Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers. – Psalm 1:1-3
The 6th Day of Christmas:
So 2015 seems to be winding down here in North Carolina with rain, unseasonably high temperatures, and now (I hear it rolling around) thunder.
The view from our home is soggy, and now (around 10:00 am), the rain is coming down in buckets.
But it’s all good! I may write a lot of posts and share a lot of pictures touting the beauty of Wake Forest in the winter, but it’s miserable-weather days like this one that remind me we’re here for the people, not the view, and the view I have of people – especially doing life together with the good folk of Wake Forest Presbyterian Church – is always something beautiful.
COFFEE: This morning I met with good friends for conversation at my favorite Wake Forest coffee venue, and I was reminded of how good – and important – it is to know and to be known.
Then there is the fairly easy accessibility of grandchildren! I featured them in yesterday’s post, then this morning I see this photograph from yesterday evening’s “story time with mommy,” and I feel so grateful for my family.
Life can be full with clouds, storms, unpleasant weather, and a wide range of difficulties. But the blessing of good relationships, and this deep knowledge that we are loved and accepted by God, these things transcend the storms that roll in.
And I am grateful, like the psalmist, to be planted here in good soil, by streams of living water.
There’s a phrase that formed in my mind yesterday evening, and I’d like to offer it as one of the driving affirmations for this blog during 2016: “Always keep hope in front of people.”
Always keeping hope in front of people means, simply, to remind one-another of the unshakable truth of the good news of the Gospel of Love.
Peace and blessings to all – DEREK
