By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC
Happy Chinese New Year – especially all of you tigers! CNY is a time to be with family and to eat good food together. I hope you have this in abundance. Gung Hay Fat Choy!
The image and word that stuck with me through my sabbatical was “rooted.” I attached myself to the images of Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8. When I trust in the Lord and place my confidence in Him, I am like a supernatural tree. My Marvel-like superpowers are heat-resistant, drought-tolerant, and 4-season capable; no brown or dying leaves, unending sweet juicy fruit!
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Jer. 17:7-8 (NIV)
Mary and I have always purchased a new Benjamin ficus every major move we’ve had: Chicago, Sacramento, and Seattle. They are extremely sensitive plants. They don’t like to be moved, don’t like drafts or wide swings of temperatures and they don’t like too much water. After 30 years of having these plants, I thought I knew about growing them well, but this current one is doing horribly. As I head out Midwinter while I write this, I am preparing myself for the worse when I come back.
I have been in so many conversations lately that remind me of my struggling ficus. People are barely hanging on. Churches are barely hanging on. I know I’ve had my own moments of doubt and depletion.
Maybe you’ve been there too. We fill like sensitive struggling house plants rather than resilient, grand redwoods; like trees planted by running waters.
There have been so many articles that have been written about how to manage and conquer these times. I don’t want to give you any easy answers here. I don’t want to offer any pithy list of the seven things you should do. I only offer you my own testimony of our Living Water. The only thing that has consistently kept me fresh, is tapping deeply into these waters.
After dropping Caden off at school, a breathtaking sunrise was coloring the sky. I knew I had to turn off the news and acknowledge Creator’s gift that morning. I soaked it in and knew God was near and smiling.
I sat with old friends recently at a funeral and was reminded of God’s faithfulness and protection through some of the toughest seasons. I realize my tendency to isolate myself. The more I prioritize being around people, the more I see and hear God.
I love praying with my staff and with other pastors, When I pray with people, my perspective of God deepens and expands. I’m refreshed and my spirit fortified. I wish I could bottle that!
The more I release myself with reckless abandon the more I am able to worship. I realize my reluctance to surrender. My culture, personality, age, all restrict me. My need for control does too. Music helps me the most.
As I write, I am listening to my “Worship!!” playlist. “Is He Worthy” is one of my favorites because of the corporate liturgical proclamation way it’s written. The song immediately following is “Waymaker.” These songs mess me up. They often transport me.
“Is He Worthy”
Do you feel the world is broken? (We do,)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do,)
But do you know that all the dark won’t stop the light from getting through (We do,)
Do you wish you could see it all made new (We do,)Is all Creation groaning (It is,)
Is the the New Creation coming (It is,)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this (It is,)Is anyone worthy?…
Is he worthy? (He is!)
He is worthy! (He is!)“Waymaker”
You are here, moving in our midst
I worship you, I worship youYou are here, working in this place
I worship you, I worship you…Waymaker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness…
My God, that is who you are!
I know that as my worship increases, as I love and serve God with more and more of my heart, soul, mind and strength, my roots run deep. I drink in those Waters. I’m no longer parched. I see new buds sprouting.
No storm, no intense heat, no disease, no pests, no fire, nada takes me away from my confidence in God. I lean in. I lean in. I lean in.