People of the blog, I have made it safely back to Rochester from Cape Town, South Africa! While the sabbatical journey yet continues for a bit longer, I could not help pondering the word, "takeaway." This word for South Africans often means grabbing a quick snack, sandwich or drink as you continue on your path or you could sit too. The expression is much richer and deeper than our fast food mentality and the quisine choices are more healthier, to me. I was reminded throughout my time in South Africa of the simple phrase "takeaways," thus this expression has been with me since I boarded a plane at 8:30 am Tuseday, Rochester time, till I arrived Wednesday at 9:30 am yesterday. And one of my takeaways is "bless."
Henri Nowen writes, "Too bless means to say good things. We have to bless one another constantly, Parents need to bless their children, Children their parents, husbands their wives. and wives their husbands, friends their friends. In our society, so full of curses, we must fill each place we enter with our blessings. We forget so quickly that we are God's beloved children and allow the many curses of our world to darken our hearts. Therefore we have to be reminded of our belovedness and remind others of theirs too. Whether the blessing is given in words or with gestures, in a solemn or an informal way, our lives need to be blessed lives." I know this to be true of the many expreinces of South Africa I'll process for a longtime to come.
The pictures are the expressions of blessing I received from the men and women of my favorite coffe spot, "Bean There." We became a family in only a month sharing in one another's joys and sorrows. They blessed me everytime we met with smiles, warmth, honesty, friendship and their faith. Yes, I did likewise with them as they all want to come visit WBC and the family. Yet as I told them on Tuesday morning, I recieved far more from them. And then there was the plane ride home when a woman and a man were seated one with me and one behind me. In quick conversation I found they were husband and wife, I offered to move from my seat so they could sit together. They were so thankful and only afterwards I found out they are expecting their first child. My people of the blog, whether at a South African coffee shop or on long plane ride , we are to bless one another, no matter what! This one of my many "takeaways."
Blessed Musings
Pastor Michael
Henri Nowen writes, "Too bless means to say good things. We have to bless one another constantly, Parents need to bless their children, Children their parents, husbands their wives. and wives their husbands, friends their friends. In our society, so full of curses, we must fill each place we enter with our blessings. We forget so quickly that we are God's beloved children and allow the many curses of our world to darken our hearts. Therefore we have to be reminded of our belovedness and remind others of theirs too. Whether the blessing is given in words or with gestures, in a solemn or an informal way, our lives need to be blessed lives." I know this to be true of the many expreinces of South Africa I'll process for a longtime to come.
The pictures are the expressions of blessing I received from the men and women of my favorite coffe spot, "Bean There." We became a family in only a month sharing in one another's joys and sorrows. They blessed me everytime we met with smiles, warmth, honesty, friendship and their faith. Yes, I did likewise with them as they all want to come visit WBC and the family. Yet as I told them on Tuesday morning, I recieved far more from them. And then there was the plane ride home when a woman and a man were seated one with me and one behind me. In quick conversation I found they were husband and wife, I offered to move from my seat so they could sit together. They were so thankful and only afterwards I found out they are expecting their first child. My people of the blog, whether at a South African coffee shop or on long plane ride , we are to bless one another, no matter what! This one of my many "takeaways."
Blessed Musings
Pastor Michael