As our building project moves forward, I continue to enjoy watching the progress. These past couple of weeks the results have not been as dramatic as a month ago. Last fall, there seemed a long period of time when very little was visible. Then, suddenly the walls took shape and we could see the dreams becoming materially real. Once more we are in a phase when not much progress is visible. Never-the-less, much effort is going into the unseen details that make the building a functional place for our life together. In these last weeks, workers made alterations to the roof to address problems we have had. Workers installed the duct work that will make the air-flow more efficient comfortable. Some of you saw the deep “crypt” in the choir room (aka. Nancy’s office), which is part of the retrofitting to make our building safer with the fire-sprinkler system. That infrastructure is no longer visible.
Watching the parts that are very visible and the parts that will be unseen, I am reminded that for all of us, part of our work is visible, yet much may remain unseen to others. Parts of our lives are visible to others; yet much can remain hidden from others. For that reason, we need to be very cautious, and not assume we know enough to judge the other. Christ-like-living in this world requires constantly praying for eyes and ears of compassion.
I also think of the phrase from the Nicene Creed, that the one God (whom Jesus said we can call Father) is the maker … of all that is, seen and unseen. Expanding human knowledge now “sees” some of the things previously unseen, such as gigantic distant stars or the tiny atoms that make up our very bodies. This faith assertion is not curtailed by scientific discovery. I invite you to seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as you reflect on God’s creative handy-work, displayed in all of creation; displayed as our building advances, displayed in the lives of the people around you.
I also urge you to continue praying for the Holy Spirit to protect the safety of the workers and guide the decisions of our building committee. And, pray for the Holy Spirit to continue nurturing the life of our congregation, that the building, which we see, will always be a place for the not-always-visible work of God’s Spirit.
