Fifth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday Reflection
by Paul Heins

“Don’t let it escape your notice, dear friends, that with the Lord a single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day.”  2 Peter 3:8 CEB

It is often said that we should not lose the forest for the trees. Don’t get mired down in the minutiae, or lost in the details. Focus on the big picture. There is wisdom in that. Retaining a sense of the overall beauty of the forest is key.

But it’s not the whole story.

It’s easy, when we are too focused on the forest as a whole, to lose sight of the beauty of each tree.

For those who are committed to the wholeness of creation, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the size of the forest. We see how far we have to go. We wonder if we will ever be able to make it through. Despair and weariness can seep in. But the forest belongs to the creator, and its final restoration belongs in the divine hands.

Stop from time to time and examine the beauty of each tree along the way: the small steps forward, the brief moments of healing, the experiences of getting something done. When we stop and celebrate each tree, it will occur to us how many of them there are! And that’s a good thing.

Plant a tree. Notice the wonder of a tree that has stood for many years. Protect a tree that is in danger of being pulled down. Each is an important part of the forest.
On the journey toward wholeness, a single day can seem like a thousand years. On the other hand, each day is also filled with a thousand years of wonder and beauty.  May each day fill you with blessing.

Prayer: Loving and Faithful God, on the long journey toward sabbath peace, our legs often grow weary and our vision fails. Empower us to keep the vision of wholeness for all creation before us. Give us the faith to celebrate each moment of wholeness and healing along the way.  Amen. 

Paul Heins’ love for God’s creation has grown on the beaches, woods, mountains, and waters of

California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington where he now pastors a congregation in the town of Port Townsend.  His concern for God’s creation has grown as he has witnessed our growing ecological crisis. He loves working with his congregation, his colleagues, and his neighbors on bringing healing to the environment and on nurturing a healthy relationship with all life.  In his study of environmental ministry, he has discovered the rich resources the Christian faith offers in this work.