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

My son danced with me the other day. I was trying to get ready for work and he went up to a toy that plays music and started a song. Then he ran over to me and grabbed my hand. “Come on, daddy, dance!” he said while trying to pull me up. I got up and we danced. We danced while he laughed and I smiled. When the song was over he went to it again, played another song, and we danced again. For a second I wondered if that is what heaven is like… and maybe it is or maybe it isn’t, but I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me. It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.
A couple of weeks ago we had some crazy weather. It was cold and stormy during the night and when I woke up there was ice everywhere. The lawn was white and shiny, the puddles were frozen over, and the trees looked like huge snowflakes. I went outside to get into my car and go somewhere but I couldn’t. The scenery grabbed me, and even though I don’t like the cold I walked around my neighborhood just to see everything. Some of the trees looked like they were out of dreams, they were unreal, and yet there they were and I was looking at them, and they were beautiful. At one point I noticed my breath, each exhale billowing out of my lungs and hanging in the air. All together I was overcome and just stopped in the street and prayed because it was all I knew to do. I prayed and I’m not even sure what I prayed. I wondered if God would show up and if I’d see God’s breath too… I never did, but I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me. It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.
I went to a “country” church for the Presbytery’s pulpit exchange this year. I say “country” because that is what it was. After 3 years in this place I am still a bit shocked that God has called me here. We showed up early and parked in the lawn because there was nowhere else to park. The church was very small, and the only things around it were fields and singlewide trailers. I had no idea what to expect. The service started and that little church was packed with people and the Spirit. Children ran around without any regard for anything but joy. My son sat behind the pulpit with me with a little bag of candy he ended up spilling all over during the sermon. Afterwards the church had prepared a massive meal. There were at most maybe 50 of us there, and there was a enough food for 150. And as I sat there eating plate after plate I realized something. I may be a kid from California and there I was in Blakely, Georgia, but we all have the same God and God was there… and somehow I knew I was home, but I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me. It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.
A couple of weeks ago the session and deacon board got together and went on a retreat. It’s been 3 years since I first had the session on a retreat where there were only 6 people there. Now we have 18 elected officers working together to figure out what our church will do for the next 5 years. We ate together, worshipped together, and worked together, and I saw it. Life where some thought there was only death, life and life abundant. I understand the resurrection and it’s power better because of our church. I love my God and what my God can do more because of our little church. And as I watched all these different people work together for the greater good I saw God… maybe not in person but working among us, and I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me. It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.
What is your fuel for joy in moments of need? All around us there is reason for joy. The cynic would point out that there is also reason for despair, but I would counter there are only reasons to have people who offer fuel for joy so that joy abounds. To those who are hurting and in need, we must become their fuel for joy! 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!
Riding the Wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett

The Fuel for Joy Project

One Sunday morning a couple of weeks I was about to leave for the church. It was my normal Sunday morning. Up to dress, drink some coffee, go over the sermon, get ready to go. Sometimes things become so normal to me I forget how precious the moment is, or could be if I just recognized it, but I suppose we all do that occasionally. I kissed my wife and son goodbye knowing that I would see them soon. Took the same way out I always do and thought nothing of the little footsteps following me.
I opened the door to go outside and closed just the storm door as I left. Langston stood at the door looking at me smiling, it still melts my heart to see that little smile directed at me. As I got into my car and started to pull out of the driveway I looked forward and there was my boy waving his little hands, and I could tell he was shouting out, “Daddy, daddy, daddy,” over and over again. I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me, it has already been my fuel for joy in moments of despair.
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! The Fuel for Joy Project is an offer to each of us to look for joy in the world and share it with others. What is your joy? Let me know. Send your stories to garrett@1stpresalbany.org (or mail them to the church) and let’s start a journal, or maybe even a book full of stories, full of fuel for joy for all those in moments of despair.

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

February Minister's Minute in Journal of Hope and Joy

My son smiled at me for the first time recently.  Sure he has smiled before, but it was generally the prelude to a moment where he fills the immediate area with gas.  This time he looked right at me and smiled.  No simple smile, but a large smile open mouth and all, the kind of smile where you wait for a second because you are just sure a laugh is going to follow soon… the laugh never came but I pray to my God the memory of that smile never leaves me.  It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.

Several weeks ago I was driving on a very rural highway to go to a conference.  I emphasize the “rural” because even after a year I am getting use to some of it.  I was on the highway for maybe about 40 minutes, and the whole while only three other vehicles passed me going the other way.  Two rusted pickups and a tractor.  I laughed as the tractor passed me and I considered my situation, God works in mysterious ways.  But the real interesting thing about the day was its splendor.  It could have been the clearest day I had ever witnessed.  Almost as though individual rays of sunshine could be differentiated from one another, splashing us all with its warmth and glory.  The sky was a crystal clear of indescribable proportions and the type of blue that one thinks of when one thinks of perfect.  This rural highway was saturated with the variety of landscape which seemed the perfect compliment to the majesty of the weather.  Fields of the brightest and most spectacular greens, rows of trees which played with the light as the wind passed through their branches, next a pond surrounded by foliage the likes of which I have never seen.  At one point I could not stand passing by such beauty while sitting alone in my car, so I pulled over and got out.  I leaned against the hood and stared, I just stared.  I half expected God to show up right then and lean next to me, not saying a thing just staring with me… God never came, at least not in person, but I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me.  It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.

I went to the hospital where sister Martha Clark spent her last days.  At 94 years old she lived one wonderful life.  I came into the room, and could tell that she would not recognize me because she did not have her glasses on.  I said, “Martha Clark, it’s Garrett Andrew!”  Immediately she looked over with a smile bigger than most patients ever give.  She spoke with joy about her life, she had a good one, and she told me she could not wait to see her husband and daughter again.  We prayed together, and before I left she put her arms out wide and demanded a hug, she gave a good one.  I think I knew it would be the last one… it was, but it was perfect and I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me.  It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.

Last Sunday the service went well.  It was one of those days where I thought to myself, “We done and had church today.”  Afterwards a family asked me to pray with them.  We prayed in the back of the sanctuary around everyone else, the Spirit and tears moved in our midst.  After the prayer another couple came up to me and said the service was special to them.  The solo that day moved them, the love in the church touched them, and they felt God while there.  Two young men shared with me their achievements in sports and I was excited for them.  A visitor took my hand and looked at me intently and said, “I needed that worship today, I have been looking for hope.”  I thank my God for moments like these after worship, and pray that they never cease.  They always end up as my fuel for joy in moments of need.

What is your fuel for joy in moments of need?  All around us there is reason for joy.  The cynic would point out that there is also reason for despair, but I would counter there are only reasons to have people who offer fuel for joy so that joy abounds.  To those who are hurting and in need, we must become their fuel for joy!  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, joy!

Riding the Wave of the Holy Spirit,

Garrett