La Junta UMC
La Junta UMC

“Jesus Wept and We Can Too “ “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

I have had many disappointments in my life.  I am sure you all have as well.

 

Some disappointments turned out to be blessings and others I can feel the sting even to this day.

 

One disappointment that turned out to be a blessing was getting delayed in my ordination process.  At the time, it felt as though the floor had dropped from underneath me.  One of my required paperwork items, one that my mentor was required to mail and not me, got “lost” in the mail.  I was devastated when I learned that I was going to be delayed a year before being allowed to go before the Board of Ordained Ministry.  Life, as I knew, felt over.  Only, it wasn’t over.  It was just a bump in the road.  I learned that that extra year was exactly what I needed in order to ready myself for the challenges and difficulties that lay ahead.

 

I’ve also had disappointments that I have yet to see a silver lining.  They were just unfulfilled dreams and hopes, for one reason or another.   My only consolation is knowing that God’s plan is perfect and his plans are for me to prosper and not harm me.  Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us of this.

 

Over the last couple weeks, I have been reading about many heart broken people across the country, including many young people and seniors.  Much needed trips and vacations for families being cancelled, graduating senior activities and spring sports, and so many other heartbreaking cancellations that have left many people brokenhearted.  I want to say a few things about loss.

 

The first thing I want to say is that it is ok to grieve the things we lose.  Jesus wept and we can weep.  You don’t need my permission to grieve but I do want to remind you that it is ok to mourn the things we have lost during this crazy time regardless of what they are. 

 

The second thing I want to say is that we can (and must) be thankful for our blessings while acknowledging we are disappointed, hurt, sad, and/or brokenhearted for the things we’ve lost.  That doesn’t show a lack of trust in God, it reveals a trust in God.  Mourning our losses and at the same time acknowledging and giving thanks for our blessings doesn’t imply hypocrisy but rather honesty and vulnerability. 

 

Third, I want to remind you that mourning your losses doesn’t diminish the losses of others.  There are many terrible things happening right now, no doubt, but everyone is experiencing different losses of all degrees.  I just want to encourage you to not let others diminish your grief as trivial or minor.  Your feelings are yours and you have every right to them.

 

Our scripture reading today is reminding us that God is with all who are heartbroken, grieving, and crushed in spirit.  Are you heartbroken and grieving for what you’ve lost?  Are you crushed in spirit because of what has been lost?

 

I pray for our church and this community as we head into what has been described as our “pearl harbor or 9/11 weeks” by the Surgeon General.  This next week or two will be our most challenging according to our leadership. 

 

While our economy will rebound and many of us will begin to heal over time, I acknowledge those in our communities, like our seniors, who have sacrificed things they’ll never have access to again. I pray for each and every one of your health (mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional) as we navigate this challenging and unprecedented time.  I pray you encourage each other and lift each other up through all the challenges we have yet to face.  You are all in my prayers daily!

 

May it be so,

Rev. Lou Ward

At a Glance: 

Office Hours:

Tuesday 8 - 11 a.m.

Wednesday 8 - 11 a.m.

Thursday 8 - 11 a.m.

Call during these hours if you need to arrange another time to come in the office or to meet with the pastor. 

 

 Adult Studies:

We meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 11 a.m. on Wednesdays in the Fellowship Hall.

 

Monthly Potluck:

Join us on the First Sunday of every month for good food and good fellowship. 

 

Military Appreciation Breakfast

Third Saturday of the month, 8 a.m.:

Veterans and Active Military and their Significant Others, join us for a hearty breakfast as we share our appreciation for your service.

 

United Methodist Women Monthly Meeting:

Third Thursday of

every month.

 

United Methodist Men's Monthly Breakfast:

*Postponed Until Further Notice

 

 

Contact Us

La Junta United Methodist Church

601 San Juan Ave

La Junta, CO 81050

 

Phone: (719) 384-7717

E-mail: lajuntamethodist@

gmail.com

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