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Rambling's From The Rev. |
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Pastor Jim
Johnson The January Lull |
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January always seems like a lull to me, especially as a pastor, and especially as a pastor in Spokane, Washington. After all of the build up to Christmas, with its festivities, record crowds, generous financial contributions, and wonderful music and worship, January is often pretty anti-climatic. Attendance at church and offerings are usually down (like summer time), the novelty of Christmas gifts have worn off, vacations and breaks are over, the snow that was so novel and pretty in December is now just becoming a nuisance, and there’s still no sign of spring or change.
For a lot of people January is a time to take a vacation to somewhere warm. A lot of folks love the continued cold and snow and look forward to a lull in schedules to take advantage of skiing opportunities. As a pastor, I usually look forward to this lull before gearing up in February for Lent. But not this year! With Lent coming at the beginning of February this year, January is the gearing up time.
Lulls are important in our lives. We don’t know the joy of reaching the peaks if it isn’t for the valleys. We don’t truly experience the joy of Easter without Good Friday and the wait of Saturday. Those of us in the Pacific Northwest savor the days of sunshine and warmth because of the bleakness and longevity of winter.
My kids don’t say “they’re
bored” enough, in my opinion. They’re over stimulated, over scheduled,
and over burdened with homework. We need lulls. Savor the lulls in life.
Even when they seem anti-climatic… even when they seem to last forever…
embrace your lulls in life as a gift. Peace be with you.
Pastor Jim
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