FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR

Wow, it’s hard for me to believe it’s been over a month since Nathan was born! He has been such a blessing, and it’s impossible to think how much my understanding of love has deepened. He just keeps getting bigger, stronger, and sweeter. The miracle of new life is something to never take for granted.
The miracle of life is something to never take for granted, and Lent is an excellent reminder of that. A few years ago, on Ash Wednesday, I was imposing ashes when a congregant came forward with her newborn baby.
There was something surreal about imposing ashes on the forehead of an infant and saying, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Something about remembering my mortality while seeing new life has stuck with me. It is a reminder of the miracle that is life and the fragileness of life: that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. Having Nathan makes me just want to skip Lent and jump straight to Easter, where the story is one of new and everlasting life, but we need Lent to appreciate Easter.
I cannot even explain the love that has grown inside me since February 16th, which makes me even more excited for Easter to arrive. However, to receive the fullness of love and joy in Easter, I am reminding myself not to skip Lent. To not skip the preparation but live into this season of self-examination and reflection. I pray that you will join me in this seasoning of preparation by looking inward and reflecting on what you have been given so that when Easter comes, we can rejoice and shout at the top of our lungs, “Christ is Risen!” But for now, we wait and we prepare. We look inward to become more faithful disciples so we can respond more lovingly to God’s amazing love.
“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Gen 2:7)
“By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen 3:19)

With grace, peace, and joy,

Rev. Cameron Miller