Mighty Winds . . .

Over the past two weeks life for many has consisted of powerful and often times destructive winds, literally and figuratively. Just this past weekend many of our neighbors in Raleigh lost their lives because of these winds. Not to mention the many all over our country that have gone through similar devastating storms. Our prayers continue for all impacted by the storms.

Here in Mooresville we have been fortunate to circumvent those storms. We find ourselves in the middle of Holy Week. We have been studying the last 24 hours of Christ's life for the past six weeks and now we find ourselves walking through those days, pondering and reflecting the events that changed reality for all who followed and follow him. We get ready to walk through what I believe was one of the darkest storms of humanity . . . when ego, pride, and insecurity won out over meekness, humility, and love. They won for a little while anyway . . .

In preparing and walking through Holy Week I have to admit my life feels like some giant whirlwind . . .
I can't find things . . . (ANY of the Smith's Social Security Cards - and Andrew would like to get his Driver's Permit sometime this century and YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT CARD! ARGH!)
I have procrastinated WAY TOO LONG to finish the seminary class I took in Jan and took an incomplete when Scott's mom died . . . if I don't complete all work by Thursday I fail! Way to plan Andrea.
And the other ten billion things that keep swirling through my mind . . .
feels a little harried and windy!

But then I turn on my computer this morning and I get this from Kathy Warner, Williamson's Chapel's liaison with our sister church in Kolkatta, India.

Subject: Prayer for you & your countrymen

Pastor Andrea Smith & Sister Kathy Warner,

Lord’s mighty care be upon you, your ministry and all of your countrymen .

After getting news on 18th April 2011 about the devastating storm for three days in six provinces in your country particularly North Carolina we are worried about you and your ministry where the storm victims are forty four as yet.

As your sister church we always feels pathos for this natural catastrophe. We pray for you & your ministry, and your country. Now I stop my pen with great anxiety for you all.

May Lord save all of you from this catastrophe.

Your in His service

Rev. Jeny



And I am reminded of what matters . . . and what grounds us even in the darkest of storms!

When we were in India we encountered some of the darkest places I believe exist in our world. Walking through the slums where people had nothing but ten people living in a 10x10 space with no water, electricty, food, water, etc. and they also did not know Jesus . . . . there was a darkness that permeated the air.

Then we met Pastor Jeny, her faith community and the children @ her church. Through them, we encountered the light of Christ in such a way it permeated all the darkness that we encountered the days before.

And so today I remind myself that is what it is all about - being grounded in that which matters . . . following the light that broke the darkness in the world . . .

Now, let me share one story about things being "redefined" . . .
ON Sunday after the Egg Hunt at Lake Norman High (which was just an amazing afternoon of fun, community and fellowship) some folks were taking the 6000 eggs back to the West storage unit.

Lance had the eggs in the back of his truck and Scott was following behind. As Lance picked up a little speed all of a sudden the eggs started swirling up in a funnel shape and then flew out of the truck landing in the road and lining the sides of Hwy 150. Scott tried to get his attention to get him to stop and finally, after who knows how many eggs flew out they stopped and fixed the flyaway eggs. They tried to recover as many as they could without causing a traffic jam . . . but they didn't quite get them all.

Last night Scott was on his way home and Layne was talking to him on the phone and asked him where he was . . . typically his directional response is "at the steam station" or "passing over the lake" but yesterday his words were "I'm at the eggs." I thought, "Well, I guess we have a new landmark now. We will always refer to that place as 'The Eggs.'"

This week can pose as a new landmark for each of us . . . it can redefine who we are as followers of Christ. It is my prayer that as we walk through these days, even if they feel like a whirlwind . . .that we will allow the events and the meaning of these days and hours to redefine us and change us . . . . forever.

Thanks be to God!

Grace and Peace,
Andrea