Holding Together
Dear First Pres SLO Family,
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus the Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—the one sent by God to demonstrate the love that binds the universe together.
We are in need of a little of that “binding” these days. I’m feeling so torn between what I see and what I want to say—between what I feel and think to be true, and what some of my brothers and sisters in Christ think and feel.
There’s a famous poem by W.B. Yeats (I’m quoting a lot of poetry these days!) that begins with these lines:
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.
Sometimes it feels like things are falling apart, right? Into that feeling—into that sense of “mere anarchy,” the Lord of the universe speaks to us—the Christ we worship spills over all of it like some kind of cosmic super glue. Listen to how Paul describes him in Colossians 1:15-17:
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
In him all things hold together. Wow.
This month as we think of things that we’re thankful for, how about saving a little room for the Son of God, the one who holds us tight—the one who keeps us together—now matter how hard we try to lose our sense of connection with each other. Be thankful for that.
This Saturday we celebrate 150 years of being a witness for this same Christ here in San Luis Obispo. We’ll look back on the past and express our hope for another century and a half of service—all over a tasty meal and time of fellowship. I hope you’ll join us! It’s not too late to RSVP, though it’s getting pretty close.
Until then, and through this season of thankfulness, blessings to you and yours.
Pastor John