Dear Members and Friends of Our Saviour's,
As I begin thoughts to each of you, I have enjoyed the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature that
is within walking distance of our church. The colors are radiant, the sounds are coming from the
birds nearby, and the sky above is clear blue. As I write this, I have completed my sermon for this
weekend and my plan was to sing and read from Psalm 46. This verse often catches my attention
when I feel overwhelmed with chores that need to be completed. May is one of those months that
bring me to the end of the day with the thoughts that I have much more to do.
Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be
exalted in the earth." This is a verse of scripture that I often think about in the early morning hours
when I walk my dog, Maggie. The quiet of the early morning hours is my favorite time of the day. To
look to the east and see the horizon turning pink with the anticipation of a new sunrise to greet our
day cannot be beat. Now for those of you who are night owls, this might be difficult. It is easier for
you to enjoy a beautiful sunset. But take time to enjoy the beauty of the early morning which invites
a time of praise and reflection, as well as a time of preparation for the day ahead. Doing so may
help you to appreciate the words of our psalm: "Be still, and know that I am God."
I have noticed that so many of us try to get away from the competing noises of life and living in or
near a city like Madison by getting into our cars and campers and escaping to a quieter place. But I
have discovered that there are so many places that bring us peace and quiet that are so near to
our church. I have discovered such places while walking and taking time to take a different path
instead of the way I go by force of habit. Just the other day I noticed a sidewalk that came to a dead
end and I thought to myself, "I wonder what is on the other side." So, I took that path and soon I
was walking in a serene area which brought an almost immediate sense of peace and quiet. The
small path worked its way through this wooded area and it became smaller with each step that I
took. I have probably taken this path a dozen times now, and only once have I come across
another person.
To take another path can also be our focus in life. Sometimes we need to continue forward,
focused upon what is truly important. Claude Pepper, who served as a U.S. Congressman, said:
"Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you stop pedaling."
I have thought about this statement and how we can relate it to our life of faith in Christ.
Sometimes we fall off our journey with Christ when we make excuses during the summer months
to stay away from church. But we have no excuse, because we have so many opportunities to
worship with services on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday each week.
So, keep pedaling and take time to know the still voice of God!
Pastor Brad Homan
