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Three places…
Last weekend, I went to the family farm near Devils Lake for the waterfowl opener. The night before…it was darker then dark outside. One could only see the moon and the stars. The only noise was the sound of ducks and geese in the surrounding sloughs. The sound of creation was popping! The darkened landscape was alive. I was not alone. These birds are passing through…so am I. Together, we share this land. The farm, along with the prairie landscape, has never been a place of getting away-from-it-all but always a place of really getting-back-to-it-all! I stood in the dark with my arms wide open listening to the symphony on the prairie. Christ plays in ten thousand places.
We have two girls: Hannah and Sarah. They are pastors kids, which means, they know about early Sunday mornings and late Wednesday nights. Church has become something of a second home. It is a way of life. To be sure, they know about Jesus, but even more, they know Jesus in a way that is authentic to who they are. They have, over the course of their young life, picked up things (experiences, events, engagement with faith-filled people) that have brought shape and form to their lives of faith. Their faith, both deep and profound, is very different from each other, and yet, it is exactly who they are. I get to witness the unfolding of their relationship with God. Beautiful. I was reminded again how Christ plays in ten thousand places.
Last Sunday, in worship, our worship leader Rollie Johnson led us in singing a beautiful song entitled The Blessing. We opened our hands, our arms, and our hearts to receive this blessing. Here are some of the lyrics:
May His Presence go before you ~ And Behind you, and Beside you
All around you and within you ~ He is with you, He is with you
In the Morning, in the Evening ~ In your Coming
And your Going ~ In your Weeping and Rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you
For me, it was a moment. For me, it was the third place in a weekend where I took note of the presence of God. Christ plays in ten thousand places.
This next week, I invite you to keep track of the many places where you experience the presence of Christ. Christ plays in ten thousand places whether we know it or not…but when we sense it…and see and hear and feel its tug and experience its blessing…it changes the way we live and brings joy and a spirit of thanksgiving. Christ plays in ten thousand places…one near you!
-- Pastor Marty
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