Greetings Shawnee Family,
The news is often so gloomy and depressing. It makes me think sometimes that the whole world is bent on evil and hate…BUT today I was reminded that the world is not as dark and gloomy as the news makes it out to me.
I ran into a group of young people from all over the world who are a part of humanitarian aid efforts in the Kansas City Airport today.
One is from Germany…
One is from Mexico….
One is from Turkey….
One is from Ireland…
One is from Taiwan…
One is from Kenya…
The young lady from Kenya and I got to sit next to each other on the plane. She shared with me how she works towards peace in her country… especially around the time when people vote as those can be hostile and even violent times.
As she told me about what she does she went on to say that she has two children and she said that her husband received his Ph.D. in Denmark over the last 3 years on a scholarship in Political Science. He graduated in February and is home again and is a professor in a state university there. Their children are 5 and 4. She said that 3 years ago it was a hard decision, but the right one for her husband to study abroad for 3 years and only come home on holidays.
I sat in awe of this amazing young couple who are passionately dedicated to making the world a better place.
As we walked off the plane together she gave me a hug and breathed a brief blessing over my travels and I said I would be praying for her group to make it to New York City (they have to stay the night in Atlanta, fly to Washington D.C. and then ride a bus to New York City due to the snow storm).
I left that flight thinking…. “Wow, there are people in this world who are seriously dedicated to seeing the world be a better place.”
It made me hopeful.
It was an appropriate thought in these last few days of Lent. Jesus’ journey to the cross is upon us starting this Sunday: Palm Sunday.
Next week we will find ourselves rejoicing on Palm Sunday, around tables sharing communion together on Maundy Thursday, leaving in awkward silence and darkness on Good Friday, and celebrating the hope we have in our Risen Christ on Easter Sunday.
That’s a lot of emotions in one week! It’s a good reminder that there are days that are really hard… there are days that are full of joy… in all of those days, no matter what is going on, God journeys with us.
The world is full of hope and people desiring for the world to be a better place, pointing people to Christ.
Don’t let the overwhelmingly negative news narrative get you down. Remember there is hope and it is in Christ Jesus.
Thankful for you all!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Cara
5539 Quivira Road
Shawnee, Kansas 66216, United States
(913) 631-5555
office@shawneenaz.org
(913) 631-5555
office@shawneenaz.org
Shawnee Church of the Nazarene
5539 Quivira Road
Shawnee, Kansas 66216, United States
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