Trinity Lutheran Church

Do you know the sounds of the loons?

Pastor Paula

Writing from a friends' home on Gilbert Lake in Brainerd, MN, puts a whole new perspective on life with God. Outside David and I pitched our tent just next to the steps to the dock. We had a great night's sleep with Greta, our dog. This morning just after we came up to the house to freshen up, the skies opened and a good hour of rain fell.

You know the sounds of loons? They were up and calling much earlier than I was willing to get up.

In this amazing outdoors, the presence of God comes close for me. Pine trees, lake waters, mosquitoes, farm markets, and sunscreen....all the outdoors I imagine God loves well.

Where do you most easily find God? Better put for a Lutheran is: where does God make God's presence feel close to you? Each of us needs to find where God finds us. Each of the amazing seasons of nature might also offer an amazing season in God. We are blessed to receive such.

God has given us each a vocation in which to praise God. I don't think I ever heard anyone say to me that God seems close at the office or on the job though. Let's wrap our hearts around the place where we spend the most time. Can we see the neighbor in the 'cube farm' as God for us? Can we see the competitor business person across the table from us in a meeting or the Chamber of Commerce as God close to us? We can come to a better place in our life in Christ by allowing God to find in us the change of heart we really long for. Seeing Christ in our everyday life will bring a newness, a transformation, a peace through which more and more we will gaze upon God.

Don't ever give up the opportunity to vacation and come away for awhile to rest, though. When your vocation becomes a point of contention or stress, such vacation is necessary for health and salvation. Rest assured Christ is with you every minute of every day - on the job or in the pool. Be blessed in August with opportunities to work and to play among the persons of God.

Pastor Paula

2010-07-28