Dear Friends,
We’re almost halfway through October. That means a few things are true: the days are getting shorter, the dew point is dropping, and our few minutes of fall weather are almost here. Pretty great, right?
It’s also an exciting time in parish life. Friends are returning from northern residences. Classes and groups continue to reconvene; special events are filling the calendar. As we stand this side of a shift in parish rhythm, it’s good to pause and reflect on the months ahead.
What do you hope to experience this season in your life of faith? Do you look forward to the joyful rush of activities at church, the excitement of holiday events? Maybe you want to set aside more time for prayer and study this year. Perhaps you hope to receive some physical or emotional healing.
In Mark 18, Jesus encountered a blind man who kept shouting his name, desperate to capture Jesus’ attention. Folks tried to shush him, but in the midst of the busyness Jesus chose to call him over. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked, kindly and directly. “Lord, let me see again,” he answered – and his sight was restored.
As our “busy season” ramps up, Jesus is asking: “What do you want me to do for you?” It’s not a frivolous question, but a searching one, for God longs to meet us in the deepest places of our hearts. May each of us encounter Christ at Bethesda in new and profound ways this season, right in the midst of a joyful, busy calendar.
Grace and peace,
The Rev. Susan R. Beebe