Surrounded by Love

I stood next to Renee Haston on Sunday morning, blending my voice with hers and a few hundred others as we sang this familiar song:

                Hold me close,
                Let your love surround me.
                Bring me near;
                Draw me to your side.

As we sang, I felt myself surrounded by love. I looked around at the dear faces of people I see week after week—many of whom I rarely talk to.  Yet I know if I am in trouble, these people will help me.  If I were in a foreign land—or stuck at the side of the road—it would be a joy and comfort to see Mike McDonald or Judi Summers, Becky Gorsline or Don Sandberg come around the corner.

It is so easy to take people for granted, but in some ways, it’s a compliment. It’s not a bad thing to be considered faithful. I want people to know that I will help them if I can. It would hurt my feelings more to think that someone wouldn’t ask for help because they’d think me too indifferent. To be always available is to be like God.

We had this verse on our bulletin Sunday: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”  (Lamentations 3:22-23).  Because God is faithful to keep the big world turning and our puny hearts beating, we may forget what a wonder it all is. But when we have a scare—a health problem or a car problem—we know we can call on him, and he will help because he loves us.    

I want to be that dependable, you-can-count-on-me kind of person. And I am so glad to worship with a whole slew of folks who I believe are also loving and trustworthy enough to be there when it matters.

Let his Spirit lead us on---In the power of his love!

--Sherry Poff