The desert is an unforgiving place.
The desert is stark and barren and plain and simple. There is no complexity in the desert. Life is teeming in the desert even though we Ohioans might not think that anything could live there. Phoenix is located in a valley between two small mountain ranges. Life is abundant in that valley. All sorts of people live there. Rich people with large, beautiful, air-conditioned homes. Middle class people who struggle in the heat to provide for their families. Poor and homeless people also live there struggling in the desert to survive. My visit there was stunning. There are no trees to hide behind in Phoenix. The reality of life hits you in the face like a blast of air so hot, it must come from the lower places of the earth. The stark differences between the rich and the poor are as stark as the landscape. I have never been to a place more real than Phoenix.
As I listened to the stories of the indigenous people whose land was taken from them. I learned that Christianity was forced upon them; I was amazed at the grace they showed to us visitors. | listened and prayed.
God is truly loving and graced filled. The forgiveness we stand in for the sins we have committed is truly awesome. Grace abounds in this broken world, like rocks in the desert.
The culmination of the week for me was the closing worship service. The pastor said the words of institution in Spanish. | do not speak Spanish, but | understood the words. "In the night in which he was betrayed our Lord and Savior Jesus took bread and after giving thanks he broke and gave it to his disciples and said take and eat this is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me. After Supper He took the cup and said this is my blood which is shed for you and all people. Drink you all from this in remembrance of me."
“Body, blood, remember Me," these are words | think sometimes we take for granted, at least | do. The desert kindled in me an even deeper understanding of what we do when we approach the Lords Table. Christ joins us to Himself, each other, and to the world. The poor, the outcast and loner, the least desirable of society are joined to us as brothers and sisters. The rich and famous, the celebrated and much loved also are joined to us. Together we make up God's Family. This family is broken and hurting and many of us are angry because we are afraid. Yet this meal of Life, the very bread of Heaven comes into our reality and claims us with the radical notion that we are all the same. We are God's chosen, all of us in the meal of bread and wine and love.
I want to encourage all of us to get back to basics.: prayer, communion, study. More prayer and then more study. The Word of God is also a place where we can dwell with the cool water of God's Love. God has placed us in this place at this time for a reason, and I think that reason is to be His light in a broken and hurting world. Remember "Blood, Body? I am so proud to be your pastor.
Peace,
Pastor Bob
