Pastor's Blog

 From the Pastor’s Pen

Allow Yourselves to Look Beyond the Hearts and Roses February has arrived with its colors of pink and red, alongside the Valentine’s Day cards, candy, and red roses by the dozen. As I see all this in the stores, I turn my heart to the people who do not have that special someone in their lives with whom to share Valentine’s Day. I feel in my heart that all people need the love of a special someone to share their lives – whether it is a friend, a sister, a grandmother, or a grandfather – the list can go on and on. So, I would like you to take time this Valentine’s Day and share the day with someone who just may need that love. Author Leo Buscaglia, who became known as “Dr. Love” for writing about the topic, said, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Just think, you could be that someone for somebody. Reach out and make a difference in someone’s life. Let’s reflect upon what Jesus taught us. Jesus taught that loving one another is second only in importance to loving God (Matthew 22:37-40), and that when we love one another, God lives in us (1 John 4:12). There are so many ways we can allow ourselves to “look beyond the hearts and roses”! Let me ask you a question: “Which way will you look?” 

Valentine’s Day also brings to us the season of Lent, with Ash Wednesday falling on this very day. These are two very important and special days. Valentine’s Day brings to us a day and time of love and reflection. Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, giving, and finding ourselves in who we are becoming as followers of Christ. 

Lent is also a time of love - love in the desert of our lives, just as Christ did for forty days. Lent is a desert place where we can go in the quietness and solitude of the Lord in prayer, and in doing that we can reflect within and be prepared to go forth and share His love with others. Lent is a time in our lives when we pick up and carry our cross, allow our hearts to grow in grace, and be transformed by our daily crosses. 

Lent is a time to meditate on the Passion of Christ, praying to the Lord and asking Him to help us embrace our cross to be united with Him in the glory of His Resurrection. And, as we join Christ in love through the joy of His Resurrection, we are also called to be there for one another through faith as we offer our prayers for all who need love, faith, and hope in their lives. 

The reflection point of Lent and the 40 days is not only to walk with one another but to walk towards Christ, for He is our Joy, our Savior, and our Redeemer. Jesus is the one who loved us so much He went to the Cross so we would never have to suffer and be alone. May Christ our Lord and Savior find us worthy this Lenten season, to love as He loved us. 

Blessings of love and light, Pastor Susan