Good morning…
Last Sunday, I worshiped with my friend at Swannanoa Church in Swannanoa, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene devastated much of the area one year ago this week. Friendly, multi-generational, bursting with authentic connection, the community church felt real and restorative. “There is nothing like living through tragedy together to create a lasting bond,” I thought to myself.
“We must limit ourselves to the speed of relationship,” said the pastor, as he welcomed us into the down to earth space. “Be in God’s presence.” I typed these two sentences into my phone and revisit them right now. Limit your speed. Be with God. When homes have been wiped away, when loved ones have lost their lives, and when once thriving businesses are torn down or boarded up, human beings are forced to limit themselves to the speed of the relationships at hand, slowing down to be together in the presence of our living God.
As I visit the church website in the middle of the night, I notice the subtitle of the book our classes studied in my basement last year: Be with Jesus. Become like Jesus. Do what Jesus did. From the city of Atlanta, Georgia to the mountain town of Swannanoa, North Carolina, “Be with Jesus, Become like Jesus, Do as Jesus did” is a central theme from John Mark Comer’s book Practicing the Way, which describes Christian discipleship as a process of apprenticeship to Jesus in our everyday lives.
Scrolling through the website, I discover a powerful video of a family of five being cared for by the tight-knit community. Their mobile home has been swept away and ripped apart. As the family is filmed returning to the wreckage of their home, I am touched by the little boy watching his dad overcome with tears, the little girl finding a picture she had colored, and the mom comforting her daughter, “We’re okay. It’s going to be okay.” I also love the hope still alive in the heart of this family.
Slowing ourselves down to the speed of these relationships, might we lift prayers for those who are slowly rebuilding their lives in the presence of our living God? When the Lord rebuilds…he will reveal his greatness. He will hear his forsaken people and listen to their prayer (Psalm 102:16-17, GNT).
Now I encourage you to go to the church website and touch on the “Helene” link, scrolling down to prayerfully watch the moving video yourself.
…Sue…
