This is a continuation of my conversation with Pastor Pete.

As we maintained a steady but comfortable eye contact I asked “What do you know for sure about God?” He repeated thoughtfully, “… about God.” It wasn’t’ the question he was expecting but he reflectively said, “He is changeless, He is omnipotent…”  And then he moved from the academic to the personal and said, “the more you know Him in the years you’ve been together, the more confidence you have that He never fails… that He is always by your side.”

“The comprehension is different now…I think it is all expressed in the song, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, but you only know that in part, the faithfulness of God becomes a deeper reality with the passing of time.”

I asked him if he was surprised at how much suffering God allows in the lives of His children. He reflected on his two open heart surgeries and now this horrendous ordeal for the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer. He referred to life as “…this deal…” and then quoted:

The Master Weaver’s Plan*

           My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me.

I cannot see the colors; He worketh steadily

Oft times he weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.

Not till the looms are silent and the shuttles cease to fly

Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why

The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver’s skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

I suggested that poetry seems to be helpful to him and he said, “yes, but music even more so.”

Poems and music are wonderful tools which help us capture feelings and memories of those things that are important to us in life. The Book of Psalms is rich in displaying the attributes of God, the hymns we sing acclaim our praise, and the faith stories we share pass on our faith to the next generation.

What words of inspiration have meaning for you? Maybe it’s a favorite poem, or something you’ve written yourself. Take the time today to recite them to someone else, write them down for your children or grandchildren, and share them with us.

The Master Weaver’s Plan, author unknown