Melrose Highlands Congregational Church
An Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ
  • Home
  • What's Happening
    • Pastor's Page
    • Courier Newsletter
    • Church Calendar
  • Music
    • Overview
    • Praise Band
    • Senior Choir
    • The Organ at MHCC
    • Upcoming Music Events
  • Visitors
  • Church Programs
    • Youth & Families >
      • Sunday School >
        • Registration
        • Church World Service School Kits Project
      • Youth Ministry
    • Outreach >
      • Current Outreach Activities
    • Adult
  • Who We Are
    • Church Vision
    • Church Staff and Leadership
  • The Labyrinth at MHCC
    • Approaches to the Labyrinth
  • Life at the Highlands (video)
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Form
    • Flower Form
  • Wise Women
  • Give/Stewardship
    • Submit Pledge For 2022-2023
    • Donate/Pledge Payments to MHCC

Fall Musings

10/17/2013

0 Comments

 
My walking buddy grumbled today about the near dark and cold in the morning. I nodded and smiled.  It got me thinking about persistence. 

For almost 20 years we have walked at least a couple times per week. My son had just entered Kindergarten when we began and now he is away in grad school. We became friends when I ran her school committee campaign. Over the years, we have weathered ice and snow and wicked heat. We have rules now that were not present at the beginning. We only walk if it is above 15 or below 95.  Most days, though, are sunny and warm, perfect for walking. At least that is what I recall. We walk slower now, but it's the same five miles that takes us along the river. The view one day this week was breath- taking. The water was still,with a mist rising on the far shore. The boats thinned out due to the lateness of the season, now stood out singular and angular. The marsh grasses shimmered golden in the morning light. Shorebirds fished.  We both longed for a camera or canvas.

The point, if there is one,  is that persistence gives you many gifts, some not planned.  It would have been easy to give up the walk many times. In the past 20 years, I went to grad school and got divorced. My friend struggled with back, knee and feet problems. Our kids grew and fledged. We persisted.  The need for exercise was why we began but I suspect, if that were the only gift, we would long ago have found a more effective or more convenient way to move our bodies. The unintended gifts are many: friendship, deeper appreciation of the natural world, a shared experience to name a few. 

It may be that the whole point of the passage about the widow and the unjust judge is about the gift of persistence. When we persist at something, we gain an intimacy with the experience that only comes through time. It's something we know in our bodies that cannot be gained any other way. The widow persisted despite the odds, and the judge finally gave way. The needs of the world can seem overwhelming. We can choose to do one thing and do it again and again and again. It may make all the difference. 

See you Sunday!

Blessings, 

Beth

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Pastor Katie Omberg

    Katie Omberg is MHCC’s new interim pastor! She joined MHCC in March 2022. 

    Archives

    August 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    February 2012
    November 2011


    Categories

    All


Melrose Highlands Congregational Church, © 2022
355 Franklin Street 
Melrose, MA 02176 
781-665-4200


Email us at office@mhcc-ucc.org
Raise money for Melrose Highlands Congregational Church just by searching the web and shopping online!
Goodsearch: You Search...We Give!