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Weekly e-Message - February 10, 2012
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This e-mail message is called e-message from the heart because that's where it begins. It begins with something that makes me feel joy, or sadness, or awe, or confusion, or empathy, or gratitude, or fear. It begins with my heart and then I get my head involved as I write.
This weekend, we had the honor and joy to meet Katrina Moran and her family as the newest members of our Happy 2B Home family. Happy 2Be Home is a ministry inspired by Charlotte Wendel and Nathan Morath to help children and young people with "chronic, long term, multiple disabilities" and their families be happier at home.
Charlotte got a new bedroom and wheelchair accessible bathroom downstairs and a wheelchair lift from the garage to the house and then it was Nathan's turn and now it is Katrina's turn. So, on Sunday, we recognized these amazing young people and their families and the team of people who are building this ministry.
But it just happened that this big day fell on the same day where we acknowledge the fourth graders who have received special instruction about Holy Communion, who come to receive the sacrament with their families. For some of them, it is their first time, for others it is still a very special Holy Communion.
And it just happened that if Charlotte and Nathan had not been afflicted by their illnesses, they would have been fourth graders this year. So, we decided that after the fourth graders received Communion, Charlotte and Nathan would meet me at the altar table in their wheelchairs for a blessing.
I knelt down and put my right hand on Nathan and my left hand on Charlotte and began to pray, "Lord, we did not plan that this day, when we celebrate 'Happy 2B Home' would be the day when the fourth graders receive Holy Communion. And we know that but for the diseases that struck........" and as I tried to say the names Charlotte and Nathan, I choked up and could not speak.
That heart moment was when this e-mail began. People told me that as I teared up and tried to get my composure back, "every person in the sanctuary had tears in their eyes." So, you can say this e-mail is not just from my heart but from many hearts.
As emotional as the day was, and sad as the reality is that these healthy, promising children were afflicted by physical illness, it was still a great day. I loved the fact that on this day, three young people in wheelchairs were our leaders and heroes, three young people in wheelchairs were the center of attention.
It is reassuring to see the evidence once again that "in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). It is awe inspiring to consider the love and courage of these three young peoples' families. It is unifying when hundreds of people have tears in their eyes at the same time.
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Pastor Dave Lewis
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