On our family road trip through Canada this summer, we listened to the audiobook of Tolkien's The Hobbit (unabridged). This was my and my children's first time reading Tolkien, believe it or not. We loved it. (Our family really identified with second breakfast.) One line stood out especially to me. Early on in the quest Bilbo Baggins realizes that "adventures are not all pony-rides in May-sunshine."
Living a life of faith has its moments of May sunshine as well as its dark forests: the lovely and the scary, the rest and the labor. All of these, the apostle Paul tells us, are used by the Lord to grow us into faithful followers of Christ, those who will strive to build God's kingdom of love, grace, and peace on Earth and in Heaven. (Romans 5)
As summer comes to a close, I’m wondering what adventures our new year will bring. These last few years have certainly had their adversity, as well as immense beauty and blessing. This fall will bring new adventures, to be sure—in school, at work, here at church. Some adventures, I trust, will be pony rides in May sunshine. And some may feel like we are facing dragons. God is in them all, and with us in all. We see that faithfulness and love again and again in the stories of our faith and the words of our Holy scriptures.
I pray for a year of grace, blessing, and growth in all that comes our way, and I look forward with immense gratitude to taking these adventures with you all as my beloved companions. Let us use all our coming adventures to God’s glory.
With love,
Bryn
