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Rev. Klockers: I’m missing the past, but have hope for the future

by Rev. Walter Klockers
| August 19, 2020 12:03 AM

It says in Isaiah 43:18-19, from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible: “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

How has today been for you? Me? Well there is a sameness to most days. The pandemic has curtailed much of my usual activities — those things, once upon a time, in the not so distant past. I remember them well. It is an understatement to say that a part of me aches because I miss them so very much.

Yes, I do remember former things, the things of old. Most of these activities involved groups of people and the interactions that naturally occurred among those gathered. There were small group Bible studies, the men’s group that met on Wednesday and worship services, to name a few.

One may not realize the true value of such until is it taken away.

With loss comes grief. It is all quite natural and understandable. Then, thankfully, sometime down the road are opportunities to move forward and begin to work through grief.

In those times the Prophet Isaiah’s words especially speak to what is needed, and that is hope.

Hope may sound like a passive thing — to sit back and just let it happen as they will. Some people may think of it that way, but I don’t.

Hope to me means that I will do what I can to be ready when future opportunity comes my way. This is an active hope. It does not sit and wait.

God does do “new things,” but we need to prepare ourselves for the time when they come. When “a river” in our desert experience begins to flow, it is good to have at least a canteen ready to receive the gift.

What form will this take for you?

Walter is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Moses Lake and has served as parish pastor for more than 30 years.