Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

Tonight Kim and I will be traveling to Maryland to celebrate our second grandson Jack’s fourth birthday. We can’t wait to see him and his brothers. And we can’t believe tomorrow he will be four! For sure, time flies. And a great reminder of how fast it goes is the coming and going of our children and grandchildren’s birthdays.  Of course, from Jack’s perspective it has been a very long time between his third and fourth birthdays. Whereas for an adult (especially at my age), one year seems to go by so quickly, for Jack that one year has probably felt like an eternity. And I am sure, as the excitement towards his birthday has been building, these past few weeks have felt very, very long. That’s just one of the differences between what it means to be a child and an adult. As we mature, our sense of time significantly changes. And as much as we love what it means to be a child, and even celebrate childish ways among our children, we all know that no one is meant to stay a child or cont...

Since my spinal surgery nine weeks ago, and in the months leading up to it, I have not been able to run. I have, however, been able to walk. So, in fact, I’ve been doing a lot of walking—through the neighborhood, at local parks, and on a treadmill. Since my surgery, my step count has been steadily rising. At this stage of my recovery it’s been walking, walking, and walking some more!  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy going for a walk. And walking is great for the body, especially if one walks long enough and at a strong enough pace. I do, however, miss going for a run (which I know many of you cannot understand!). But since I haven’t been able to run, I’ve done what I consider the next best thing (which, in some regards, may actually be the better thing) and that is walk and walk and walk some more.  The Bible often likens the way we live our lives to going for a walk. The picture given to us is of life as a road or path which we are on and which we walk. Actually, it is a picture ...

Yesterday was Good Friday during which we remembered the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday through which we celebrate his resurrection from the dead. Today, Saturday, is the day in-between. There are no special services. There’s very little in terms of any kind of observance. For some it’s a day of silence and contemplation. In fact, in the Catholic tradition, the altar is left bare, candles are extinguished, and Mass is not celebrated.  For some, this day in-between is a day to prepare our churches and homes for our Easter celebrations. The final shopping is done, breads are baked, meal prep is begun, the house is cleaned. If there are small children in the home, Easter baskets are being put together and the eggs colored. All in all, on this Holy Saturday we are looking towards Easter Sunday morning with the hope of a day of joy and wonderful celebrations.  But think if you will, what it was like for those first disciples on this day in-betw...