Pastoral Thoughts
There is a line from a Simon and Garfunkel song that says, “My mind is distracted and diffused, my thought are many miles away.” Sometimes I feel like that. What about you? In the pastoral care part of my ministry, there have been a series of funerals, deaths, tragedies and heartbreaks. In the associate to the bishop role I have from time to time there have been some difficult moments. I am always concerned about the welfare and future of my family. The life of the congregation has been rolling along but I am always hopeful that I can be a better pastor and that we can improve our ministry to the entire world in the name of Jesus.
One Tuesday afternoon, the Lord in his wonderful caring way interjected Himself into my distracted and diffused world reminding me of his ever present love and compassion for this wandering disciple. First let me quote Paul from I Corinthians 14: 33. “For God is not a God of confusion but of Peace.” So, we went to the Dingman Delaware Elementary School to pick up Kayla, our granddaughter. She is a gentle soul and my concern about the future is focused on her at the moment. The world can be hard place and my concern for her (and many others) is on my heart. As we are driving along, she is playing some video game in the back seat and she starts singing the song from the last Junior Choir anthem…”All day, all night, angels watching over me my Lord, all day all night, angels watching over me.” In an instant my eyes well up…I am not sure if she is singing to herself or if God has her singing to me…both probably.
We take things like the music we teach to children too lightly perhaps. The thoughts that are learned in the heart guide us forever. I am thankful to God for his providing for me on that day with an angel. It has brought me back to peace.
Along the way,
Pastor Niel
One Tuesday afternoon, the Lord in his wonderful caring way interjected Himself into my distracted and diffused world reminding me of his ever present love and compassion for this wandering disciple. First let me quote Paul from I Corinthians 14: 33. “For God is not a God of confusion but of Peace.” So, we went to the Dingman Delaware Elementary School to pick up Kayla, our granddaughter. She is a gentle soul and my concern about the future is focused on her at the moment. The world can be hard place and my concern for her (and many others) is on my heart. As we are driving along, she is playing some video game in the back seat and she starts singing the song from the last Junior Choir anthem…”All day, all night, angels watching over me my Lord, all day all night, angels watching over me.” In an instant my eyes well up…I am not sure if she is singing to herself or if God has her singing to me…both probably.
We take things like the music we teach to children too lightly perhaps. The thoughts that are learned in the heart guide us forever. I am thankful to God for his providing for me on that day with an angel. It has brought me back to peace.
Along the way,
Pastor Niel