Good morning…
I woke panicked. Could it be true? I briefly dreamed that my computer was mysteriously downloading thousands, and thousands, and thousands more email addresses for new subscribers, before sending out our morning message, blanketing a growing multitude with God’s peace, power, protection. Then suddenly a large scale, mass tragedy struck, and miraculously, together, we were shielded from harm, cocooned in God’s care, kept safe, sound, secure.
Why panic? The unforced rhythms of God’s grace cover us completely, day after day, dark night by dark night.
“Morning sweet Sue,” she wrote after yesterday’s post Rest By The Ocean. “I will always be grateful to you for introducing me to the Message translation of that verse in Matthew, way back when our kids were high school Seniors, and we were sitting in your living room on Cochise Drive! At the time I had never heard of the Message bible. I thought you had written it! (And you are fully capable but Eugene Peterson beat you to it ?) Now, I’m sitting in a cafe in NYC waiting for our college graduate to wake up. He and I are getting him settled in his apartment before he starts work next week. Bittersweet time. Trying to ride those Rhythms of Grace! I have selfishly loved being in touch with the ‘live Sue’ this summer. Thank you for the gift of your words each day.”
Could it be true? Why panic? God’s unforced rhythms of grace ripple out to protect us day after day, year after year, life phase by life phase. Regardless of the tragedies that may rock our world, together might we remain safe, sound, secure, cocooned in God’s care, morning by morning?
I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left (Lamentations 3:19-24, MSG).
…Sue…
P.S. In actuality, having remained connected over the month of June, we have added twenty-one new subscribers to our online community. Welcome to you, newcomers, as together we try to ride well the daily rhythms of God’s saving grace.
