“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.”  ~ Luke 8:39

Greetings,

I am still struggling to believe that 13 weeks have come and gone! I had a wonderful rest, but I am grateful to be back home!

There is so much I am still processing and would like to ask for your patience with me. Sometimes I don’t have words for your questions, because, frankly, I just don’t have the words yet. But they will come. So, if I have shared a story with you half a dozen times, I apologize. I continue to tell it because I have something to learn yet, and by telling it over and over, I will be able to glean that wisdom. In the meantime, you will probably hear a few stories way more times than you want!

As July turned into August, and I was home a few more days than I had been, I started to relax a little, and get nervous about coming back. Not nervous to be here, but nervous because much of my Sabbatical had turned out differently than expected, and things I told you I was planning to do didn’t get done. And at that point, I still didn’t have this big AHA moment about why I was on Sabbatical, and what I was learning.

So I worried about what you would say, and how you would feel if I didn’t come back with something grandiose.  Then, the week before I returned, two things happened.

1. I read this scripture in the Gospel of Luke: “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” That’s it. That’s my job. To tell you what God did for me while I was away. And when I realized that, things started to open up, and I am processing my time—finally! Friends, there is no way that I can tell you everything that God did for me during this time apart on one page. I’m not even sure I know everything God did for me yet! But I do know this: I know that God was in each and every breath I took, and each place I went, and in each person I re-connected with. God never left my side.
2. I read this quote: Life is about balance. This has resonated with me to the point that I had to put it on paper, and canvas, and ceramic!

So, I return to you, not with some big new idea, but instead, with many small reminders. Things like:

1. God’s timing is always perfect.
2. God’s creation is precious—no matter what part of the world you are in.
3. God places angels in our midst when we need them most.
4. God allows us the space to learn what we need, whether we want to learn it or not!
5. God has placed joy in our hearts, and when we find that joy, there is NOTHING better than that!

I could go on and on but think I will wait. Balance. Life is about balance.

~ Always Peace,  Pastor Heidi