Let Us Have Courage

From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough 

Goodness, what a time we are living in.  Yet, let us have courage.   We really are in this together.  I talked to a few of you this week, and it was wonderful  to hear your voices.  I hope to speak with all of you in the next week or so.  In the meantime,  please do not hesitate to give me a call if there is a way I, or the Board of SpiritCare,  can assist your community.  

Scripture:   John 8:12-14   
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.' Then the Pharisees said to him,  'You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid. 'Jesus answered, 'Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.' "     

Meditation
The first two sentences of this passage are well known, and more than one hymn has been inspired by these lines. However, today I find myself thinking  about Jesus defending his testimony because he knows "where I have come from and where I am going..."  That is a profound statement, and something we should all give some thought to.  

It is easy to lose confidence as we grow older.  We can convince ourselves that people do not really care where we have come from, and at times we may not know where we are headed.  Such uncertainty can interfere with our confidence.  We worry we may not be headed anywhere. 
 
Yet, it is in these doubts where our faith helps provide the mortar to fill in the gaps and strengthen our core structure.  It is my prayer that we all remember that we are God's children.  We belong.  Our journey is to continue in faith, learning as we go, serving one another by  encouraging one another.  This is how we find meaning in our lives.  Jesus knew he was headed for the cross, but in his three years of ministry he accomplished much.  We, too, know that our physical bodies will eventually perish.  Yet, because of love, we walk in the light.  We walk in the light that is Christ.   People of other faiths will describe such love differently.  No worries.  Ultimately, there is only one God and one Love.  I call that Love, Christ.   Yet, we know our words will always fall short so we do not cling to them.  However, love never falls short. Why?  Because while our physical bodies die, we have the inextinguishable  gifts  of love and light.  Such gifts cannot be destroyed, not in this life, nor in the continuing life to come.  Where do we come from?  God.  Where are we going?  The answer is the same.   Let us put our doubts aside.  As the saying goes, let us stop worrying and start living.  Let us claim this life that we have as the holy temple that it is.  God is always with us. How can you then be anything else but the light of the world?  Please, rise and shine, confident in all your comings and goings, being love in this world.   Thank you!
 
Prayer
I leave you with Psalm 36:7-9   
 
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
  All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
   and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
  in your light we see light.  
 
Amen.      

Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor
San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ
www.slzchurch.org 
www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com