Tomorrow (Friday) is a travel day for Cindy and me as we head to a family
wedding. So, my pastor's notes are coming to you a bit early this week. It's
interesting, but at this stage of life, it is often weddings or funerals that
bring our families together. The busyness of our lives and the distance between
us make it very difficult to get together. Phone calls are punctuated with "I
love you's," birthdays are remembered with cards and presents, and holidays are
celebrated with good memories that almost make the miles disappear. Now, some
of you may think this a sad commentary on the rush and distraction of
twenty-first century living, and I suppose there is truth there. But though our
families are miles away and we rarely get to see each other, the connection is
still strong, the love still present, the hope for future time together still
shared.
We love our families and would like to be around them more often, but for
now, that is not possible. So phone calls, emails, cards will have to
do...along with the occasional wedding. But I must say, we are not lonely, for
extended family impact our lives weekly, even daily. We are grateful for the
blessing of community we share with our Westwood family, with neighbors, and
with colleagues in the area. Our lives are made richer by relationships with
friends who were once strangers that have now welcomed us into their lives.
Take a moment to look around you...perhaps family members who were once very
close, are no longer near. And yet, there are still treasures of relationship
to be found. Look next door, down the street, around the sanctuary this Sunday,
or in your work place or school next week. You and I are blessed to be in
community with many brothers and sisters. Celebrate these relationships and
give thanks to God for family members, near and far.
One special blessing of the weekend is that we will get to see Clayton for
a few days. He's a groomsman, Cindy is playing the piano, and I am one of the
officiants at the wedding. Yes, it is a family affair.
With gratitude for all of our families,
Jim Abernathy
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