A tenacious God
Evenings in my house are routine and, at the same time, anything but routine.
Each evening, Malie and I connect to do our “calendaring.” We pull up tomorrow’s agenda to ensure we know who needs to be where and when, who is taking whom to what, and who is unavailable.
Six days out of seven, one or more of us have an obligation. Maybe it is orchestra or dance, maybe it’s a meeting at work or a community commitment, maybe a private lesson or (on rare occasion) a gathering with friends.
The routine is in the persistence of things and events. Most days, I would say, it is exhausting. The persistence of time is draining. Now, to be clear, exhausting does not mean we don’t enjoy it on some level. I understand that one day we will look back and miss these days (even though we are enjoying life as it comes just fine).
I think what is most tiring is the persistence of obligation no matter how wonderful or life-giving it is. We have learned to love and endure these days.
It seems that the persistence of life around us is really what any and all of us struggle with the most. For my household, at this moment, it is the calendar. For others, it may be the persistent aches and pains of aging bodies or the persistence of sadness through loss or a quieter house. Perhaps it is the persistence of interrupted sleep for any number of reasons.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with a wonderful young person and their parent the other day. We were discussing baptism and what it means (a favorite conversation of mine to have). If I were to boil it all down, I would say that the God we gather to worship each week is the epitome of persistent, even when we may not notice.
When someone is baptized, we are making an incredible statement of faith about who God is (and who we are not). Baptism is all about recognizing that God has declared someone so beloved, so special that God won’t ever leave them. In the highest of life’s highs, the lowest of lows, and everywhere in between, the grace of God shows up and is made known like dog hair on a black suit. It’s always there.
This week, if you have to calendar like my family does, or if the persistence is one of grief, loneliness, or uncertainty about any number of things outside your control, try to see that behind all of that is a God who won’t let you go. Who accompanies you to wit’s end, who rejoices when you do, and grieves alongside you.
Our days and lives may have a certain persistence about it…but so does the grace of a God who will never leave you alone.
