His goodness, I mean.
I sit in my office smelling the coffee in my mug and it
reminds me of my time overseas.
I sing the words to a song that was always uplifting in
college – “Lord, you are good and your mercy endures forever.” Only truth from
the Word can create such songs of renewal.
I look out the window and can’t see past the trees across
the parking lot – though it was just yesterday that those trees were bare as I
planned a Rent-a-Youth day in January, and researched places for our fall
retreat in November.
November…just a month and a half after I had moved to
Lenoir.
Lenoir…People often ask me how I found the small town of Lenoir. I didn’t. Lenoir
found me … in Puerto Rico … by the hand of
God.
Sometimes the easiest thing in the world is to look
backwards and see hands. Sometimes we want to base our today on all those
little hands that touched us for a moment. Hands that hurt us, hands that
betrayed us, hands that make us feel angry or bitter. And then…hands that held
us, hands that uplifted us, hands that made us feel loved and supported. But
then…there are those hands. The ones
that were there when we were hurt or held, betrayed or uplifted, the hands that
held steady regardless of feeling angry, loved, bitter, or supported.
The hands that cared enough to sustain Israel through
her Old Testament rebellion, sin and restoration. The hands that care enough to sustain me
through my rebellion, sin and restoration.
The hands that represent
love
peace
grace
mercy
healing
promise
compassion
forgiveness
faithfulness.
Wow. This is the hand of God. I’ll never deserve it, yet
He’ll never withdraw it.
I can base my today on those hands.
Lord, you are good and your mercy endures forever.
