“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ”  ~  Genesis 1:1

As of June 1, we will officially have two high school graduates in our family. I feel like it was just yesterday that Jarrod was heading off to Kindergarten, which coincidentally, was three weeks before Karsten was born. It feels like all I did was close my eyes and time flashed forward 18 years.

I feel the same way about the amount of time since I have been called to, first, Faith UCC, and now, Faith First Community Church. As of July 1, I will have been here full time for 13 years! When I was first called, I thought about the 17 years that Pastor Tim was with Faith UCC, and it seemed like such a long time! Now, I am 4 short years from being here as long as he was.

Time has a habit of feeling like it speeds up as we grow older. (Scientifically, it does—but that is a conversation for a later date!)

One of my favorite traditions that the Davenport School District does for the graduating seniors, is to invite them to don their caps and gowns, and parade through the halls of their individual elementary schools.

I have no idea why or how this tradition started, but I can assume that it has something to do with encouraging the elementary students to stay in school, or something along those lines. Maybe it was started because the graduates are role models. They are actual living proof that time marches forward; that even though we think it is going to take FOREVER, we will actually get to the point in our life when we graduate.

I wonder if that’s why God puts people in our lives who have different or more experience than we do. Maybe these people are paraded through our lives to prove that keeping our faith, and keeping God at the center of our lives will lead us to, and through, our spiritual growth.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need encouragement in order to keep moving forward. Sometimes I wonder if I will make it, if my faith will see me through. The funny thing is, every time I get to this point, someone comes along to share their story, or allows me to watch their faith-in-action (which is usually through serving others.), and my faith is restored, my center (God) is reflected to me.

Time marches on—we can’t stop that. Our kids will grow up, and (hopefully) live into the lives that God created them for. And this will go on generation after generation.

Are we taking our turn to mentor others? Are we showing our faith in order to encourage those who need it? Are we showing God’s love to everyone?

We won’t have a cap and gown, and we need to remember to stay humble while we encourage others. But we do need to share our stories. How else will the next generation—or any generation after that—learn the stories, and how will those who don’t know Christ come to him, if we don’t share?

For now, CONGRATULATIONS to all the graduates who spent the last 12 years of your life learning what you did. Good luck in your future endeavors, and don’t forget to share what you have learned!

Thank you to all of the teachers and administrators for continuing to show up and love and teach the students. May you all have a blessed summer of rest and renewal!

Always Peace, Pastor Heidi