A date with God

I needed yesterday. Being around an active church just made my day. I seem so prone to the blues this time of year. Maybe it's the change in weather, maybe it's getting up in the dark and not so much sun during the day, maybe it's this constant persistent dull headache that I deal with, I don't know. But I do know that these past weeks I have been feeling blue, easily overwhelmed and on the verge of tears. But yesterday was such a healing and enjoyable day. The weather wasn't very good but the joy of being in church, with the Spirit flowing throughout the activities, the smiles and laughter and friendships made all the difference.

Four services, each one so very different. The message in the first three, even though it's the same, is different. I feel my body/soul resonating with God, kind of being like on a date. The shared joy, the shared interest, the conversation, the joy of being together... like on a date. Each service brings its own special place. Like on a date, God and I go different places. The 8:00 service is more mellow, quiet, meditative, less distracting. I enjoy the time with friends, the wakening of my soul to God early in the day, the pleasure of quiet. And then the 9:15 service with its excitement and fellowship with lots of people, the joy of many voices raised in song, and the activity that comes when over 200 people join in praise and worship of God, of running to Sunday school, of laughter and greetings shouted in the hallways, and the party like setting. The 11:15 praise and worship service brings a different kind of joy and enthusiasm for being with my date. I'm awake, and having the time of my life, singing and dancing and clapping just for the love of God. The 5:00 worship brings a close to the day with praise and gratitude for all that God and I have enjoyed. We celebrated the birth of two children and the promise of all that those lives hold; through the sacrament of Baptism. The preciousness of life, the sacredness of life, the promise of life - we renew our commitment to God and God's faithfulness to us and promise to support these children and their families in their spiritual lives and in ours. And in the preciousness of life, we celebrated the birth of children through baptism but we also celebrated the passing of life as we dedicated the outdoor worship area at the 5:00 service.

The 5:00 service was very special because we dedicated this outdoor worship area that had transformed an ugly unkempt area into a place where we can find ourselves spending time with God. The beauty of this area's transformation is not only in its visible appearance but also in the initiative and vision that one had and others embraced with commitment, dedication and love. The Cross is center just as the Cross is central to our faith. The labyrinth recognizes each individual's personal spiritual journey, how at times we feel very close to the center (God) and at other times very far away, sometimes lost and wandering, but always in the presence of God. The Flame that represents Light and the Holy Spirit. The greenery and color of flowers. The benches that wait patiently for us to come sit in the presence of God.

I drive home, no radio on, no distractions, and find myself thanking God aloud for this day. For the peace and calm that has come over me today. For the joy of being with my Christian family. For the blessing of baptism. For the commitment and dedication and service of so many leaders. For the leadership of Pastor Kip. For the love expressed on Steve's and Jennifer's faces as their little one is baptized. For the love and support expressed by the Karpinen family as their little one is baptized. For the transformation of ugly places into places that bring us closer to God. For the gifts generously given by many individuals. For the gift of Christ freely given to us. For the pure joy of being alive and well.

Thank you, God, for a wonderful date.