Sunday
We sleep in and arrive at New Hope for church in the late morning. It is a breezy, cool day. The sun is shining and the mountain rises in all its grandeur, unrestricted by cloudcover. It is much like the praise that rises freely from our pavilion gathering. We sing and dance, clap and cheer and enjoy God and His people in unhindered, unmeasured praise. Though I do not understand the words, I understand the joy and catch it singing my own words of gratitude alongside theirs. I smile thinking how pleased Jesus must be when we sing together ‘in tongues’.
So many of my students from our June Community Healthcare Workers class are here this morning. Levi is here dressed in a handsome grey suit. He is one of my older students who challenged me about FGM during class. I don’t recognize everyone but I do recognize him. When I greet him, his stoic face is overtaken by his beautiful smile. We are both so pleased to see each other. He stands in the service today to give thanks for the glasses he received from June’s clinic and to share his gratitude for his upcoming eye surgery. Gratitude is contagious and I give thanks for him as well.
Tripping with God: Stories of Faith and Inspiration 