top of page
wcczoelarson

Permission Granted

Today’s blog post is written by Pastor Jen.

I want to tell you today about the nicest phone call I’ve received in a long time.

It happened today, when a church member and friend called me about an event we were planning to attend together tonight. We had made tentative arrangements to drive together, and I thought she would be calling to either confirm or change them – but I didn’t expect what she said.

“You should just stay home tonight.”

I laughed, not really understanding, and asked her why.

“I came home,” she said, “and sat in my chair and fell asleep, and woke up without knowing what day it was or what time. And I figure if I’m that tired, then you pastors must be exhausted. So you shouldn’t even go out tonight.”

Friends, I say this with all seriousness: what grace.

I preached a sermon yesterday all about Advent, and the practice of waiting. Of being attentive to where God might be showing up in our world, and of keeping about God’s work even when we don’t see or feel God near us.

But the truth is that this season is perhaps the worst time to practice that kind of waiting. (Funny how that happens.) We are so busy, running between commitments on our calendars, rushing through long to-do lists, that we are perhaps less likely now than at any other time in the year to be paying attention like that. To be waiting.

Who has time to wait in Advent??

I recognize the hypocrisy of all of this, and I’m as guilty as the next person. So imagine my surprise and delight when this friend said: stay home.

The truth is, I’m going tonight anyway. I made a commitment to someone else to be there.

But her words gave me permission that I needed to slow down at other times today. To cancel a call, and take an hour to rest. To let a few other things slide. To make sure I took time to stretch my body and drink some extra water. To pray and to reflect on where God might be showing up in my corner of the world today.

I hope that you have someone saying those words to you as well. But if not – here they are: take time to wait. To pay attention. To listen and look for God. To be kinder and gentler to yourself this season.

Permission granted.

yours,

Pastor Jen

1 view0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Here’s a Doxology Story

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow Praise Him all creatures here below Praise Him above, ye heavenly host Praise Father, Son and...

What is Saving Your Life?

Today’s blog post is written by Pastor Jen. Last week was the annual Midwinter Conference of the Covenant Church, which I spoke about a...

Roses

“Thanks for Roses by the wayside, thanks for thorns their stems contain.” (Hymnal, 657) There are two roses remaining on my desk corner...

Comments


bottom of page