It is with sincerest gratitude that I extend a “thank you” to everyone within the Lord of Life community. This congregation has far exceeded my expectations of what the first few days of internship would look like. The new office looks amazing and I, along with hopefully many interns to follow, are so very grateful. I recognize and deeply appreciate all the effort that has been put forth to make my transition a great experience. By inviting me into your sacred space, you have perpetuated the notion that “all are welcome,” which I quickly gathered is a vital piece of defining Lord of Life. You have revealed a commitment to education by investing your time, effort, and resources in a seminarian. Throughout my service at Lord of Life, I hope to continue a “student” mindset, as I learn how to be God’s Church from all of you, my teachers.
As I have been meeting new people and shadowing Pastor Lowell these past few days, I am overjoyed with all the new beginnings that Lord of Life has on its horizon. So many people are filled with positive energy and great ideas. I see their expressions come alive as they talk about vision and possibility. I can relate well to this mentality; I feel like a racehorse awaiting the opening of the gates. I too, am ready to create, serve, give, and truly love all God’s children. The month of August may bring with it busy calendars and hectic mornings, but amidst the hustle and bustle comes an abundance of opportunity.
The three weeks prior to my arrival at Lord of Life, I was on a mission trip in the deep south with a group of high schoolers from all around the country. During our time we learned a great deal about the Civil Rights Movement and all that it takes to cast and execute vision. We listened to many great speakers, visited many museums, and toured many historical places while on the trip. Although I gained a lot of new insights from these experiences, I believe the most significant lesson came from watching the children from an undeveloped neighborhood in Jackson Mississippi interact with the group of teenagers I was leading. After several minutes of debating who was the fastest kid on the playground, they agreed that the only way to settle this dispute would be to race. As I watched from a far, all the children gathered on the starting line at one end of the empty field. The race was on! Each face was dedicated and determined to finish first. Then, after the race began and just before the first kid crossed the line, he stopped and turned around. He noticed that another competitor had fallen to the ground. The front runner made a prompt 180-degree spin and ran to help the boy who had fallen. Soon, others also turned away from the race to assist the boy who had fallen. Once the boy on the ground had been attended to, each child joined hands and crossed the finish line together.
Witnessing this race taught me a lot about what goes into casting vision in the ministry. The Church has a unique quality within it that holds the value of togetherness over achievement, which is often quite different from the world we live in. Imagine a world where if one person falls short, then we all don’t quite make it. With a wealth of activities beginning the start of a new school year, and our vision for the church year gets focused, it is an exciting time to be a part of the Lord of Life community.
Becoming who God calls us to be is only possible if everyone arrives at our dream together. As we stand at the starting line, ready to take off, we stand eager to give life more abundantly to all people through the many experiences that are offered by Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Indeed, the race of building God’s Kingdom on Earth is never complete until all hands are united and joined together.
With Life-giving Hope,
Intern Lucas McSurley