8-1-12

Dear Family of faith, There are moments of revelation in our lives that teach us truths we knew but often forget. I had such an epiphany this past week while thinking about the photos on our walls. I was pondering where we might have room for a new wedding photo (since our youngest daughter, Brittina, is getting married on August 11th). I thought about the big graduation photos of our four children that are hanging on the wall and wondered, "Will they ever want these?" I thought about it because my mother, who has been sorting through her 'stuff' for years, gave me all kinds of pictures of myself when I was a child. You know the kind-- those portrait package deals that the schools used to have and J.C. Penney and Sears promoted. There were always left-over photos of all sizes. When Mom was doling out her stash, quite frankly, I didn't need another fourth-grade photo of myself, not even an extra graduation picture. All of those went in the trash. Thinking that my own children might do the same, I realized that it is not photos of ourselves that have the greatest value to us in the end, but photos of others that we care about. Some day when I'm cleaning out my stash of pictures, my own children will have no use for multiple copies of their school photos any more than I did. It's like the crayon pictures scribbled on paper by grandchildren and little notes from the kids in second grade-- they have no value except to those who cherish the memories. Who wants his or her own pictures in the end? All this should teach us that our own lives are not what is important to us ultimately; the lives of others who love us and whom we love count for everything. If we live for ourselves, we have lost everything. The only real meaning comes from living for others. I will miss all of you when I'm gone; and I will miss worshipping in our sanctuary with the kindred minds of this congregation. Keep me and my family in yours prayers and I will you. With affection, Pastor Carlan