My mother was a photo album freak. She made personalized ones for my brother and me. This morning I looked through my #2 – the high school years. Honestly, I was searching for inspiration, something to write about. Part of my weirdness is remembering dates, anniversaries of things. Along with pictures, my mom, including newspaper articles, band concert programs, and report cards. I saw my driver’s ed certificate. 45 years ago, almost to the date. 7/6/77. I still remember the car we drove in class (Ford Granada), the smell of it, the route we took one day, and even what was playing on the radio. Ready for the irony? “Life in the Fast Lane” by The Eagles. 

Why on earth would I remember such a thing? Also, innocuous, benign things that were said many moons ago?

It astounds me when I recall the Bible passage, “even the hairs of your head are numbered”. How intimately and completely our God knows us! More terrifying, how He remembers every thought, word, and action of the entirety of our lives. How can we stand in His presence? No hidden secrets. No closed-off hearts. No unknown desires. It’s all there; our lives before His eyes. Ah, but then there is the cross. Our salvation hangs there, firmly secured in Jesus’ punctured hands and feet.  All is forgiven, reconciled. Our uncondition- ally loving God made sure that our past, the totality of our frail, sinful being would not be subject to eternal separation (damnation). In album #2, along with the other two, I see a mother’s pride and love. I know where that came from. My heritage was forged long before my parents’ eyes glimmered with the thought of me. Thanks be to the God of love who was, is, and is to come!

Pastor Art