February 2012
The
month of February is a month that has some special days
that are well worth our attention. Here we have St.
Valentine’s Day and this year, once again, the Promise
Keepers will provide their annual Sweetheart Dinner. It is
always such a blessing for all those who attend.
The month of February is also a month when we recognize the
contributions of two of America’s greatest presidents,
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. We recognize their
character and their leadership capabilities during some of
this nation’s most challenging and daunting situations.
The month of February also brings with it Ash Wednesday and
the first Sunday in the season of Lent, a season that
prepares us spiritually for the celebration of the death
and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The month of February brings us much more, as our church
calendar testifies. But let me add one more notable event
for us to consider – “Heaven Now,” a free marriage
conference to be held here on the 18th.
It is being sponsored by the Inner Life Committee and will
be taught by Rick Larson, Executive Pastor at Sierra Bible
Church in Sonora, California.
I hope that many who are married and those who are
considering marriage will attend this event. As a pastor,
it has been my experience over the years to see many strong
and thriving marriages in even the most difficult of
situations. But to the contrary, I have also seen many
struggling and failing marriages, in even the best of
situations. There is no marriage that is perfect or
trouble-free. The thriving marriages are the ones where
both partners hold on to Christ as much as they hold on to
each other, and work at it; and then work at it again.
Some years ago, Eugene Peterson had a conversation with a
friend who was a nun and member of a convent. Peterson had
a rather romanticized view of convent life and so Sister
Genevieve asked him, “Eugene, is it difficult to be
married?” His own answer to this question helped him to see
that life in a convent of 14 women couldn’t reach
perfection; but listen carefully to what he said about
marriage:
I
replied, “Certainly. It’s the hardest thing I have ever
done. I lived 25 years at the center of my universe, and
then suddenly I was no longer the center. There was
another, Jan, who had also been accustomed to being the
center. It took us both by surprise – you can’t have two
centers. Yes, it is difficult.” (A
Memoir: The Pastor)
He said
it so simply. But there it is. There is the difficulty, the
challenge. You can’t have two centers. But the One who
blessed the marriage at Cana is available to bless ours, if
we let Him. He is waiting.
Serving
Christ with You,
Bill
Maxwell
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