“Instead, we commend ourselves as ministers of God in every way. We did this with our great endurance through problems, disasters, and stressful situations. We went through beatings, imprisonments, and riots. We experienced hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger. We displayed purity, knowledge, patience, and generosity.” 2 Corinthians 6:4-6 CEB
A photo can really help tell a story, causing us to pause for a moment and absorb what is happening before us. After finishing up a sub district meeting with clergy and laity early Friday afternoon at Fair Haven UMC in Rodanthe, Pastor Tim Fitch and his wife, Sarah, led Tom Santa (our district lay leader) and myself on a tour of the beach road area between the church and the ocean. The sign says, “Vacation Here!” But the reality is, there will be no more vacations spent in this condemned home, as it’s only a matter of time before it succumbs to the relentless push of the ocean waves and winds.
Paul’s words to the people of Corinth speak of enduring hardships and speak truth of what we have all experienced for nearly two years with the pandemic. Problems. Disasters. Stressful situations. Chapters of our life stories now include each of these in ways we never could have imagined. And yet, just as Paul describes, there have been gifts of the Spirit shared with us through purity, knowledge, patience, and generosity. I remember breathing in the air of the backyard during those days of being in lockdown. The additional time we had to spend reading God’s Word. Being granted patience as we sought to navigate and negotiate living and working from home with our families. Experiencing the expressions of generosity when church families coordinated drive-by birthday parades. Realizing these gifts of the Spirit were daily doses of the Divine.
Paul reminds us of the contrasts that are so very real in life. In the hardships, God’s provisions are abundant. That amid the problems there comes perseverance. That in the disasters there is determination. That through the stressful situations there will be sustaining grace.
The hopelessness I witnessed on the Rodanthe beach, along with the lament and the pending loss, was heavy, as I walked away with Tim, Sarah, and Tom, getting back in the car to drive home to Camden.
The next morning, the photo changed, and another contrast was to be, as hopelessness became hopefulness as folks gathered at Kitty Hawk UMC, participating in a Pastor & Parish workshop led by Betsy Haas. Hopefulness was embodied in the leaning and learning these servants were doing. Hopefulness was found in the collaborations and considerations happening around the tables. Hopefulness abounded among the faithful as they commended themselves as ministers of God in every way.
As this Lenten season begins, let’s spend the next forty days journeying with Jesus. Let’s be determined to be aware of those moments and places where Jesus transforms our hopelessness into hopefulness.
Blessings, 
David
If you would like to view past editions of Driving with David, follow this link:
https://beacondistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/