Well brothers and sisters, I hope by the time you are reading this that power has been restored to your hearth and home. Last week was filled with quite a few hectic days. I’m sure that many of you are still dealing with the multiple fallen limbs in your yard. As for me and my house, we lost power on Wednesday morning and didn’t get it back until Saturday morning. I am currently mourning the loss of all the items in my refrigerator.
In all seriousness, I know that many of our families were greatly trialed by the weather last week. We should be lifting the Trooper Curtis Putz family in prayer; Trooper Putz is currently recovering after he was struck by a vehicle assisting at an accident scene on I 45. He and his family are dealing with the true tragedies of this past weeks’ storm.
I did watch people, businesses and churches in our community reach out and help one another. To see those who had endured great tragedy, be surrounded by loving members of Christ’s Kingdom. But for most of us, this past week was just a minor inconvenience and this experience had reminded me about just how frail our human condition actually is. I’m sure that many of us fear the great calamities that the enemy could throw in our wake, great disasters of biblical proportions, wars and rumors of wars. But, in truth, it doesn’t take much for us humans to become discouraged, irritated, and despondent. How many of us, when the power went out, were filled with anxiety or fear about when the power would come back on so we could run our heaters, watch our TV’s or charge our iPhone and use the internet? How many of us immediately rushed out to the store to buy food or grab gas or buy some extra rolls of toilet paper?
The sad truth, for us spoiled members of today’s society, is that it doesn’t take much to shake our foundations or shiver our faith. The power goes out and we cry out, “Oh God, when will we get our lives back.” When, in reality, those moments of going without remind us of what is truly valuable in our lives. In my case, my family was never in any danger and we never went hungry. We were never really that cold and I got to spend a few days of uninterrupted time with my daughter and wife. All done without a heater, power, or internet. And while I’m glad the power is back on; I do miss the lack of distractions in my life.
In the book of Psalms, it is written, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” How often are we taking moments to be still and know our God? How much noise surrounds us each day that prevents the clear guidance of Christ getting through to us? Perhaps these simple moments of inconvenience are actually of the greatest convenience, because they show us what is important; they slow our lives down and make us live in the moment.
The next time this happens, I hope that I relish a little more the simple solitude that is provided. Granted, I will be hoping for the power to return. But maybe I will enjoy the silent aspects of such events and center my life on what is important.
God bless all our first responders, lineman workers, and businesses who remain open and serve our communities while the rest of us wait in our homes. Yours is a selfless act of Christlike charity.
Stay Warm and Hopeful my friends,
Pastor Mike McVey
First United Methodist Church, Fairfield
ACS Chaplain – U.S. Coast Guard Base Galveston
(P.S. If you would like to contact or receive Pastor Mike’s weekly newsletter simply email him at pastormike@fumcfairfield.org)
