Dear Fellow Children of God,
When I attended college over 40 years ago I chose many
literature courses for my elective classes.
My belief was that good literature gave a window into the human mind and
heart. So, in addition to courses on
Scripture and theology, I studied, Shakespeare, American Literature, Greek
Literature, Poetry, and other courses which helped me look into the human
condition.
One poem I remember reading, and with which I was quite a
bit overwhelmed, was “The Waste Land,” by T.S. Elliot. My professor, Dr. Erhard Essig, taught us
that this poem showed how modern society has become a wasteland, a place where
life shrivels and dies. That view of our
world is pretty depressing, but the sin and the corruption we live with leads me
to often agree with Elliot’s assessment.
You know that some who live in the lower 48 see Alaska as
a “wasteland.” When the United States
purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 it was called “Seward’s Folly,” and
Seward’s Ice Box.” And there are many
who still see our far north state as a wilderness of ice and snow, and as a
place they would not want to go. I have
had two pastors tell me they would not consider a call to serve a congregation
in Alaska because their wives would not go.
Yet, in this supposed wilderness, the beauty of God’s
creative hand shines forth. Sometimes we
gaze in awe at the majesty of the mountains.
Sometimes the alpenglow takes our breath. And sometimes the beauty of God’s hand surprises
us.
This summer Kathy and I were delighted and surprised at
the splendor of God by a beautiful “volunteer” in our garden. Over the years many plants have sprung up in
the garden, even though we didn’t plant them.
For example, I have picked much spinach which I did not plant, but grew from
the seed of previous year’s crop. Right
now I have a strawberry growing in my lettuce. And raspberries often spread and grow, even
where they are not wanted. But, in my
lettuce row I had an unexpected plant grow tall this year. At first I thought it might be a
sunflower. But then an attractive pink
flower bloomed halfway up the stalk. Next,
more blooms showed themselves. I didn’t
know what this plant was. Eva Cohnen
Brown told me it was a Hollyhock. Kathy
and I have really enjoyed this beautiful, unexpected flower growing in what
some call “Seward’s Icebox.”
Scripture teaches us about growth and
beauty in unexpected places. Isaiah prophesies,
“1 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the
wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into
bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be
given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the
LORD, the splendor of our God. 3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees
that give way; 4 say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not
fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution
he will come to save you." 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and
the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the
mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. . .” (Isaiah 35:1-6)
What causes this beauty in the
wilderness of life which Isaiah proclaims?
God says in Isaiah 35:2 “they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.” God’s presence
changes the trials of life. He loves us
when we feel unlovable, for good reason.
He forgives our sins, "Though
your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red
as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) The
Lord gives life in a world of death. God
gives these surprising gifts through His Son Jesus, who says, "I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and
believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)
Alaska is not a
wasteland. The beauty of God shines
forth in our state. Our hollyhock
surprised Kathy and me with the creative beauty of our Lord in our world. But,
even in this place of God’s splendor, life can be dark and depressing. Therefore God has sent His son, Jesus. In Him we “see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.” May our Lord’s unexpected love, His
undeserved forgiveness, and God’s gift of life in a world of death, which we
receive in Jesus, bring surprising joy, and peace, and hope into your life.
A Child of God, Surprised Again By The Beauty of God’s
Love in our Dark World,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here are some pictures of the hollyhock in our
garden. https://photos.app.goo.gl/8xVXahRJESFNWchq8
P.P.S. Monday
night, August 17, our whole family got together for supper, to eat a silver
salmon which granddaughter, Emma, had caught.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/z2NXnGhm5RPRZJ4u6
P.P.P.S. This was
quite a week for fishing. Since my last
article I fished for red salmon on the Kenai and Silver Salmon on the Little
Susitna.
·
Fishing on the Kenai, Friday, August 14. I caught 2 reds. This is one of them. https://photos.app.goo.gl/eLKxNSao5e9kRyXy8
·
Fishing on the Kenai, Saturday, August 15. I caught 4 reds. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/8sYrxjTSkJvpu1h18
·
Fishing with grandchildren on the Little
Susitna, Monday, August 17. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ginLUNZV81PH5RZS7
*****
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I am now
retired from serving as senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer,
AK. My weekly devotion was previously titled, "Thoughts from the
Pastor." However, with life's changes I now call the devotion
"Journeys Through Life as a Child of God." I am only sending
this message to those who have asked to receive it. If you know someone
else who desires to receive this message, have them e-mail me at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
I will include them on my distribution list. You can also view this message on
my Facebook page.
HOWEVER, A NUMBER
OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHY THEY ARE NO LONGER RECEIVING MY DEVOTIONS. Since I’m only sending these e-mails to
people who ask for them, many are no longer receiving these messages. BUT, if you read this on Facebook and like to
receive these devotions by e-mail, or if you know someone who would like to
receive these devotions, send me an e-mail at jonrock53@mtaonline.net, and I will add
you to my distribution list.
Child of God
Husband, Father, Son, Grandfather
Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church
E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net
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