Consecration!

I’m excited about October. I’ve always loved the Autumn season. The change is evident; leaves progress to yellow….orange….red…..brown. They make their way to the ground as the seasons change. I love the feeling in the air and the way in which our behavior is altered – more clothes worn, more coffee sipped, and more thoughts pondered.

Every leaf that hits the ground cycles through a change. Change is good. It creates a platform for the new; that which has not been experienced.

Consecration is like that. It is the dedication to a special purpose or service, usually spiritual. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with that which is sacred or holy.” Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and when consecrated there is usually something that is circumscribed. In other words, “a circle is drawn”. Boundaries are set; boundaries which cannot be crossed. When we consecrate ourselves today, it may mean the simple boundary imposed upon a daily routine. It may be “I will not use a cell phone this week.” I know what you’re thinking – “Now that’s really spiritual!” Well, you would be surprised how much time and allegiance we give to such niceties. Some might consecrate themselves by laying aside a meal or two, but “my phone?”

Others might impose a boundary that creates an atmosphere for a deeper seeking of the Lord – “I will pray for at least 30 minutes a day before I leave my bedroom.” Consecration can take many forms. Remember it’s your personal act of dedication to that which is sacred.

You find your niche in God’s call to consecration in this season of your life. You may not turn yellow to orange to brown and die literally, but you will put to death some flesh in your life and make room for the new!

Join us in consecration this October 10-17th!

What do you give a 27 year old for his birthday?

Our first-born son turned 27 on September 3^rd.  Seems like a long time ago.  I can remember the excitement of weekly child-birth classes, listening to others stories about what to expect, and then finally getting all the uncertainties answered with the final words in wee hours of the morning – “You need to get to the hospital as quickly as you can.”

It was “come on let’s go” when we hung up the phone from Dr. Baker’s council.  We grabbed the pre-packed bag and hit the road.  We arrived at Chowan Hospital and for several hours moved closer to the birth of a son.  After the 4 o’clock hour in the afternoon of that third day of September, we saw Joshua for the first time. 

It seems quite strange that this Labor Day weekend would mean his 27^th. What do you get a son whose 27?  Undergarments, socks, or toiletries?   Guitar strings, a gift card, or a shirt he may not wear?  Joy suggested the perfect gift – a personal visit from his pop.

I searched the net and found the best price on Tuesday morning.  Tuesday afternoon I hit the road and spent the night with our second-born, Abigail Ruth.  We shared a meal at a Jamaican cuisine in the Capital city and, as the sun rose on Wednesday morning, I made haste to Raleigh Durham International.

My plane touched down in the afternoon, I caught a ride with a Seattle pastor, and positioned myself behind Joshua’s desk at his University job site.  Within two minutes of my sitting he rounded the corner. Surprised?  Oh yes!  He showed me several shades of red and smiled bigger than life.

We began a 3-day gift of sharing time with each other.  It came real easy – heart to heart conversations, meals shared, and reflections of all the time that had passed so quickly since that day in ’83.  I even found the courage to say something that I had long-wanted to say, “I’m sorry for the lack of times like this in the early years.” I felt that was needed. He didn’t seem to agree, but I saw it as part of my gift.

Why do we miss the things that are most-important sometime?  Why do we misplace priority? Why do we…..?  Well, I don’t know why, but I know that even when your son is 27 a hike in the mountains is in order.  Talkin’ over a cheeseburger, or taking a walk out on the waterfront pier before our last night’s clock strikes midnight seems to work well too.

The kind of gift that’s wrapped in love is the easiest one to purchase, yet the hardest one for us to give – time that is.  We closed our last night with Josh sitting on the sofa strummin’ his 6-string and singing songs about relationship.

Happy Birthday Josh!  Thanks for the gift.