Living and Active – Experiencing its Fruits
For Fall Break we decided to visit some family in L.A. Once the car was packed and ready, we hit the road. The ride down I-22 to I-45 to I-65 from Memphis to Mobile only takes about 6 hours. Though the scenery is quite flat and monotonous with lots of fields full of crops ready for the Fall harvest, it’s a rather simple drive. We were glad for a brief change of scenery.
With our stay including Sunday, we got the chance to go to church with them, something Jessica and I enjoy doing with our daughters when we’re out of town. The girls were aware and ready for it, too - we ensure they pack an outfit to attend church. Being guests at out of town churches is a bit like playing away games. Growing up fairly active in sports, I treasured the away games. They brought new sights, sounds, smells and nerves. All the curiosities swell - what will the place be like; will the people be nice; is it similar to our home place; do they act or sound similar, etc - the whole of it boiling down to learning the uniqueness of their culture, of their way of living and interacting. It becomes a rich opportunity with the internal tensions causing growth.
Sunday morning arrived, the kids and cousins finished their doughnuts, and we made our seven minute commute to church. The one story church is covered with softened red brick and is surrounded by live-oak trees and their low, wandering branches. It was a warm welcome. Even the floors welcomed us with their creaks, as we meandered our way to the sanctuary. The sights, sounds, and smells may have been different. But, it was evident some things remained the same. It was evident the folks present were there to worship and enjoy the Triune God of the Bible, and it was evident that they relied on God’s Word throughout the service.
I sat with my nephews and their parents; my daughters sat with my niece and a couple of her friends in the pew behind us. A pastor commenced the service with the call to worship from Psalm 121. Here are verses 1 and 2:
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
As I heard the pastor begin reading, it made my heart glad. I turned my head to peer over my left shoulder to see my daughters’ reactions. What I saw was beautiful. Our eight year old daughter, with a beaming smile, mouthing the words of verse 1 and 2. Our eyes connected – it was a sweet moment we shared, together. The first few verses of Psalm 121? It was one of our monthly verses several months prior. The shared moment? We memorized them, together; we talked about them, together. These were meaningful experiences that occurred during breakfast and dinner times as a household.
Fast forward a week; we’re back in Memphis; it’s a school night; our eight year old draws me into her room. She’s nervous, seemingly for no reason, but, she’s nervous. Being with her and talking with her, neither seemed to ease her nerves. But at some point during our time, Psalm 121: 1-2 started stirring in my heart. I gently grab my eyelids and lift them in an upward motion (sometimes theatrics enter our scripture dialogue) and asked, ”what are the verses we heard at church in LA, the one we learned a few months ago?” She smiled and recalled,
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Me: “Who is our Helper?”
Her: “God is.”
Me: “Who is so big and powerful that He made heaven and earth?”
Her: “God is.”
Me: “Who cares for you, even when you are scared?”
Her: “God does.”
Her nerves began to ease.
God’s Word is living and active…are these experiences what that means? There’s truly something transformative about reading, discussing, and memorizing God’s word in the household together, “for the word of God is living and active…” (Hebrews 4:12).
Written by Warren M. Grimm