Signposts

Perhaps you saw the story in the news this past week that the DC metropolitan area has the worst traffic in the nation. I don't know that this news caught any of us by surprise. We have all sat in those rush hour jams on the beltway, or come to a surprising stop on Braddock, Rolling, Old Keene Mill or any of great number of familiar thoroughfares in this area. I was told when I came here that traffic is the great equalizer, except of course for the slugs who travel the HOV lanes each morning and afternoon. Even they, on occasion face backups in their "preferred" lanes of travel. If you travel this region at all, however, your life...your progress will be slowed, perhaps brought to a standstill by the crush of cars crowding our roadways. Of course, traffic also provides a ready excuse when you are late, for everyone who waits for your arrival has been there and done that! When "traffic" explains your tardiness, people usually shake their heads in silent recognition as fellow pilgrims who have walked, or ridden, or perhaps better, sat in the same place you have.

One of the supposed benefits of the GPS system we bought a few years ago is that it gives an alternate route if traffic is backed up where you are. Of course, in this area, that usually just means an alternate traffic jam that you can join along with all the other folks who follow their GPS' to the same spot. I suppose we are all at times looking for the best route to travel. Sometimes the motivation in our search is time, while at other times it may be scenery, the particular type of road to be traveled, or a route that allows us a stopover at a place of particular interest.

Signs have always been helpful on such journeys, pointing the way, guiding the traveler to the destination desired.

The Psalmist tells us, "The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy." (Psalm 19:7-8, The Message) There are moments of great acceleration and steady movement as we travel the roads of life. There are also bumps, detours, deep potholes, and stagnant jams. The signposts of God give us clear direction and the promise of a fellow traveler who will be with us every mile of the way...when they fly by and when they drag.

During the month of October I will be preaching a series of messages on the theme, Signposts of Stewardship. These messages will focus our attention on five themes of stewardship that give guidance as we think about how we will honor the living God as stewards of the blessings God has given each of us. My prayer is that we will find guidance for the journey, hearing once more the call of God to faithful, Christ-like stewardship.

Well, I must draw this to a close. Cindy and I are heading out into the traffic in just a few minutes. You might look for us...in recognition of our areas newfound recognition, we will be the ones with arms waving madly out the car window, shouting as we go, "We're Number One! We're Number One!"

Jim Abernathy

Treasures to Uncover

The Abernathys are still overwhelmed in the aftermath of last Sunday evening's celebration of our tenth anniversary at Westwood. The kind words, inspiring music, delicious food, and sweet fellowship were a blessing to all. I find those moments of recognition humbling as the kindness of others often makes me realize how blessed I truly am. The Westwood family welcomed us with open arms a decade ago and continues to bring blessing to our lives in so many ways. We look forward with great anticipation to the days to come as there are still new chapters to write in the continuing story of Westwood Baptist Church.

Weather permitting, we are scheduled to participate in our neighborhood yard sale Saturday morning. Motivated by a bit of water in our basement a few weeks ago, we moved all the boxes out of the unfinished basement and have been going through things that haven't seen the light of day in probably fifteen years. Perhaps you have had that experience of moving things from house to house with every intention of sorting through them at a later date, but then, not getting around to it. The great inventor, Thomas Edison once wrote, "To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk." I'm not sure about the imagination, but if the pile of junk qualifies me, I might turn out to be quite the inventor.

Of course, not everything that we have gone through is junk. Among the few treasures we found were some pictures, one of which made quite an impression on me. The picture was of two men, one playing an electronic organ while the other adjusted the sound over the first man's shoulder. These two men were my dad at the keyboard and Cindy's dad adjusting the stops on the organ. Neither man was terribly musical, but together in that picture, they looked like the maestro and his assistant, poised to begin the concert! Both men are no longer with us, but the picture stirred memories of wonderful moments we shared together with them that still fill our hearts and minds.

The moments of life are for sharing and celebrating. Whether these memories are bittersweet as we remember loved ones no longer beside us, or celebratory in acknowledging the passing of time and the blessing of relationship, these are the treasures of life that give voice to our stories and mark the moments, days, and years of our lives. It all passes so quickly! The New Century Version translation of Psalm 90:12 says, "Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise." The Contemporary English Version says, "Teach us to use wisely all the time we have." For me it means, make wise use of every moment you are given. I can't say that I always adhere to that truth, but the events of this past week have reminded me once more that I am blessed to know the love of Christ, my family and friends, and the treasure of relationship we share together as brothers and sisters in Christ at Westwood Baptist Church.

Well, I must go...there are a few more boxes to empty, and perhaps a few more treasures to uncover.

Jim Abernathy

Complaints

Of the seasons we enjoy in Northern Virginia, fall is my favorite. I have always enjoyed the autumn of the year. Cooler temperatures, beautiful colors, weekend football games, and of course, the calendar is marching ever closer to November and December and the wonderful holiday season. The fall is also a bridge between the warmth of summer and the chill of winter. Cooler temperatures are welcome now, but down the road they give way to hard freezes, barren trees, wind chill announcements, and snow shovels! Something so crisp and beautiful as fall is ultimately overcome by winter.

I suppose one easy remedy would be to move to a more moderate climate where changes in seasons are little noticed. Though I would enjoy that most days, I would miss the changing seasons, and without the weather to complain about, how would conversations with strangers be initiated???

Complaints about the weather are plentiful. In reality, our complaints about any of a number of things in this life, fill our conversations and color our perspectives. Consider the complaints of the children of Israel found in Exodus 16, as they tell Moses that they were better off in the slavery of Egypt than the land God has brought them to. We see the patience and provsion of God amidst their complaints...something we should take note of in our own seasons of complaint.

I sign off tonight with the realization that there is really very little for me to complain about. I, like you, have much to be thankful for. However, don't expect me to stop complaining about the weather. Some habits are just too hard to break! Besides, if I stopped complaining about the sun in my eyes, or the wind in my face, the rain, the cold, or the heat, I would lose half the excuses I make for my slumping golf game. Perhaps in the end, some complaints are worthwhile.

Jim Abernathy

In the Midst of Life's Storms

I'm not sure, but I believe I saw the sunshine earlier this afternoon. After the last week of rain, what a welcome sight! It was so bad yesterday as I was eating lunch with a colleague, that we could not leave the restaurant because of the continuing downpour. We waited and waited for it to stop or at least ease a bit, but it did not, leaving us with only one alternative...reluctantly, we ordered and split a warm chocolate chip cookie sundae. We felt guilty sitting in the booth so long after we had finished our meal, so dessert seemed the only alternative. It's amazing what we justify in the midst of life's storms.

Sunday marks the tenth anniversary of the horrific events of 9/11. Everywhere one has turned this week, there has been some remembrance of that dark day. That day of tragedy has spawned two wars, new governmental agencies, changes to security procedures from the airport to the borders of our nation, altered the way we treat prisoners in the context of war, and made us wary of persons "not like us" of whom we are taught to be suspicious. These reactions are understandable in the context of fear and shock, and many would argue that they are common sense reactions to an act of war. History will judge the appropriate nature of our nation's response to 9/11, but how will you and I continue to live in this present world of violence, hatred, and political stalemate? How will we justify our actions in the midst of life's storms?

The Sunday after 9/11, I preached from the thirty-seventh Psalm, focusing on the thirty-seventh verse..."there is a future for the man of peace." Retaliation is often the first thought in the aftermath of aggression...an understandable response to what is seen as cruel and unjust. What is more often unusual, however, is the response Holy Scripture calls us to in the aftermath of injustice. Again, the Psalmist writes in Psalm 37:7-8, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn away from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil." This isn't a pathway to inaction or complacency...quite the contrary, it is a call to faith and trust beyond the obvious, beyond the easy response. Again, verses 3-5 of this Psalm say, "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord..." Trust, dwell, delight, commit...these are words of attitude and action that are intentional responses by faith in the living God. Violence, retribution, angry words and judgmental actions will always be a part of the human response to violent aggression. In such a world, however, there is a future for the man or woman of peace...a place where God works within the human heart to give evidence of the best of what God created us to be.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. These are great words for all of us to hear in these challenging days.

Jim Abernathy