Sychar Lutheran Church
  • Home
  • About
    • Staff
    • Contact
    • Vision Statement
    • FAQ
    • What to Expect
  • Sermons
  • Children & Youth
  • Policies
  • Calendar


Seems Like Something New Every Day

10/7/2020

0 Comments

 
Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
​

A famous British Prime Minister in the 1860s, Benjamin Disraeli, stated, "Change is inevitable. Change is constant." I believe Mr. Disraeli must have traveled to the great North Shore as change has been clearly evident over several weeks. Most noticeable has been the dramatic Fall season changes along the entire North Shore.  The colors have been vivid and inspiring to behold. It is little wonder that each weekend has seen a mass infusion of humanity to see and appreciate what we are privileged to call home year-round. Cathy and I have affectionately come to refer to this time of the year as the Great North Shore Weekend Parade, Fall Edition. This differs from the same title, but Memorial Day Edition. At one time, we were wondering how to go about researching potential car models for replacement candidates. Courtesy of the weekend traffic, we can now leisurely sit on our hill overlooking the highway and see how hundreds of
vehicles look as they drive by.

Another change I noticed was the change in ground flora this time of year. Where there had been a blue, purple, and pink lupine field, now there is a new abundant growth of purple weeds.  Hold on – they are purple weeds with bright yellow inside.  I used my handy phone app with plant identifiers to discover that these are actually asters that bloom this time of year.  I have learned something new.  In addition to the asters, the three apple trees, Haralson, have fully ripened.  Still, another sure sign of seasonal change is the reemergence of the deer. They are definitely on the move again.  I recently pulled into my driveway and had to stop as there were three does, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, in the driveway entrance, watching all of the passing traffic. You could almost read their minds – "Is it worth trying to cross the highway?"  They turned and pranced around off into the woods. Still another, albeit more subtle change, is also noted.  The rising sun on Lake Superior, or any lake up here for that matter, takes on its own unique calming benevolence when the light first becomes discernible on the lake surface.  The Fall smells also define the
season, including the first wafts of wood smoke on a crisp, clear morning.

This time of year also calls for a change in preparation for the coming Winter and follow-on Spring.  Cathy has spent weeks crafting a new showpiece garden.  This has included lots of landscaping, rock moving, and
planting of new additions that will burst forth next Spring. An additional Fall requirement is to get the driveway ready for the inevitable snow to come.  A further change is that we have built up the driveway to have a more compacted surface to make snow blowing easier.  Several friends have asked where we live in relation to the house with the new driveway. That’s us.

Still, the lawn tractor is to be serviced and put away for the season, lawn furniture moved, and the dog acclimated to a new home.  Yes, we added a new member to the family.  Nakota was a former resident of the humane society in Duluth. All seems to be going well so far.  Well, almost everything is going well.  Our cat, Sophie, is being petulant. We did not consult her first on our new acquisition. She has absented herself from the human company for the time being.

Another famous Benjamin – Benjamin Franklin, also commented on change.  He stated, "Change is the only constant.  One's ability to adapt to these changes will determine your success in life." These past 10 months have shown how we have had to adapt to some of the most far reaching changes this country has seen in the past 50+ years. Even more changes are on the immediate horizon within the next month as a national election happens. I have had the privilege to have my voice heard through the ballot box for over 40 years. It has only been in this century that I have heard with such alarming insistence that each election determines our existence as a nation and as individuals.  And each year we vote, adapt, and continue as a great nation and continue to progress as individuals.  By ourselves, this is a daunting, virtually impossible task to perform because of our pronounced differences.  However, God looks past our weaknesses, and graciously gives us his strength to carry on through all changes- regardless of who is elected for the various offices. I believe that is a fact that both Benjamins would agree on.

Our encouragement verse for this week is: 
Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.”

May you be blessed by God’s word.     

Chris

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Afterlife
    Baptism
    Catechism
    Christmas
    Church Conflict
    Communion
    Confirmation
    Divorce
    Easter
    End Times
    Ethics
    Evangelism
    Faith
    God & Human Suffering
    Grace
    Guest Preachers
    Love
    Lutheranism
    Lutheran Reformation
    New Testament Characters
    Old Testament Characters
    Palm Sunday
    Parables Of Jesus
    Pentecost
    Prayer
    Religion & Science
    Resurrection
    Sainthood
    Salvation
    Scripture
    Sermon On The Mount
    Small Catechism
    Spiritual Gifts
    Suicide
    Temptation
    Ten Commandments
    Testimony
    The Bible And Food
    Transfiguration
    Virgin Birth

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
    • Staff
    • Contact
    • Vision Statement
    • FAQ
    • What to Expect
  • Sermons
  • Children & Youth
  • Policies
  • Calendar