RALEIGH, N.C. — Over the past sixteen months, I have had the pleasure of serving as vice-moderator of the 218th (2008) General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It is a great honor and privilege to listen, learn, and witness the great things our church is doing to uphold the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.
In my role, I have traveled extensively. One aspect that has not been so great is airport travel. With security measures, overbooked flights, crowded planes, and potential delays, I can never tell if I will make it to my destination. Just a few weeks ago, I left a meeting in Louisville to return home to Raleigh. The trip included a long security line, a delayed flight due to weather that caused me to miss a connecting flight, and a re-booking on another airline through a different city. In all, I arrived home four hours later than expected.
On another level, people are facing many delays on the journey of life — financial hardships due to the present economy, the H1N1 virus or other similar illnesses, the deaths of loved ones, broken relationships, onset of depression, and more. It can make us wonder if the journey is worth the hassle.
In these times, I invite you to take assurance in the God who loves and never leaves us. God walks beside us in these situations and brings us through, so that we can give hope to others on the journey.
One of my favorite gospel songs is “I’ve Got a Testimony,” by Clay Evans:
As I look back over my life
And I think things over
I can truly say that I’ve been blessed
I’ve got a testimony
As we enter into the season of Thanksgiving, I pray that you will be able to reflect upon the ways that God has brought you through the hardships, difficulties, and hassles on the journey of life and faith. Then may you give witness to others of a wonderful and gracious God!