“Unheralded Moments” – December 13 – Psalm 85 : 8-11

Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.

June, 1974, Susan and I packed our household. We sold our house. We left good friends. We left our beloved church. We left jobs. We left security. With three children and a fourth due any moment we began a new adventure, a new life. We left Tallahassee, Florida for Decatur, Georgia to begin Greek school and four years of grueling study at Columbia Theological Seminary. A new daughter breathed her first one week later.

Excited, but unprepared for the challenges ahead, we stepped into our new adventure. Columbia extended some financial aid. Our church pledged monthly financial aid. Susan kept children in our apartment. We used food stamps. It wasn’t enough.

At times, we looked at a pantry bare. We stared at a checkbook empty. We experienced food stamps run out. We experienced new levels worry. We knew the desperation of millions facing no food for their children. We prayed. We prayed hard.

Suddenly, someone knocks at the door. Someone we don’t know brings bags of food. “You were in our thoughts and prayers today. We hope you will accept our help.” Other times, mail arrives with a check from strangers. “Your names were in our bulletin to pray for Sunday.” In the same way, these miracles happen to classmates.

Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.

It’s easy to recognize miracles in needful moments when urgent prayer streams to heaven. Other moments happen when, I think, recognition comes later, in less dramatic ways, or maybe not at all. Simple acts of kindness revealed far ahead, maybe years ahead, to be “salvation at hand.” Friends turn around after just arriving for vacation to sit with us in loss of a loved one. “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet…” The sudden feeling of peace when yielding to a nagging feeling to take an extra angel from the Angel Tree. “Righteousness and peace will kiss each other.”

Can you recall unheralded moments in your life when “faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky”? Miracles are easy. But unheralded moments, unrecognized moments?

Written by Rev. Cuyler V. Smith
What am I passionate about at Heritage?
The mission and outreach programs of the church that meet the New Testament imperative to “feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners,” etc.