Hurry Up and Wait

Good morning, Friends!

"Come on, we've got to get there before the park opens!"  so my thrill-ride loving husband would hustle us every summer as we prepared to go to Hershey Park.  The girls would don their Sketchers hoping to be categorized  "twizzlers" rather than a "hershey bars," and we'd rush to the park and join the throngs of kisses, jolly ranchers, and peanut butter cups.  Once inside,  we'd run to the

Comet, deemed a "high thrill ride" by the park website, and as some of the first sweeties in the park, we'd usually get on immediately . We'd buckle in; I'd find the pressure point on my wrist for nausea; press; and  ZOOM!

"Hurry, hurry, hurry, go, go, go!" After the Comet, we rushed to  the Sooperdooperlooper and again, we usually were able to get right on and suffered only minor whiplash from the jerky brakes on the coaster. The roar of our next "aggressive thrill ride" filled our ears as we hustled to the Great Bear.  Deep breaths, swallow twenty times, and wait. and wait....and wait...... and wait..............and wait................... and wait....................................and then.................. finally.................. WhooHoo! Hold on!!

This week Brother Mick is preaching a message entitled, "Hurry Up and Wait" drawing from Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 99; Matthew 17:1-9.  Someone at church recently asked me, "What's an oxymoron?"  I think this sermon title qualifies.  :)

     The Exodus and the Matthew passages both tell of two very dramatic encounters whereby Moses and Jesus both intentionally encounter God's presence. You know, God is always with us, but so often we don't pause and wait in God's presence. Often in our prayers we pray, "God, be with 'so and so.'"  Perhaps we ought to change our language to say, "God, help "so and so" to be aware of your presence..." Am I intentionally being still and listening to my Creator.  Am I seeking the places where I can focus on basking in God's presence?

"Lord, it is good for us to be here," Peter says. 

Allison, I think it is apropos that I talk about Hershey park on your birthday week! :) Julie, it's your life-breath week too, but I don't know your roller coaster history!

Don't forget to join the Ridgeview Mennonite Young Adults facebook page. Check out the Saturday evening plans and join the upper room discussion on Sunday morning.

 My prayer for you today:  God, our Creator, you are with us. Let us pause and keep quiet, turn off our ipods and phones, our computers and tvs, our voices, and planning.  If we but pause and listen, we'll hear your voice. What will you say to us today, God?   We are yours, for you have made us. We are your people. You have given us the choice of going to the "mountaintop."  Thank you for these young people.  I'm glad you are with them in their journeys.  Bless them, Lord, and teach them your ways, help us all to listen.  Come Kingdom of God.  Be done will of God, on earth as it is in heaven.  AMEN

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too.  Never  hesitate to call.

love and light, carol

PS  My apologies if the story is a repeat.  I wrote about it somewhere before... was it the communique?

 "Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference!  Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend. "  jd