I'm Having Trouble with September

September 8, 2020

Scripture

“On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.” (Luke 5:1-3 ESV)

I’m Having Trouble with September

I kept writing August instead of September in my first few journal pages – lots of scratched out messes. Days are shortening, hints of fall are in the air and all this with the uncertainty we face. Lots of uncertainty about schools, business, family and community engagement and gathering. And the days for outside visiting are getting shorter in number and duration.

One of those scratchy journal mornings the picture of Jesus sitting on the shoreline visiting with his friends who fish for a living captured me. While they do net maintenance, crowds gather until they are pressing in on him. Looking around, Peter’s boat looks like a good platform to teach the crowd - with some social distance.

The crowd was pressing in to hear a word from God. The common human longing for meaning, love and restoration of broken places and people is expressed in the word “pressing in”.

We have a common longing for answers in our current uncertainty and yet life has always been filled with uncertainty and threats, even when not so obvious as the pandemic. Are we pressing for a word from God that encourages us toward mercy, justice and truth rather than security and certainty? Listening to Jesus doesn’t guarantee comfort and ease but promises courage in the face of uncertainty and challenge.

A Prayer for Today

Gracious God of light there is a lot pressing in on so many around your creation. For those of us who have some resources and discretion help us to press toward your voice, not against the good of our community. Help us hear your voice for justice for the downtrodden and healing for the broken….. for Jesus’ sake