May & June 2024

Dear All Saints’ Family and Friends,

A devotional I am using this Easter season is called “The Little White Book.”[1] One of the meditations in this book describes how, following his conversion, St. Paul opened himself to the presence of God in his life. Paul remained tuned in to God’s love, presence and guidance throughout his life. This practice served him well despite the opposition, rejection, and other challenges he faced as he worked to spread the Good News of the risen Lord.

The meditation on St. Paul reminded me of a passage written by theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was a Lutheran pastor and professor. Bonhoeffer was arrested during World War II for plotting to overthrow Adolf Hitler and was executed just weeks before the end of the war. Even as he faced danger, torture, and death, Bonhoeffer found purpose in focusing on God’s presence with him and he wrote prolifically and profoundly about the Christian faith and life in community.

Bonhoeffer wrote the following from prison:

“[God] must be recognized at the center of life, not when we are at the end of our resources; it is his will to be recognized in life, and not only when death comes; in health and vigor, and not only in suffering; in our activities, and not only in sin.” (Letters and Papers from Prison, 312)

Like St. Paul and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, we too live in a world where there are many things that can cause us to feel helpless and fearful. We too need to seek, see and acknowledge God’s presence whether we are going through a valley or having a mountaintop experience. We can turn to God when we are seeking help for ourselves, our loved ones, the church, and the world. And we mustn’t overlook God when we are in the midst of joyful hope-filled moments. God is very present with us on all occasions – waiting, wanting, able to provide us with what we need. May we remain open and tuned in to how God is working in and around us all the time, all the way. May we share with others our belief in and stories about God’s faithfulness.

Yours in Christ,