Pastor’s corner

Much of life has to do with our perspective. When I was a national stewardship consultant I flew thousands of miles a year. One time I was heading toward Omaha on a flight from Phoenix, and somewhere over Kansas I noticed something a little unusual. When I looked at the one side of the airplane, there was an amazing sunset with glorious hues of orange and red. It was like God was painting a picture, helping me to see the splendor and glory of the Lord. The view out that airplane window reminded me of an orchestra of color. I felt inspired, hopeful and happy.

But then I turned my head and looked out the other side of the plane. What a difference! There was a storm coming from the East. The sky was ominously dark and it created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. The folks on that side of the plane seemed suddenly uneasy and anxious. How fast would the storm move, and would we have to fly through it?

Later, when I reflected on that experience, I thought about that airplane as a metaphor of my life. I am sure that my children would say, “There goes Dad again with his metaphors – everything reminds him of God, or something from the Bible!!”

It occurred to me that my life certainly has had many beautiful, glorious times enlightened by the colors of the sunset. But I have also had many challenging moments with darkness and gloom. For some reason God has given me an inclination to look out the window where the sun is shining. I have always been a “glass half full” kind of guy. I prefer to look at the good in people, rather than the bad. I was raised that way and my faith in Jesus has helped me hang onto that viewpoint of life.

All of us have a choice. We can dwell on the gloomy side of the plane and get caught up in the uncertainties and darkness of life. Or we can try to find the light of Christ in what we do.

Here is the greater point: regarding my experience in that airplane - it didn’t matter which window I looked through, it was still going to land in Omaha!

So it is with our lives. We do have a choice of how we see the journey along the way. But no matter how we travel, with hope or with hopelessness, we still will eventually land at our final destination…

So why not travel with a touch of the divine in everything that we do...?

A little time in daily prayer and reflection, as a reminder, is a good place to start. The beauty and the power of such “God Time” is in the giving and the receiving. For my little country church, Selbu Lutheran, I email a “Mud Flat Musing” to about 400 folks (lots of friends and family!) about 12 – 15 times a month. I am blessed, in the writing of this devotional, and others come to a closer connection with God in the receiving.

That is the way it is in the Kingdom of God.

Prayer: Lord God, my final destiny is in your hands. Help me to trust you enough, that whether I see storms or sunsets on the horizon, I know that, either way, I am going to “land in Omaha!”- arrive in your loving arms. You are my rock, my salvation, and I am simply trying to live with panache, humility, hope and faithfulness. Thank you for being YOU! Amen.

Pastor John Cross

Selbu Lutheran Church