TOP To_my_colleagues_in_Wabash_Valley_Presbytery: ALBAN_WEEKLY
BEAUTY IN THE SIMPLE THINGS
(Marcia Smith-Wood)
One morning, when my son was still in elementary school, there was a
two-hour fog delay. With two extra hours on our hands, my son and I
decided to enjoy this delay and take a walk with the dog.
The sun was beginning to burn off the fog. As we were crossing the grass,
my son suddenly cried out, "Look at that spider web!" We stood,
surprised into awe, before a huge, perfectly spun spider's web on our
railing. In the bright morning sun, every strand was thickly
shimmering with radiant drops of fog. Breathtakingly beautiful! "Ah!
Thank you, God!" I whispered aloud.
How I love this child of mine who (even now at 19 years) still notices
these miracles of God and opens my own eyes to sense God's presence,
even in the most unexpected places. A Christian mystic from the
Middle Ages, Mechtilde of Magdeburg, wrote:
"The day of my Spiritual Awakening was the day I saw
and knew I saw all things in God and God in all things."
Or from a more recent mystic, the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
"Earth's crammed with heaven
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes,
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries."
During these golden, shimmering days of autumn, may God help each of
us to pause and to see the miracle of God in everything all around us,
surprising us into unexpected smiles and soft prayers of thanksgiving.
Because everyday God (who loves each of us so much and who never gives
up on us) yearns for each of us wake up into awe, into our own
"Spiritual Awakening". Where did you meet God today?
Marcia Smith-Wood, Member at Large
To my colleagues in Wabash Valley Presbytery:
Thank you for honoring me at last the last Presbytery Assembly in Lafayette. I would have liked to have stayed and spoken personally to many of you but since I was already late for my daughter’s and my grandson’s birthday party and had a two and a half hour drive ahead of me, I ducked out immediately following that portion of the service. Please forgive me.
There were a couple of things I wanted to share with the assembly but I was told that time would not permit. Therefore I am writing this letter to say good by to those I did not speak to personally and to share a couple thoughts that I felt fit nicely with the mood of the assembly that day. But Praise God, it is probably better that I had some time to organize those thoughts into a more cohesive form. So from my heart to yours with concern for the future of the Presbyterian Church here it is.
In Ephesians Chapter 2, Paul speaks eloquently on how Christ destroyed the wall separating Jew and Gentile and made them one in him. He says “you are joined with him and with each other by the Spirit and are part of this dwelling place of God.” (Living Bible) I suspect these verses apply even more to Liberals and Conservatives. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
We have here an opportunity to demonstrate to others, Christians and non-Christians alike that we are following Christ’s injunction to love one another. By this others will know that we really are Christians.
Thanks for letting me share my thoughts and concerns. I am now living in Indianapolis. Our address is: 1438 N. Leland Ave. Indianapolis IN 46219 and my e-mail is, dchintz@sbcglobal.net I hope some of you keep in touch.
Your brother in Christ,
DuWayne Hintz HR.
The October 1, 2007 issue of Alban Weekly discusses “Leadership in a Non-Staff-Dependent Congregation.” To read this article please click on the date.
The Presbytery of Wabash Valley is seeking a part-time Treasurer. We hope to nominate a person with a high level of integrity and commitment, written and verbal communication skills, computer skills, financial skills, and an ability to be adaptable, patient and work as part of a team. For a position description and application form, please contact Jamie Miller, Chair of the Treasurer Search Committee, at jamie@sunnysidechurch.org or 574-287-1524. Deadline for applications is October 29, 2007.