Embracing Stillness

Today is one of those rainy days. It is also an office day. On these type of days, I often find myself wrapping up projects, filing things appropriately, and pondering recent events and ministry progress. Today, to top it all off, the office has been a place of solitude. I have not had much interruption. In a world of rush and go, prepare and present, meet, greet, and help, sometimes these days are welcome. (If I had been home, a couch and a pillow would be welcome in this weather.) All being said, the day has primarily been one of reflection and gratitude.

Writing, filing, and not running around has led to much reflection. Reflection has led to gratitude. I have been at my current ministry assignment, here in Elmore County, only since December 1, 2025. In that time, my bride and I have moved, experienced Christmas morning breakfast in Waffle House, (it works when your kitchen is full of boxes), replaced light fixtures, hung most pictures and artwork, fixed things, adjusted things, bought things to fit the house, and been generally busy. Oh, and at the same time there is the ministry, which I absolutely love.

I am being quite human as I write today. In the quiet of the day, the drizzle of the rain, and the organizing of details, I am grateful. God called my bride and me into the ministry over 38 years ago. He has blessed my family throughout every role, church family, life event, and geographic location. He is as written – good. He is ever-faithful. He is ever-providing. He is God.

When Tina and I felt a call to move from Atmore to Elmore, we knew it would be tough to orchestrate the details. We never had to do so. God took care of everything. We also knew we had never been this age before, and that the move would be a little bit more physically difficult than the ones we had made before. God gave us perseverance. Additionally, we had no idea about where we would purchase a home, how the finances would settle, and how long our savings would last if something might not work out well. God fixed it all very well. Our house sold in three days, we were allowed to stay in a kind couple’s guest house for a while, and we purchased a home on December 22, (hence the Waffle House Christmas breakfast.)

Today, as I reflect, I realize it has really been a short time since all this began. In that short time, I have seen God moved many things I considered mountains. He is faithful. Some of these mountains have been physical, some financial, and some even organizational within this network of churches I serve. All of these have been wonderfully addressed and amazingly adjusted. I am in awe of my God. I am grateful to my God. I am unworthy of my God. “Thank you, God.”

Lest you think I believe this is all about me, let me reassure you this is all about God. I firmly believe he shapes us as we willingly submit to his will in obedience. We may not see the reasons, but if we follow God long enough, we come to understand that our job is to glorify him through our faithfulness. We are soldiers. We are clay. We are servants. He is the King, the Potter, and the Master. With that understanding, why do we doubt, wonder, or fail to trust?

I am reflective today. I am grateful today. Thank you, God, for leading us and giving us enough faith to follow. May we continue to follow you faithfully through this journey.