June 24, 2021

How is Your Heart?

Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints ac-cording to the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27, NASB

“How are you?” “How you doing today?” These greetings in many ways have become just that, greetings. Is there an expectation of an answer or is it just an-other way to say, “Hello?”
This last year has informed me of how much I have taken for granted personally in being part of a community. One of these is being able to attend gatherings consistently on a weekly basis – sometimes more than one meeting during the week. There is much anticipation in looking forward to July 11. Yet, in the midst of having had to move about with caution and being apart – life continued to proceed.

In the last year (16 months), I have: retired, seen both of my sons hospitalized – one for an extended period, and lived without three weekly music rehearsals (really miss the handbell ensemble). This also has been a time when grieving with friends and loved ones has had to happen at a distance. If asked, “how are you,” “okay,” would have been a ready response. Rarely would all of those episodes as well as others been part of the response.

This however is not the whole story. The support of church community did not wane. Remote meetings introduced us (me) to new people near and far from the neighborhood. We reestablished former and made new connections. Alt-hough not in the same room, the Spirit’s presence was/is still felt in times of study, prayer, and worship. We have not only survived, we learned to thrive and hold on to our hope.

So this is why I ask, “How is your heart?” which calls for more of a response, which means taking time to truly connect. The heart holds so much of what we are thinking as well as feeling and in some cases a short answer does not suffice.

How is your heart? Along with the Romans passage, Philippians 4:7 also occupied my heart space: And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). As we read through the Psalms in the prayer time on Saturdays, we found the psalmist held intense emotions in the same psalm. Is it possible to feel despair, joy, anger, and trust in God all at the same time? It seems our hearts are big enough to hold them all – and still be able to thrive.

Growing Together in Christ,
Pastor Carolyn