Thursday’s Thirst

You probably are aware that Psalm 119 (all 176 verses of it) is the longest chapter in the Bible.  It is unique in a couple other ways as well.  First of all, it is divided into 22 eight-verse sections and the first word in each section begins with the same letter (in Hebrew, not English), running alphabetically through the entire Hebrew alphabet (If written originally in English, the first 8 verses would start with a word beginning with an A, the next 8 verses would start with a word beginning with a B, …).  And, secondly, every verse has a word referring to God’s Law, such as “word”, “promise”, “rules”, “testimonies”, and so forth.

As we “dialed up” Waze to navigate our way up north last Thursday evening we immediately noticed that a creative adjustment had been made to our usual route.  I am sure it had to do with the influx of Memorial Day travelers on I-75 and the lane restrictions south of Flint.  The creative adjustment sent us up North Avenue, across through Armada, to I-69, then I-475, and finally, just north of Flint, to I-75.  The trip went so well that we just might travel that way again even if it’s not being recommended.

After being out of town at conferences Tuesday through Thursday I just had Friday to prepare for a very busy weekend.  However, Friday also included meeting with a family and a Mel Ott ballgame.  Saturday morning I led a three-hour workshop and then joined a funeral already in progress as a person in the nave.  Sunday morning I preached, made a funeral home visit and ended the day with a social engagement.  Monday was a funeral for which I could not be late.  Monday night I slept well.

I have often said that Mother’s Day may be the most difficult holiday upon which to preach.  There are so many variables and differing expectations.  Yet to totally ignore the occasion in the sermon never seems like the right thing to do, either.  So, I thought I would share with you a little excerpt of my sermon from this past Sunday.  The sermon was titled “Another Helper.”

I have been reading the Psalms this week and something has jumped out at me as never before.  Many of the psalms view the past and the present with very differing thoughts.  The present is seen as a cup half full, and often times much worse, questioning God’s lack of concern and action.  However memories of the past focus upon the faithfulness of God, his acts of deliverance and consistent love.  I guess people today complaining about the present and talking about “the good old days” is nothing new.

As is my custom, I am currently reading two books. I started reading both of them the same day a week or so ago. One is over 600 pages long, the other only 139 pages. However, in spite of the obvious disparity, I expect I will finish the “600 plus-er” first. Why? Well, for one reason the longer book is a large print version of a Tom Clancy novel. The other is a very technical, academic book with minute print. When reading the Jack Ryan Jr. novel I am having a difficult time setting the book down at the end of a chapter. The other book, “How (Not) to be Secular – Reading Charles Taylor” by James A. K. Smith, has my brain fried every 3-4 pages – so that it takes me 2-3 sittings just to get through a chapter.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the one of the two disciples walking the road to Emmaus on Easter (Luke 24.13-35). Cleopas and his friend were not among the twelve, but may have been two the of seventy Jesus sent out. And they definitely were among the 100 or so who gathered in the upper room. They tell the Easter story in a very special way:

This month as I make home visits I have been focusing upon the Easter story in the Gospel of Matthew.  And this week, as I prepare to preach on Sunday, I am additionally looking at the part of the Easter story generally known as The Road to Emmaus.  Something that has struck me about both accounts is how patient and kind Jesus is with his followers.

I had a strange dream Tuesday night.  Strange in content.  Strange in that it had no apparent context with anything in my life.  Strange that I remembered it.

I’m on vacation (if that’s possible while retired), so I have extra time to read and less motivation to write.  The result is that you receive reflections from what I have been reading.  Today you get a few paragraphs from the concluding chapter of “Leading through Disruption – A Changemaker’s Guide to Twenty-First Century Leadership” (2023) by Andrew N. Liveris.