My Mountain-Top Experience

We've all had it. That time in our life where everything is great, we get along with everyone, we are able to relax in the comfort of those around us for the sole reason that they agree with the core fundamental values that we hold so dear. That mountain top experience that is so great, where we are constantly hearing the Word of God and being in fellowship with those who also believe His Word. The experience that becomes a beautiful bubble where we bathe under the awesome gifts of Word and Sacrament. But one day that mountain top experience ends and we are forced to go down the mountain.

What happens after we arrive at the base? We tell others about the mountain. We labor so that every person in the world, from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and all of the ends of the earth hear the Word of God. We labor in love and constantly point the world to the top of the mountain where they receive Christ's gifts. Where forgiveness freely flows to those downtrodden by their sins. We labor, so others may experience the perfect gift of God's love and forgiveness.

As we labor in this world, we look forward to a time where we, along with all the angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven, will laud and magnify God's glorious name. That is the never-ending mountain top experience.

Joy in Christ: My pastor blessed a stuffed dinosaur

When I was a little girl, I had a teddy bear named Sassafras. Sassafras was by far my favorite stuffed animal and I would do many things with him. My parents didn't know this, but after they put me to bed and I "pretended" to be asleep, I would sit up in bed and Sassafras and I would alternate doing cartwheels together. One day, when my family was on vacation I left Sassafras in a motel. It destroyed me. Sassafras was like one of my best friends. I wanted to share every moment in my life with him.

There is a family in church who have three of the cutest children I have ever met. I usually am fortunate enough to be able to be at the same communion table with them. While we all stand in front of the chancel, two of the children in that family kneel on the step. While pastor is giving the Body of Christ to the adults, the two children eagerly await the blessing that they will receive. 

On this particular Sunday, pastor was giving the Body of Christ to those who were communing and giving blessings to the young children. He first gave a blessing to the young boy and then gave the blessing to the young girl. While he was giving a blessing to the girl, I see her moving her pink stuffed dinosaur in her arms. As pastor was standing up to move on, the little girl sticks up her pink dinosaur to get a blessing from pastor.

Those of us seeing this couldn't help but chuckle. That little girl understands and appreciates receiving the Word of God being told to her through the pastor as if God himself were saying those words to her. She finds a joy in receiving that blessing. 

I think this little girl has a similar relationship to her dinosaur as I did Sassafras. She wants to share the most important things in her life with a toy that means a lot to her. She is sharing the Word of God! Why wouldn't she want to share that joy with her most precious toy!

This joy in Christ she has is shared by many. It is a gift that is given to us by the Holy Spirit. We can rejoice in God's gift of salvation given to us. We get to share the joy that we have received with those around us.

What did pastor do? He blessed the girl's precious toy. He didn't say what he normally says to the children that come up to the altar, but he layed his hand on the toy. He understood that the girl wanted her dinosaur to have the same joy that she has.