Pastor's Reflection 2024-03-21
Pastor's Reflection 03-21-2024
Rev. John Oda
Rev. John Oda
When I was in my 20’s my friend David and I decided, on a whim, to drive down to Big Sur and go hiking. We got there around 1:00pm and went for a nice long hike in Julia Pfeiffer State Park. When it started to get dark, we decided, on another whim, to camp at Andrew Molera State Park where there was a walk-in campground. (I am not sure if it is still there.) We were totally unprepared to camp overnight. We didn’t have a tent. We didn’t have any food. We had lots of young adventurous (stupid?) energy and we did have sleeping bags. I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal not to have a tent because the last time I camped at that walk-in campground it was dry and hot. However, this time there was a huge storm and it rained all night. And to top it off, all we had was a make shift lean-to. When I woke up in the morning my shoes were filled with water because the lean-to only kept part of our sleeping area dry. My clothes were wet. I was cold. I was hungry and I was grumpy. On the drive home David wanted to swing by another friend’s house in Ben Lomond. I just wanted to get back home but David insisted and he was driving so off we went. We arrived at our friends’ place (actually his parents’ house) around noon. I remember walking in the door and feeling the warmth of their home and smelling the wonderful soup his mom had prepared. It turns out they were just about to sit down for lunch. That soup was amazing because I was still cold and very hungry. Our friend’s family fed us until we could not eat anymore. After eating and getting completely dry and warm I felt revitalized, like a new person.
At the time of writing this reflection Easter is still on the horizon. And this year I have spent time reflecting on the resurrection. To me one of the ways I can identify with the resurrection today is by remembering the times in my life where I felt revitalized, like a new person, resurrected. The resurrection is particularly important for those of us who have faced adversity and suffering. On Easter we celebrate the resurrected Christ and this offers all of us a beacon of hope and comfort, reminding all of us that even in our darkest moments, even in the storms of life, there is the promise of hope, warmth and a new life.
Author Anne Lamott beautifully encapsulates this sentiment, stating, "Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up." These words resonate deeply with the Easter message, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and faith in the face of adversity.
For those grappling with grief, illness, or hardship, the Easter story serves as a reminder that suffering is not the end of the journey but a pathway to something new. Just as Christ triumphed over death, so too can individuals find solace in the promise of new life and revitalization. The resurrection assures us that our struggles have meaning and purpose, leading to growth and renewal.
As I prepare to celebrate Easter here at Wesley Church, my hope is that you will remember that even in the darkest moments, you are never alone, for God's love and grace are ever-present. Through faith and perseverance, we can navigate through all the storms of life.
At the time of writing this reflection Easter is still on the horizon. And this year I have spent time reflecting on the resurrection. To me one of the ways I can identify with the resurrection today is by remembering the times in my life where I felt revitalized, like a new person, resurrected. The resurrection is particularly important for those of us who have faced adversity and suffering. On Easter we celebrate the resurrected Christ and this offers all of us a beacon of hope and comfort, reminding all of us that even in our darkest moments, even in the storms of life, there is the promise of hope, warmth and a new life.
Author Anne Lamott beautifully encapsulates this sentiment, stating, "Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up." These words resonate deeply with the Easter message, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and faith in the face of adversity.
For those grappling with grief, illness, or hardship, the Easter story serves as a reminder that suffering is not the end of the journey but a pathway to something new. Just as Christ triumphed over death, so too can individuals find solace in the promise of new life and revitalization. The resurrection assures us that our struggles have meaning and purpose, leading to growth and renewal.
As I prepare to celebrate Easter here at Wesley Church, my hope is that you will remember that even in the darkest moments, you are never alone, for God's love and grace are ever-present. Through faith and perseverance, we can navigate through all the storms of life.
Posted in Newsletter 2024-03-21