Persevere!

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,  and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:5-8, NASB)

One of the heartening stories that has come out of the confirmation hearings of Judge Ketanji Brown-Jackson is her recollection of her first year at Harvard. At the time, having come from a public school setting as opposed to some of her classmates, she began to wonder if she was in the right place. One day as she was walking up the street another African American woman was approaching to pass her. Judge Jackson thinks that perhaps the woman was somehow aware of her internal feelings and the woman said to her as they were passing, “persevere.”

When I heard that story, my reaction was, “that was nobody but Jesus.” God shows up for us in so many ways in this journey. Sometimes it is when we are in prayer, while meditating, in our bible study time, and sometimes through others. On a large scale we see the results of her perseverance and strong faith.

As we read in II Peter, all our pursuits ultimately should lead us to love (something Judge Jackson also spoke about in her journey). There may be times in life when we might wonder if we are on the right track or even in the right place. It is in these times when God shows up through quiet times and/or through others. This is a good reason for us to continue to show up for one another, to be with each other, and reach out to others when they are placed on our hearts or in our minds. Our faith, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and our church family all work together to help each of us “persevere” as we move through life and find ways to employ the gift(s) of the Spirit with which we have been blessed to “build up the body of Christ.”

In the days ahead, as we continue to move forward, we invite the participation of our LABC family to help fulfill the ministry of our church body.  What is needed, as a missionary once told me, is a spirit willing to heed the call and leading of God.

(I can hear my Savior calling…/Where He leads me I will follow…/I’ll go with Him all the way – E.W. Blandy)

Growing Together in Christ,
Pastor Carolyn