Nostalgia.

Over the holidays, we sat together as a family, snuggled in our warm home under fleecy blankets to watch an old movie.  It was a black and white film; Jimmy Stewart was the main character.  The fashion of the day spoke 1940's and the lines sounded cheesy to our 21st century tastes.  But there was something delicious, heart-warming as we experienced something pleasant from the past.

Christmas does bring up pleasant memories for many of us as we reminisce about favourite Christmas toys, large family gatherings and even funny events that get repeated year after year!  Sometimes we focus so much on happy times in the past that we make build them up to be bigger than they were.

Once the big event and all the excitement is over, then we have that short lull before the New Year's celebrations.  For many years, our inner city church ministry included a New Year's Eve Pastor's Open House, where the four pastor couples hosted a night of games, snack foods and then a time of worship and prayer to bring in the New Year!  It was noisy, crazy and busy for us as leaders but so fun for our families and especially those who really  needed some clean, sober and wholesome entertainment and fellowship.  Many recovering addicts, new church-goers and freshly reunited foster kids with their parents would pile into the hall or church and enjoy a new way to celebrate.  

I find myself today - in between Christmas festivities and the planning of our New Year - wondering what's next?  After our 3-month sabbatical, Walter and I are not just picking up where we left off but transitioning into a new season.  What will our travel schedule be?  What tasks will we resume and what tasks will be permanently delegated?  Post-pandemic, what will our new normal be like?

A scripture I had focused on last fall has caught my attention this morning as I write this blog.  Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  Pastor Bill who was sharing thoughts on the book of Hebrews, brought out one word that I think addresses my tendencies.  Rather than focusing nostalgically on the past, or rushing to plan and move into the future, would it be better to focus on the now?  

"Now faith" is what Pastor Bill emphasized a few times as he expounded on Hebrews chapter 11.  All the Old Testament examples of faith, the acts of obedience and trust in God when they couldn't see the actual object of their faith, pointed to the fact that faith is for today, not just for yesterday or tomorrow.  "Now faith" is what we exercise today, expecting God to meet us where we are at right now!  We can access the strength and blessings of the Lord as we walk with Him.  We can enjoy the present as we truly engage in what is going on around us, the stages of our kids or the current jobs God has provided for us.  If we are always looking back to what used to be or looking ahead to what might be, we will not truly appreciate the now.  We will be absent from our kids and distracted from full engagement with others.

There is an element of "now faith" that gives us hope for the future.  We can get through difficult trials today knowing God has a wonderful eternal plan for us, a home prepared for us.  "For he [Abraham] was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God."  Hebrews 11:10  We may not see or receive all that God has promised for us on this earth; we also look forward to the fulfillment of our salvation in the heavenly city.  

I am choosing to enjoy the now - the quiet lull before we plunge in to the full time ministry schedule once again.  May the Lord bless you, too, with quiet contentment as you experience "now faith" in your journey.