Greetings from Austin Street

Blessed Sunday to you all!  Wonderful worship this morning with family friends from Advent Lutheran. Worship was held at Veterans Park in Arlington followed by an all church picnic. The weather was perfect. The dress was casual with shorts, t-shirts, filpflops, caps etc..It took several explanations to Bruce as to why it was okay to wear the aforementioned attire. He finally understood. The sermon was about “A Different Kind of Picnic” It was the passage from the end of John after the Resurrection and Jesus meets the Disciples on the beach and invites them to breakfast of fish and bread. I have often thought of how hard my brain has had to work since being in graduate school and how tired I have been after a long day of classes, reading and writing. But I am pretty sure that my brain work does not hold a candle to what Bruce goes through each day as he is retraining to do the things most of us take for granted. We left the picnic around 1:00 and he was really tired.  He was not physically tired, but meeting people he knows and speaking only what he is sure of must be so difficult considering Bruce is a serious talker. Tonight we were sitting at the table and he sorted his medicines for the week with me telling him what was taken in the morning and night. But the best thing was he asked me if I had called …I had to say, “Try again.” Then he took a breath and slowly said, “Arlington.” I am always so excited when new words are spoken. There is not a lot of consistency yet, but any progress is such a gift. He has full confidence he will recover. Bruce is amazing or at least I think he is. God is so good and love definitely wins.

“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 16:11

I have begun a new evening devotional book of scriptures and brief meditations. Each evening there is a new title. Tonight’s title is WORSHIP. How appropriate for today as I worshiped in a different place. “I AM THE FIRM FOUNDATION ON WHICH YOU CAN DANCE AND SING PRAISES AND CONTINUALLY CELEBRATE MY PRESENCE—JUST AS YOU LONG TO.”  This describes the worship today when I saw the children go to the front of the gathered congregation and dance and sing to “Every Move I Make.”  The very Presence of God radiated Joy in amazing fullness as the praises of God’s people filled the pavilion and carried out to the park patrons. Eucharist was offered to all who were present, not just those under the pavilion, but those who were outside the pavilion and in the park. Today the bodies, voices, the hearts and souls of the gathered and engaged in the act of worship.  When we are in the body of worship God sees into our hearts witnessing the celebration of God’s Presence within our souls rejoicing and delighting to be invited to the party.  

Take joy in the journey remembering that hope does not disappoint. Wear comfortable shoes, pray with a heart filled with gratitude, casting our cares upon the LORD and get some sleep. God is up all night anyway so there is no reason for all of us to be awake. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene