Pastor’s Message – February 25, 2020

There’s a Nickel in My Coffee
A few mornings a week, Isaac the dog and I go to one of our favorite places in West Point: Love’s Truck Stop. Isaac loves the smells, I love their coffee, and of course my vehicle loves the gasoline, so it’s appropriately named, “Love’s.” I discovered in an early trip that if I took my own, reusable coffee mug, I could get 16 ounces of freshly brewed coffee for $1.30. I am now in the habit of carrying exactly $1.30 in the store and love this little bit of predictability in my day.
Recently though, something minor but unpredictable happened. In putting the lid on my mug full of medium roast, a nickel fell out of my hand into the coffee. Never in my life had I made the statement, “There’s a nickel in my coffee,” but it was so true! I stared at the seemingly perfect cup of joe puzzled and stilled. What was the best next step? To get a spoon and dig out the nickel? I couldn’t find a spoon. Pour it out and try to catch the nickel? Um, no, I didn’t want to burn my hand. How dirty would the coffee be, and did the “5-second rule” apply to loose change falling in coffee? Maybe I could still safely drink it…
I did get a fresh cup after pouring out the nickel-flavored blend and rescuing the hot nickel. In those few moments, I had experienced on a very small scale what we go through everyday. When the unexpected happens, how do we respond? And how might we better prepare ourselves to respond to life’s unexpected, often unwanted, happenings?
Jesus’ earthly ministry was full of the unexpected. People in need interrupted him on his journeys. Scholars surprised him with tricky questions. His dear friend and relative, John, died horrifically after his arrest. Friends abandoned him. Through it all, he kept on walking, kept on ministering, and kept on praying.
As we journey with Jesus to the cross this Lenten season, let us remember that he understands life’s shocks and surprises, and he wants to help us respond well. He endured, and so can we with his strength, no matter how many nickels fall.
all good things to each of you,
Pastor Darian
Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 1, 2020
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7
Psalm 32
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4:1-11
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