Minister's Minute from February Issue of the Journal of Hope and Joy

I went to pick my son up from day care the other day. When he saw me he threw his head back and laughed like he just heard the best joke. Then he ran toward me smiling the whole time and it was then I realized that the laugh was for me. As he got closer he put out his arms and ran right between my legs grabbing onto one and hugging me with all his might. He looked up at me with a face full of satisfaction and I thought for a moment he was going to say, “Daddy I am so happy to see you”… he never did, at least not with words, but I pray to my God that the memory of him laughing and running up to me never leaves me. It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.
I had lunch with Doug McClure of the Salvation Army and David Blackwell of Mission Change recently. It was a good time. Each of us shared our joys of the ministry, our concerns, the ways we watch God at work, the miracles we see on a regular basis. Those two are incredible to be around because they love God and others so much they do not even seem to notice all the work they do. I once read that while faith makes all things possible, love makes them easy. Watching those two talk about planes going into Haiti, and mission trips being planned, and churches working together, and new social programs being implemented, and trying to get impoverished youth into a Christian camp I discovered the truth of that statement. Love does make things easy to do, because it makes all things worthwhile. As Doug talked about trying to raise money for kids who have never left Albany to go to a special camp where their lives could change David and I looked at each other. David said, “How much more do you need?” “$750.” I looked at David and said, “David, we can get that raised by next week right?” We agreed and told Doug he would have the money by the next week… it was then I knew with all that I am I was having lunch with friends God has given me, and I pray to my God that the memory of that moment never leaves me. It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.
Sometime last week I went to see some people in the hospital. As I spoke with one person in the waiting room outside the SICU she told me about a family in the waiting room that needed prayers. On the other side of the room was a sad looking family. I stared at them as I was told about their situation. A father and young son had been in a horrible car accident and taken to different hospitals. Neither was doing well. When they woke up their first question was about where the other one was, love is an incredible bond. I went to the family who gave me an update and then I asked if I could pray. Together we joined hands and I began to pray. As I prayed another woman came up and then broke into our circle of prayer. She just separated my hand from the woman’s I was holding and then grabbed onto our hands. After we finished the prayer I looked over at her and she said, “I figured that family needed all the prayer they could get so I joined in”… she was right, and I pray to my God that the memory of that moment never leaves me. It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.
Last Saturday a group of youth came from First Presbyterian Bainbridge to help feed the needy at the Saturday Samaritan Missions. There were maybe 20 kids here helping to move tables, and greet people, and feed the hungry. At one point I stood back and just watched. It was then I saw God. I saw God as a homeless person grateful for food. I saw God as a teenage girl from a different town grateful for a chance to serve. I saw God as members of different churches worked together believing that together we can do so much more than alone. For a moment I wondered if I would ever see God like that again… I am sure I will, but I pray to my God that the memory of that moment never leaves me. It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.
God offers a world so full of beauty, a life filled with surprise, and moments of inspiration to each of us with the express intent that we in turn offer the world what God has given us, joy! Go find your fuel for joy and let joy abound.
Riding the Wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett

March Minister's Minute in The Journal of Hope and Joy

Here we are in March. I am not sure what happened to January or February. Both seemed to fly by. As a child it seemed as though time went on forever. Those four hours of waiting for that moment when my friend would finally come over to spend the night. As soon as our mothers agreed my life became filled with such glorious anticipation that at times I would stare at the clock and count the seconds. By the time the fours hours were up it felt as though a lifetime had passed. Those six hours of school each day… an eternity. Driving the hour to visit family on the holidays… “Are we ever going to get there?” Waiting in lines, waiting at the doctor’s office, or waiting at all always seemed to take at least 8 times as long as my mother claimed we had waited.
I remember as a child when my elders would tell me to enjoy my youth because it would be gone soon enough. As everything took an eternity I was not concerned. I remember as a child when my elders would tell me that as I aged time would go faster. Since even as a youngster I had a pretty good handle on the rules of physics I paid no attention. However here I find myself, older than a youngster but too young to be an elder, discovering that indeed time has accelerated.
I suppose that as each day of life passes I have another day of memory. Now my collective memory is much longer than it was when I was 14. Now one day in the big scheme of my life is much shorter over all than one day was when I was younger. One hour passes by quickly whereas yesterday one hour could be forever.
I am now old enough to heed the advice of my elders and to enjoy what youth I have left, for soon enough it will pass away. I am also young enough to realize that those younger, who have not yet discovered this wisdom ,will not benefit from me trying to force it upon them, it is something they will discover on their own and realize, as I have realized, that others were right all along.
But in the midst of all of this as I watch my child age faster than I could have ever imagined, as my life accelerates into the future and I wonder where the days have gone, as I try to hold onto moments which quickly become memories I have one thing I want to share with everyone. If you remember nothing else I ever say remember this, enjoy each moment of your life! It is precious because it is the only moment you are in. It is precious because it is always the closest you will be to God. It is precious because you may never have another. It is precious because you have no idea when those around you will disappear into eternity. Since each moment is precious each moment can be enjoyed for we shall never have another moment like the one we are in right now.
We celebrated our 160th Anniversary recently, what a spectacular moment it was for me. I got to teach a class about Presbyterianism before the service, it was the first time I ever taught such a class, I will never have that first time again. I was blessed to baptize a child of God during the service; she will never be baptized again. I shared memories with you all about a church that will never be 160 years old again. I married a couple and no one will ever experience a wedding like theirs again. People asked me if I was ready for a nap at the end of the day… I was, but I enjoyed each moment of that day because I will never have a day like it again. Today I am going to enjoy each moment too, because I will never have a day like it again. Today I am going to enjoy my son even when he cries because someday he will not cry as a baby ever again. Today I am going to enjoy each book I read because I may never read that book again. Today I am going to relish each time my wife tells me she loves me because I love to hear it. Today I am going to enjoy all of life’s moments, even the bad ones, with the smile God has given me to use, because God will be with me in each moment and that is the most precious gift I know.
Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett