| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
God's Helping Hand
February 9, 2007
She went down about as gracefully as a giraffe on roller skates. It was the
kind of embarrassing moment that most of us avoid at all costs. I saw it
happen out of the corner of my eye as I was anxiously watching my own
feet as I skated across the ice strewn pathway on the Boston Common.
They say the coldest winds in New England blow across that green. I
would argue with that but last Saturday morning the arctic blast that
scooped me up and carried me across the park from Tremont to Boylston
Street certainly was the coldest I had experienced in a long time.
I should have known something was going to happen. I met up with
several people walking with great care in my morning jaunt. Unlike the
young lovers you might see in springtime or the raucous children running
and playing in the summer sun, these fellow walkers were all making their
journey alone. At one point I remember wondering how everyone could
look so lonely in a city of few million people.
When the woman fell, my first urge was to go to her and help her up.
Another man beat me to it. He was only a few steps away when she had
her mishap and he immediately reached out to her. At first, she waved
him away. I sensed that she was saying to him that she was going to get
up on her own.
Of course the world can be an unforgiving place. The ice was so slick that
each time she tried to stand up her legs went in different directions. The
gentleman waited patiently, looking away as if to give her some privacy.
After a moment he reached out again. This time she extended her hand
and as he moved closer she was able to get back on her feet again. She
dusted herself off and after a parting word of thanks she was on her way
again.
As I turned and renewed my efforts to get back to my hotel, I kept
thinking about the way that man reached out to help when she had fallen.
An image of God reaching out to us when we stumble and fall immediately
came to mind. Like that woman, we sometimes try to shake him off, but
thankfully, God is persistent and he is ready to pick us up when we are
ready to let him help.
A second thought came to me as well that day. God came to help that lady
through that man who just happened to be there when she fell. He was
right there when she needed him. It was not just an accident. A lot of
people would have walked right by. He was a stranger, an angel, an
accidental neighbor. That is how god works. When someone is in trouble,
he calls on us to step and act in love. We become his hand, his face, his
love to someone in distress. I wish I had been the one to help that lady. I
wasn't but I know I will have my day. So will you.
Next time you fall on your face and need a hand up, look closely at the
face of the one who comes to your rescue. You will see the face of God
and know he cares.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
February 9, 2007
She went down about as gracefully as a giraffe on roller skates. It was the
kind of embarrassing moment that most of us avoid at all costs. I saw it
happen out of the corner of my eye as I was anxiously watching my own
feet as I skated across the ice strewn pathway on the Boston Common.
They say the coldest winds in New England blow across that green. I
would argue with that but last Saturday morning the arctic blast that
scooped me up and carried me across the park from Tremont to Boylston
Street certainly was the coldest I had experienced in a long time.
I should have known something was going to happen. I met up with
several people walking with great care in my morning jaunt. Unlike the
young lovers you might see in springtime or the raucous children running
and playing in the summer sun, these fellow walkers were all making their
journey alone. At one point I remember wondering how everyone could
look so lonely in a city of few million people.
When the woman fell, my first urge was to go to her and help her up.
Another man beat me to it. He was only a few steps away when she had
her mishap and he immediately reached out to her. At first, she waved
him away. I sensed that she was saying to him that she was going to get
up on her own.
Of course the world can be an unforgiving place. The ice was so slick that
each time she tried to stand up her legs went in different directions. The
gentleman waited patiently, looking away as if to give her some privacy.
After a moment he reached out again. This time she extended her hand
and as he moved closer she was able to get back on her feet again. She
dusted herself off and after a parting word of thanks she was on her way
again.
As I turned and renewed my efforts to get back to my hotel, I kept
thinking about the way that man reached out to help when she had fallen.
An image of God reaching out to us when we stumble and fall immediately
came to mind. Like that woman, we sometimes try to shake him off, but
thankfully, God is persistent and he is ready to pick us up when we are
ready to let him help.
A second thought came to me as well that day. God came to help that lady
through that man who just happened to be there when she fell. He was
right there when she needed him. It was not just an accident. A lot of
people would have walked right by. He was a stranger, an angel, an
accidental neighbor. That is how god works. When someone is in trouble,
he calls on us to step and act in love. We become his hand, his face, his
love to someone in distress. I wish I had been the one to help that lady. I
wasn't but I know I will have my day. So will you.
Next time you fall on your face and need a hand up, look closely at the
face of the one who comes to your rescue. You will see the face of God
and know he cares.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |