As we began our Church Conference on Sunday, the Reverend Kendall Waller shared some verses from Isaiah 43:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
He reminded us that God is with us no matter what. God is our God and we are His people. No matter what.
As he shared with us, I remembered one of our prayer warriors suggesting the image of seeing myself as being in the eye of the hurricane. Though everything around me is whirling and crashing, I stand in the calm and peace of the eye when I stand in the presence of God. That image has touched me deeply and given me great comfort in these days.
In September of 1961, Hurricane Carla hit the Texas coast at Port O’Connor, just south of Victoria, where we lived at the time. I was five years old. I remember how our house shook. I could hear objects hitting the side of our home and glass breaking. At one point, as the roof separated, I could hear splintering wood. The wind sounded like a train passing by a few feet away. It was overwhelming and frightening. Then suddenly, it stopped. Silence was all I heard. As my parents scrambled to salvage and reinforce and board over broken windows, I went into the backyard. It was full of all kinds of fun new things. Actually, it was the debris of the storm and probably not safe, but hey, I was five! The sun was out, birds were singing, and the sky was blue. I was having such a good time, I didn’t notice the approach of the storm wall. My parents had to find me and drag me in before the storm began again, but to this day, I remember the deep sense of peace and stillness in that moment.
As we move into these turbulent times in the life of the United Methodist Church, I am finding that memory and image precious. When everything begins to whirl and holler and become confusing and overwhelming, I join God’s Spirit in a place of stillness and serenity. I listen for God’s voice saying, “you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you,” (vs. 4). I remember that God still holds the future, no matter how overwhelming the present feels, and I find peace in His presence and His love. I invite you to join me there.
God has called you by name. God has called me by name. God has called us by name. We are claimed and loved. In the midst of it all, God is our Peace.
Be Blessed,
Tom Deviney
