The most fitting word to describe the welcome we received upon coming back to America is WARM! For the last 5 weeks we have been enjoying the cool, rainy climate of Scotland. The hottest day we experienced was when it reached around 71 degrees. Most of the time we were in the 50s and 60s comfortably wearing long pants and long sleeve shirts. Wow what a different situation greeted us in the States! But the warmth of welcome not only came in the form of the weather but even more so in the friends from church and community who have made us feel so loved and glad to call this place our home. We have experienced so many expressions of hospitality, welcome, and concern in just a few short days! It is so good to be home. But above all the welcoming expressions we have been given, the greatest have come from God. Since we have become experts on the “family day-trip” we decided that we would go over to Montreat for the day on Sunday. The entire day was a feast of God’s grace. Worshipping in Anderson Auditorium is always a special treat, but seemed like a homecoming of sorts on Sunday morning. Singing hymns from the Presbyterian hymnal filled my eyes with tears as they so often do. Seeing familiar faces, passing the peace, the Lord’s Supper, the scripture, and sermon all spoke to me words of welcome and grace. To top it all off the choir that sang in the service was from my home church in Atlanta. A contingency of the choir from Peachtree Presbyterian Church was at Montreat for a retreat and wonderfully led us in worship that morning. What an experience. That “come full circle” experience was not over yet as we bumped into friends new and old. We ran into dear friends from Charleston at the worship service and ended up enjoying visiting with them over lunch. Later in the afternoon, after playing on the playground and a “family creek-walk” adventure, we decided we’d stop in Black Mountain for some ice cream. We walked into Kilwins and bumped into our across the street neighbors from Charleston! So we got to catch up on all the happenings in our old neighborhood. What fun that was! On our ride back to Morganton Laura and I reflected and shared how the day not only demonstrated how small of a world we live in, but just how good God has been to us over so many years and through so many experiences. In our childhood, in our marriage, in Charleston, in Morganton, in Scotland, in Montreat, and all along the way in between those places God has overwhelmed us with His grace through so many amazing, mysterious, “coincidental”,welcoming ways.
In the 15th chapter of Romans, Paul refers to God as “the God of steadfastness and encouragement”. He then makes mention of the welcome believers receive from Christ Himself. He exhorts the Roman church (which had apparently been struggling with disunity) “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Those words have seemed especially near and fitting these last few days as our faithful God has provided me with so many expressions of encouragement. But they are also words that can be directive as I and all of us move into each new day. The God of grace has been so good and has welcomed us into His presence through so many varied experiences, places, and people. Let us all strive to welcome others – to be a channel of God’s welcoming grace – to all with whom we come into contact. And surely if we even be partially successful in that endeavor God’s grace will once again work its wonders and transform our efforts into that which can truly bring glory to Him. This is our purpose; it is our call: to glorify the One who so wonderfully has filled our lives with goodness and grace.
Well, that pretty much wraps up this sabbatical journal. I return to my post a week from today. It has been an enjoyable experience sharing these things with so many friends reading along. I have shared many things with you in this blog because in a very real way so many of you were on my mind and “with me” these last 3 months. But I have also reserved some things just for me and my family. I am so incredibly grateful to Laura, Hudson, Charlie, and Katherine for taking this Sabbatical journey with me. Each of them added immeasurably and uniquely to the enjoyment and enrichment of this journey. I also thank again the Session, staff and members of First Presbyterian Church for the gift of this summer. I am glad to be back home and look forward to continuing to serve the Lord with you. But above all I give thanks to God for giving me such wonderful people, experiences, and purpose in my life. May this sabbatical journey prove itself to be a time that equips me for faithful future ministry that expresses gratitude and praise to the One who is the greatest gift I have ever received, Jesus Christ. To God be the glory!
-MRB
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| The last family pic in Scotland |
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| This basket and a frig full of food welcomed us when we arrived home. |
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| We LOVE Montreat! |
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| Steady on those rocks! |
This one enjoyed the ride.
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| The "family creek walk" |
