in the midst of despair. God's love is cause for joy and happiness. God's love is our inspiration to love – to love God, and to love our neighbor, and to love one another. God's love is the basis for our hope of eternal life.

Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever.

Life is so much better when gratitude informs our perspective. Start each day with gratitude. Fill each day with gratitude. End each day with gratitude.

Your life will be better for it. I promise.

Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Abundant Living

“I can do all things through him [Christ] who strengthens me.” 

Philippians 4:13

I love to take pictures of flowers. Fields of wildflowers, gardens of carefully cultivated flowers, big and bold flowers, simple and plain flowers – wherever I find them, I love to take pictures of flowers.

Most of the time I find flowers where one would expect them to be: in the garden, or in a pot, or in a field, or in the forest. But every once in a while I come across flowers in the most peculiar places. I’ve found flowers growing in the cracks in sidewalks; I’ve found flowers growing in the rain gutters along our roof; I’ve found flowers growing where there is very little oxygen, high up in the alpine tundra.

When Carol and I traveled to Scotland, I saw flowers growing in the rock walls on the side of the roads. People had not planted the flowers; the seeds had just blown (or maybe they were “deposited” by the birds) into the cracks and crevasses of the centuries-old walls. Somehow, though, the flowers grew – flourished, even.

Similarly, when we were hiking in Colorado, I looked off to my left and noticed a bed of flowers growing right on top of a boulder. There were only a few inches of forest compost to serve as soil, but it was enough for the flowers to grow – to flourish, even.

I mention these peculiar places where I have discovered flowers because I know that many times we might find ourselves in less-than-ideal situations or circumstances in our lives. Circumstances that wouldn’t ordinarily be suitable for flourishing. Situations you don’t normally think of when you hear the term, “abundant life.”

And yet.

And yet, abundant life is precisely what we discover with Jesus. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10. I’ll let you in on a secret: the “they” in that verse refers to you and me!)

I don’t want to pretend to promise that everything is rosy (excuse the pun) with Jesus. We still will experience some of those challenging times in our lives. We will experience difficulties and trials. But when we experience the trials and difficulties with the assurance of Christ’s love and kindness and presence, then I am convinced that the quality of life is different for us. Even in the midst of struggles and challenges, we can thrive, not simply survive.

I have seen different people confronted by the same traumatic experience; and at times I have seen totally different outcomes. Some may come out on the other side embittered by their struggles, ready to give up. Others may come out filled with hope and peace, and even made stronger as a result. Those who come out stronger and more hope-filled invariably owe their strength and hope and peace to their relationship with the Lord. As they have struggled and grieved and cried out, they have found One who comes to them and nourishes them with his love, his grace, his peace.

I am aware that what I am claiming here may be an over-simplification. That is one of the downfalls of trying to address profound truths in brief blog entries. I am fully aware that the struggles many people face are more dire than I will ever know. And I am aware that conditions like depression or anxiety can’t simply be alleviated by saying, “You just need Jesus, and it will all be better.”

I know that it’s not that simple.

But I also know that, no matter the situation in which we find ourselves, we can experience abundant life. Because, Jesus. Because Jesus offers us strength, and courage. Because Jesus introduces hope, and gives us his peace. Because Jesus shines light into our darkness, to dispel and overcome the darkness.

The apostle Paul wasn’t speaking empty, pithy words when he said, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” In fact, he was writing those words from a prison cell into which he had been unjustly sent. He had seen success in his ministry, but he had also experienced rejection and persecution, even bodily harm. But the trials and the difficulties he faced were different when he viewed them from the perspective of Christ’s presence and grace.

He knew that abundance wasn’t so much a matter of circumstance, as it was a matter of Who was with him in the midst of the circumstances. That’s why he said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12-13)

If flowers can grow – flourish, even – between a rock and a hard place, don’t you think it’s possible for you and me to do the same? 

The Definitive Word

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)

Those are the final words of the book of Psalms in the Bible: “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

I know that, because I have just completed the task of writing the psalms by hand, as my morning quiet time spiritual discipline. (Before you think that sounds impressive or that I must be super disciplined, you need to know that I started this a couple of years ago, then got sidetracked with another spiritual discipline, and finally started it again this year.) I have enjoyed this exercise, because it makes me digest Scripture a few verses at a time. Every morning, some phrase or image comes to light in a way that it might not have otherwise come to light if I was just reading.

The Psalms are wonderful windows into which we can glimpse what authentic and real relationships with God look like. It’s not as neat and tidy as one may expect. The Psalms capture the wide range of human thoughts and emotions. In the Psalms you will find expressions of joy and gladness juxtaposed with expressions of frustration, or fear, or even anger. The honesty of the psalmist is both refreshing and startling.

When you start at the beginning of the psalter, you find a beautiful declaration of blessedness for those who delight in living according to the law of God:

“Blessed are they
     who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
     or sit in the seat of mockers.
But their delight is in the Law of the Lord,
     and on God’s law they meditate day and night. They are like a tree planted by streams of water,
     which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
     Whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

And from that point on, we are taken on a roller-coaster journey of faith that moves us to cling steadfastly to God in joy and hope, while simultaneously allowing us to wrestle with God in regard to the troubles and afflictions we face in life. In the Psalms we will vacillate between desperation and hope, between gladness and sadness, between rejoicing and grief, between comfort and restlessness, between lament and praise.

Truly, one of the more beautiful aspects of the Psalms is how genuinely human they are. Because you and I can relate, can’t we?

We can relate to the awe and wonder that fills us when we consider God’s handiwork in creation.

We can relate to the profound sadness that we experience at the sudden and tragic and inexplicable loss of a loved one.

We can relate to the joy and gladness overflow our hearts when we are assured of God’s steadfast and unconditional love.

We can relate to the guilt of unconfessed sin, but also to the liberating relief of forgiveness.

We can relate to the frustration that overwhelms us when unjust and evil people seem to prevail; and we can relate to the peace that calms our hearts when we know that God’s justice and righteousness will prevail.

The Psalms are beautiful, because the speak to virtually every emotion and feeling of our hearts. Through it all, we are assured that God is with us, and that God is for us.

When you come to the end of a story, you usually have some sense of closure (though people also find ways to leave us hanging so we will buy the sequel later on). Often it is a “happily ever after” sentiment. Or maybe it is a logical conclusion to the plot.

The Psalms, I believe, end with the definitive word for us: Praise.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

As I penned that final phrase in my journal, I was struck by how appropriate it is, that the final, definitive word of the psalter is a word of praise. It certainly makes sense, when you think about it. Because when we realize that through the peaks and valleys of our lives – through the valley of the shadow of death and beside still waters – God is there, with us and for us. And when we realize that God is with us in his goodness and mercy and grace, then the only logical response is praise.

Praise the Lord. Because ultimately, it is God’s goodness and mercy that carries us through every day.

Every. Day.

So, praise the Lord!

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Pollinating for Jesus

“How are they to hear without someone to proclaim Christ? And how are they to proclaim unless they are sent?” - Romans 10:14b-15

If you've followed me on Instagram (@RevSHW) or you are one of my Facebook friends, you know that I love to take pictures of moths and butterflies. It started out as a fascination with the intricate design and detail you can see on these amazing insects, when you take time to look at them. 

I'm blown away by God's artistry in creating these beautiful (though sometimes bothersome) winged creatures. But recently I've also taken an interest in their function, not just their form. You see, we have always had mediocre results in our vegetable garden in years past. This year, though, we decided to plant more flowers than vegetables – because the flowers are beautiful, but also because we have had better success with the flowers. As it turns out, the flowers have benefitted our vegetables, because the flowers attract bees, butterflies, and moths that help pollinate the vegetable plants. So this year, we're enjoying success on both fronts.

When we bought our plants for our garden, the owner of the nursery suggested we buy a special variety of basil that not only would provide wonderful flavor to our cooking, but even more because she said that this particular variety of basil is great for attracting the much-needed pollinators. So we put the plant right alongside our vegetables, and the results have been wonderful.

It got me to thinking about the wonder of pollination, and how a vegetable plant is able to bear fruit. Now, I'm not a botanist by any measure, but I do know just a little bit about pollination. Before I 'splain what I know, though, you need to make sure that no young children are reading this because, well, pollination is a subject for mature audiences only. So please make sure any children are looking the other way.

Ok, here goes. Pollination is when the pollen from a male flower is transferred to a female flower.

Makes me blush just thinking about it.

In all seriousness, most plants need help in pollination. They need the assistance of insects or wind to transfer pollen. In most cases, pollination doesn't happen on its own. Pollen has to be shared in order to bear fruit.

I see a parallel in the Christian faith (Of course I see a parallel. I don't just write these things without also showing some relevance to faith, you know). Here's the deal: Good news doesn't share itself. Good news has to be shared. Just like there has to be some way to share pollen between plants in order to bear fruit, so does there have to be some form of transmission of the Good News of Jesus Christ in order for the gospel to bear fruit.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul has this to say about sharing the gospel:

“...if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved... The scripture says, 'No one who believes in him will be put to shame'... for 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'” (Romans 10:9-13)

So Paul establishes the centrality of believing in Jesus and calling on his name. But doesn't someone have to know about Jesus and his love before believing in him and calling on his name and following him? Of course they do. That's why Paul continues his teaching with this series of rhetorical questions:

“But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? 

(Romans 10:14-15)

You see, someone has to tell about the Good News before it can be heard. Someone has to demonstrate what the love of Jesus is like before it can be experienced and understood.

If the gospel is going to spread and bear fruit, Jesus needs some pollinators to do the work of taking the gospel person to person.

Back in 1978, one of the predecessor Presbyterian bodies of my current Presbyterian denomination affirmed a threefold definition of evangelism (or gospel pollination, if you will): The General Assembly of that body affirmed that 

• “The proclamation of the Kingdom of God is Evangelism; 
• the love of Christians one for another in the fellowship of the Christian community is Evangelism; 
• and the life style of the Christian person and the Christian community in radical obedience to the biblical mandates of the Kingdom of God in the world is Evangelism.” (Presbyterian Church U.S., 1978 General Assembly)

In other words, if we are going to pollinate the gospel around the world, we need to share the gospel by proclaiming the salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and we need to demonstrate the transforming power of the gospel by loving one another in the Christian fellowship in the same way that Jesus has loved us, and we need to live in obedience and faithfulness to the demands of the gospel as given to us by Jesus in his life, his teaching, and his word.

There's an old poem that puts it well. It's kinda cheesy, but still it makes the point:

You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day 

By the things that you do and the words that you say, 

Folks read what you write, whether faithless or true, 

Say, what is the gospel according to you?

Do folks read His truth and His love in your life, 

Or has yours been too full of malice and strife? 

Does your life speak of evil, or does it ring true? 

Say, what is the gospel according to you?

In the end, we pollinate the gospel by rubbing shoulders with our fellow human being, telling them of God's love for them, and showing the world what God's love, mercy, and truth look like.

I think we can do that. I know we can do that.

What is the gospel according to you?

Cats and Dogs, Wolves and Lambs, Donkeys and Elephants

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,...They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain...”
Isaiah 11:6, 9

I have a confession to make: I'm not a cat person. That might surprise those who visit our house, because we do have three cats (only one of which is an “indoor” cat). So, you can imagine my demeanor after Carol and Ben came home recently with... a kitten.

Granted, she is adorable, but still... She's a cat. And I'm not a cat person.

It turns out that we're only kitty-sitting while the kitten's owners are out of town for a couple of weeks. That makes it more bearable. I can enjoy the adorable-ness of the kitten, all the while remembering that the frequent feedings and supervised explorations of the family room will soon be a memory.

Truth be told, our dogs have had a much harder time than I have with the adjustment. I'm not sure you know this, but dogs and cats aren't natural friends; in fact, dogs have been known to act a bit aggressively toward cats. Our dogs were not happy when the kitten came to reside with us. The dogs don't understand when we tell them, “It's only for a couple of weeks.”

I have to give some credit to one of our dogs, Bella. Bella has been more curious than aggressive toward Kitty-Kitty (I am not giving the kitten a name, lest she become ours). Carol and/or I are always close by when Kitty-Kitty and Bella are in the same room. Kitty-Kitty prances around, climbing on the furniture, scampering underneath the couch, and pouncing on ribbons, toys, shoes, and anything else we leave out for her. Bella, for her part, follows closely everywhere Kitty-Kitty goes, her ears perking up in that “something strange is going on” way that dogs have about them. Occasionally, Bella will lick her lips, which makes us worry that maybe she wants to eat Kitty-Kitty, a fate even a non-cat-person such as I would not wish upon the cute little ball of fur.

After a week and a half, Bella got up on the same chair where Kitty-Kitty was playing. They both kind of froze in place and stared each other down for a few moments. Then Bella settled down, and before we knew it, Kitty-Kitty had laid herself down right on top of Bella.

The Peaceable Kingdom

Alright, even I let out an audible “Awwwww”. I mean, who wouldn't? Look how cute they are together!

It is a cute picture, indeed. But it is also, at another level, profoundly meaningful.

Almost immediately my mind went to a familiar passage in the Old Testament book of Isaiah. In the 11^th chapter we find a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah from the line of King David. In that chapter there is a description of the kind of kingdom the Messiah will usher in:

“The spirit of the Lord will rest on him (the Messiah) –

     the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

     the Spirit of counsel and might,

     the Spirit of the knowledge and the fear of the Lord...

“...with righteousness he will judge the needy,

     with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth...

...Righteousness will be his belt

     and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

“The wolf will live with the lamb,

     the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling together;

     and a little child will lead them...

...they will neither harm nor destroy

     on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord

     as the waters cover the sea.”

Isn't that a beautiful picture of what our world will be like in the kingdom of God?! Can you imagine a world where all is good and equitable for everyone? A world where natural enemies actually come together in peace and harmony?

Come to think of it, I like to think that we have the opportunity to move toward that reality even now. We don't have to wait until the ultimate arrival of the Kingdom, for the truth is we are called to live into kingdom reality even now. I truly believe that Christ has already begun an amazing transformation in the hearts of all who believe in him. It is a transformation that empowers us to overcome the hostilities of our world and work for reconciliation, and peace. Even a superficial reading of the New Testament will draw us to conclude that, in Christ, the things that separate and divide and create hostility between people are no match for the grace, mercy, and forgiveness that are ours in Christ (see, for example, Ephesians 2:11-20, Galatians 3:26-29, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Colossians 3:12-17, Matthew 6:9-15, Matthew 5:9, Acts 9).

I say this because my heart is heavy over the spirit of violence, vengeance, and enmity that is pervasive in nearly every area of life and in our world. Just last week a man opened fire on a group of Republican members of congress practicing for a baseball game, wounding five people before being killed by heroic action from the Capitol Police. In the aftermath people from both sides of the political aisle noted that the vitriolic rhetoric we hear 24/7 coming from politicians, activists, protesters, and alternative news outlets probably fed into the hatred of the man who pulled the trigger on the politicians. I just read a story on the internet (which means it must be true), that cited a Pew research poll indicating that "78 million Americans actually hate the other political party."* 

As followers of the Prince of Peace in whom the vision of Isaiah is fulfilled, we should expect better than the current political climate, especially as we claim a Judeo-Christian influence on our country's great history. Enmity and divisiveness should not be the default in our society. It's okay to disagree. Passionate people will disagree. Christ-followers of good conscience will disagree on any number of important issues.

But when our disagreements result in the demonization of those who disagree with us, we have crossed a line. No longer are we being driven by the spirit of Christ, which calls for understanding and reconciliation and mutual respect; instead, we have succumbed to a spirit far beneath the spirit of Christ. Enmity and divisiveness are deeds of the flesh (to put it in Paul's terms), not the spirit of Christ.

Leadership from both the Democrats and Republicans called for a more civil discourse. I hope and pray that their words are not empty.

Folks, if a dog and a cat can learn to get along (it is a learned behavior, an intentional act of the heart), then don't you think the elephants and donkeys can find a way to get along? I think we can. In Christ, we have the wherewithal to break down divisions and barriers instead of erecting them; we have the means by which to set aside enmity, and foster peace. 

Learn a lesson from Bella and Kitty-Kitty. Find a way to overcome the urge to hate and hurt. Find a way to come together, in peace, forgiveness, and mercy. 

That is, after all, the vision of the world where Jesus Christ reigns.


*http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/analysis-how-many-americans-truly-hate-the-other-political-party-about-78-million/ar-BBCUjHr?li=BBnb7Kz%C2%A0 

Relationship Goals

Love never fails...(1 Corinthians 13:14)

Last month I had a really cool opportunity. One of our church members is the activities director at a nearby retirement community, and she asked if I would officiate a vow renewal ceremony. Five couples assembled in a lovely courtyard in front of a fountain, as about 25 family members and other residents gathered to witness the renewal of their marriage vows.

Before the ceremony, the couples gathered in the hallway leading to the courtyard. Even though they had all been married well over 50 years, they were giddy with excitement as they processed to the fountain. When we reached the part of the ceremony where they renewed their vows, I went to each couple individually, had them look each other in the eye and repeat after me:

I, (Fred, etc.), embrace you, (Diana, etc.), as a gift from the hand of God;

and I reaffirm my promise,

before God and these witnesses,

to be your loving and faithful husband (wife);

in plenty and in want,

in joy and in sorrow,

in sickness and in health,

so long as we both shall live.

It was a beautiful thing to see grown men and women choke up and their eyes well up with tears, even after 50, 60, or more years of marriage. What a joyful evening it was! Of course, it was over at 7:30 – can't let something like a vow renewal ceremony make them late for bed...

I left the evening uplifted, encouraged, and hopeful. I thought to myself, “I want Carol and me to be that way in our 80s.”

Later on realized that I didn't need to attend a vow renewal like that in order for me to be inspired; I have my own parents and Carol's parents to serve as wonderful “relationship goals” for our marriage. In fact, as I post this on my blog, it is my parents' 60^th anniversary.

Happy Anniversary, 

Sidney and Kaye!

60 years. What an amazing example of steadfast, persevering love. 

Carol's parents are about to celebrate 62 years of marriage.

I am, truly, inspired.

As I think about the secret to longevity in marriage, my mind immediately focuses on love. (If you know me, you will know that love is pretty much the secret to everything!) But the kind of love that will fuel a marriage through the years is more than a warm, mushy feeling inside you. The kind of love that marriage requires that self-interest diminish, and the welfare of the other increase. Paul describes this kind of love in his words found in 1 Corinthians 13:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...

I think about the people who have been married for so many years (like my parents, Carol's parents, and the folks at the retirement community). I realize that they have gone through seasons of great happiness; but they have also faced tremendous challenges together that were anything but happy. They have had to forgive, and ask for forgiveness. They have been rich, poor, sick, and healthy. They have made sacrifices for their spouse and family.

And through it all, love. In Colossians, Paul lists a number of noble character traits that followers of Christ should manifest in our lives. You know, things like compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility, forgiveness, patience. Words that most of us would want to be used in describing ourselves. After listing these noble character traits, Paul says this: “And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14)

All this, to say that if we want to reach relationship goals like my parents, we have to love. I am forever grateful to my parents for demonstrating this to me, every day.

Love. It really is that simple.

Not easy. But simple. And mandatory.

Now these three remain: Faith, hope, and love.

And the greatest of these, is love.*

*Paul's words, not mine. But I wholeheartedly agree with Paul on this one!

Appreciating Family

“Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram...”Matthew 1:2-3, KJV

I never got into the genealogies in the Bible very much. They are always long and confusing, and the names are usually strange and difficult to pronounce. For example, won't you try to keep track of who's who as the descendants of Joseph are described in the book of Numbers:

“The descendants of Joseph by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim were:

The descendants of Manasseh: through Makir, the Makirite clan (Makir was the father of Gilead); through Gilead, the Gileadite clan. These were the descendants of Gilead: through Iezer, the Iezerite clan; through Helek, the Helekite clan; through Asriel, the Asrielite clan; through Shechem, the Shechemite clan; through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan; through Hepher, the Hepherite clan. (Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons; he had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkay, and Tirzah.) These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700.

These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: Through Shuthelah, the Shuthelahite clan; through Beker, the Bekerite clan; through Tahan, the Tahanite clan. These were the descendants of Shuthelah: Through Eran, the Eranite clan. These were the clans of Ephraim; those numbered were 32,500. These were the descendants of Joseph by their clans.

So, here's my question: How are the descendants of Shuthelah related to the descendants of Hepher?

You see what I mean? It's just confusing, trying to put the pieces together and keeping track of who's who.

But recently I gained a new appreciation for those who persist in genealogy. I attended a family reunion of cousins on my father's mother's side of the family—the descendants of Roscoe Benjamin Hughes.

Most of my grandmother's siblings and their offspring ended up in the upper midwest or the western states; my father married a Texan, so naturally he ended up in Texas. As a consequence, my siblings and I never really got to meet the Hughes side of the family. Even my dad hadn't seen most of the relatives from that branch of the family in over 30 years.

The reunion took place in Lincoln, Nebraska, home to one of my father's cousins. Because of the distance, and other time commitments, Carol and I had initially decided not to attend the reunion. But at the last minute we decided to make the trip.

I'm glad we did. Very glad.

We discovered that I have some pretty awesome cousins. Second cousins, first-cousins-twice-removed, whatever – they are family, and it was great to get to know them. We started the weekend as strangers, but that didn't last long. There was immediately a sense of warmth between us as we visited. Of course, we ate a lot of meals together (Thanks, Ellen and Lynn, for making your kitchen our central gathering place!), and it was around the table that we were able to converse and get to know one another.

We spanned the spectrum in terms of vocation and life experience. And yet, I didn't feel like our differences set us apart from one another so much as they enriched and enlarged our identity as a family.

Fun fact: in the four generations including my great-grandfather Roscoe, we have five ordained ministers (six, if you include the fact that my daughter is a youth minister and will surely one day be ordained as a minister of Word and Sacrament).

I now know that my family also includes a firefighter, a financial advisor, a teacher, an IT manager, a store manager, a hospital attendant; a retired aerospace engineer, and a retired artist for the Walt Disney company. I know that there are other vocations that I haven't mentioned because, frankly, our focus wasn't on what we do for a living, but on who we are.

Carol and I came away from the experience with a great appreciation for our family. And an awareness that our family is much larger than we had previously considered.

My parents (center), with my "new" cousins:
Carol and Leon Hughes (left)
Lynn and Ellen Davis (right)

If I'm honest with myself, I will admit that I treat family differently from others. Family is special. I tend to be more patient with family; I tend to be more compassionate with family; I tend to think more often about family than others; I tend to take more time to listen to family.

Family is special.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul was writing to a church where some people treated others differently because of their background. Even though all were Christians, some were from a Jewish heritage, while others were Gentiles. Those of Jewish heritage claimed a special status because of their ancestral ties to Abraham, something the Gentiles lacked.

Paul noted that that which ties us to Abraham (and the blessing promised to Abraham by God) is not bloodline, but faith. “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:7) But that's not even the half of it, because Paul goes so far as to say, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith... There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26, 28)

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith..."

You know what that means? It means we're family. We, as in you and I, and all the others who are reading this post. And remember what I said about family? Family is special.

So maybe next time you think about church, look at it as a big family reunion. Get to know your brothers and sisters, your cousins, and uncles and aunts, and all your distant relatives in the faith. Get to know them, and appreciate them for who they are, and for what they mean to us all. You don't need to get hung up with all the ins and outs of the genealogy; who begat whom isn't as important as knowing that in Christ we are family. We belong to one another.

Til next time, cuz!