September 2023

 

Reflecting On the Date: Monday, August 28, 2023  

As a kid, I loved going to the Walden Books at Eastridge Mall in Gastonia, N.C.  While there was much to be loved about Walden Books, one thing I especially enjoyed were the “On This Date In History” calendars.  So, call me sentimental; but, as I sit here on this Monday morning I was feeling a bit nostalgic and did a bit of searching for On This Date In History.

At the same time, I challenged myself to seek ways in which God was revealed through Grace, Hope, and Love in each of these events.  Some were a little easier to connect than others. 

For me, I found the trip down memory lane useful.  Amid the troubling times in which we live, I am reminded that God is present in, with, and through each and every season, time, and event of our lives.  God’s presence is never absent or far away.  We are never alone nor abandoned, for the Lord is always with us.

  1. August 28, 1963: Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
    • Connection to Grace, Hope, and Love: This event serves as a reminder of God's grace in promoting justice, hope for a better future, and love that transcends racial divisions.
    • Scripture reference: Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
  1. August 28, 2005: Hurricane Katrina makes landfall in the Gulf Coast, causing widespread destruction and devastation.
    • Connection to Grace, Hope, and Love: In the face of disaster, stories of people helping and supporting one another demonstrate God's grace and love through acts of compassion. Hope emerges from the unity and resilience of communities.
    • Scripture reference: Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
  1. August 28, 1968: Police clash with protesters during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, highlighting tensions in society.
    • Connection to Grace, Hope, and Love: Even in times of conflict and division, God's grace calls us to pursue understanding and reconciliation. Hope and love can emerge from efforts to bridge gaps between differing perspectives.
    • Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 13:13 - "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
  1. August 28, 1609: Henry Hudson discovers and explores Delaware Bay, laying the foundation for future exploration and settlement.
    • Connection to Grace, Hope, and Love: Exploration and the expansion of knowledge can be seen as expressions of God's grace in giving humanity the ability to learn and grow. Hope is found in the potential for discovery and the promise of new beginnings.
    • Scripture reference: Proverbs 2:6 - "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."

Each of these events, in its own way, reflects aspects of God's grace, hope, and love in Christ Jesus. Scripture passages provide reassurance that God is present, steadfast, and empowering throughout history. 

  • The God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is with us.
  • The God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit loves all of creation.
  • The God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has poured out, and continues to pour out, Divine strength in every aspect of our past, present, and future.

May the God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit walk with you, lead you, guide you, strengthen you, and sustain you through every day and season that lies ahead.  Know that you are never alone.  Know that you are eternally loved. Know that you have life, and have it abundantly, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Shalom,

Pastor Greg