“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, 

I am there among them.”–Matthew 18:20

One of the blessings of this blog for me has been its reach over the four months since launching. Counted among subscribers and others who see a post through social media are family members and individuals from each of my former pastorates, neighbors and pastoral colleagues, college friends and individuals I have never met. All of you honor me with your time and kind words. 

While many of you will read a post without leaving a comment, a typical week results in messages from 5 or 6 readers, too. My most recent offering, though, has generated double that total. A few came from others present on that Sunday morning long ago when a fellow member experienced a health crisis, one from a retired clergy person who understands how pride can lead to forced humility, one from a friend who told of how she and her pastor sang a believer into Glory, and many who named favorite hymns. I enjoyed all of those messages. Since my hosting site won’t allow me to respond to comments and have it return to sender, you should know that I read all of the messages each week. I am deeply grateful for them and all who read this blog without leaving a word as well. One recent comment (since deleted) has led to this first-ever midweek post.

On Sunday, Lori and I returned from a 12 day pilgrimage to Italy. Along with 25 others, we retraced the journey of the Apostle Paul as recounted in the final chapters of Acts. We saw amazing sites, fed our spirits and bodies, experienced beautiful weather, and pondered letters from the New Testament believed to have been written while Paul was imprisoned in ancient Rome.  

A clear highlight of the trip for the two of us was visiting with a young woman we first met when her family moved to North Carolina and joined the congregation I served. She was among the first babysitters for our children and 30 years ago professed her faith in Jesus Christ.  Today, she is married to a fine man who serves in the U.S. Marine Corps and is mother to four wonderful children who range in age from 6 to 12.  They are currently stationed in Rome, which gave us the chance to share in a meal at their favorite pizza and gelato places.  It was a gift. 

A few days later, she responded to my post about the power of music. Here’s what she said: “I listen to a channel called ‘How Great Thou Art’ on Pandora, usually while in the kitchen where I spend the majority of my time in this stage of life. As I belt out all of the incredible hymns I memorized as a child, soaking up the word of the Lord, my kids do a bang up job side-eyeing me, pretending to not listen, laughing at silly mommy in the kitchen singing to the heavens, but… I see them. I see them lingering around, finding it hard to walk away from my epic concerts. Perhaps I’m like an off-key warbling bird they can’t walk away from; but I find that the Lord calls them in a different way, pulling them to hover around a bit longer for a different reason. I believe they are quite captivated and interested in the stories I share with them; stories bred from the memories and the emotions so beholden to each hymn. Hymns are life and they live and are alive. Hymns hold stories beyond lyrics and tunes. Hymns breathe life into my soul and therefore into my children. Hymns are a hug from Heaven above. And in your example, hymns can get us through uncertain times with humor that bind all of our hearts together. Hymns are extraordinary.” 

Community can appear in all kinds of ways and Jesus said “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” I found those words to be true again in present-day Rome and find it to be so every time one of you reads this blog.  Thanks for being part of this online body. May God bless each of you all as richly as you continue to bless me!

God of all times and places, we give thanks for the gift of community in-person and online. And we celebrate how you are present in both.  Amen.