An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (From Mark 9:2-9 ) My mountaintop experience began when a good friend of mine, John, asked if I’d hike with him on an overnight to the Lake of the Clouds hut on the Appalachian Trail. Sure. We drove up the Mt. Washington Toll Road, it’s own exciting adventure! An extremely dense cloud at the summit made the trail to the hut a challenge. We began the 1.5-mile hike over a clouded, rocky trail arriving at the hut in about 45 minutes. After spending the night among other hikers, we returned to the fogged in summit. I’m not sure how we would have reacted if a voice came out of the wind and clouds, but I can guarantee you, we wouldn’t have pitched a tent!   It is no accident that this story takes place on a mountain.   This story takes place on a mountain top because ancient civilizations understood mountains as heaven and earth’s meeting place. The ...

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (from John 16:4b-15 ) Our family had experienced a financial crisis. We had to move into our summer cottage, have it winterized, and begin a new school. My Dad knew I was anxious about entering high school, from my new elementary school. So, Dad said to me that when I get off the school bus, and before I enter the building, stop, take a deep breath and say to myself, "you can do this." Weird as it felt, I did as Pop said. It was a good day. The words, their source, the deep breath, brought comfort to my anxious heart. Jesus, was aware of the tensions created by his ministry realized the disciples would be facing a crisis after his death. To care for his disciples, Jesus promised he would pray to God to send the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, that would comfort them in their anxiety. (John 14:1...

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." (From 1 John 5:9-13 ) Elaine's mother had a household rule: never call between 7:00 and 7:30! Jeopardy!  is on! I wonder if her mother got to the pearly gates, asked St. Peter which room  Jeopardy!  was on at 7:00. There's a big difference between heaven's’ pearly gates and eternal life  The Bible describes heaven as mainly God's dwelling place. As Cleland Boyd McAfee describes in his hymn, “There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.” It’s where Elijah was taken in a whirlwind and the Spirit in Revelation 14:13 says, “they will rest from their labor.” In heaven, God is surrounded by angels in a community of peace, love, and worship. Eternal life is something very different. In John 3:16 and in 1 John 5:13, eternal life isn’t referring only to life beyond the grave. Eternal life is full life, now and in th...

O sing to the Lord a new song,  for he has done marvelous things.  His right hand and his holy arm  have gotten him victory. (from Psalm 98 ) When The Faith We Sing, a new songbook, was published I discovered there were several types of new songs. Some of the new songs, such as "Down to the River to Pray", had been around for a long time, but singing it was a new experience to me. Other songs, such as "Where Children Belong" were new because they were recently composed, so I had to learn them. The oldest “new” song to me is the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:1-42 because I hadn't realized it was a song. Psalm 98 is an extremely important psalm anchoring the collection of “the LORD is king” enthronement psalms so it’s considered “the theological ‘heart’” of the Psalms. The possible origin of Psalm 98 was a response to the exile crisis with the “marvelous things” referring to God leading the people out of Babylon in what amounts to a new exodus. The m...