05/31/2026
There is a chokecherry tree in our front yard. For a few short weeks when its white flowers are in bloom, a sweet fragrance blows through the neighborhood, offering a signal that spring, the real spring we are all hoping for, has finally arrived.
Two Sabbath’s ago, we drove to Bridgeland SDA Church in Calgary. The drive began in the thickest fog I have ever experienced, which then turned to heavy rain. Within ten minutes, we were in a full-on snowstorm. As Orlando navigated the highway with next to no visibility, I gripped the door handle and pressed on my imaginary foot brake more times than I can count. It was not my favorite commute.
But as is so often the case in our province, the day took a complete turn. After the worship service, a potluck lunch, and an afternoon workshop, we walked outside to blue skies, white clouds, and the warmth of the sun. We drove home as if it were a summer’s day, the exact opposite of the morning’s treacherous journey.
If you have lived in Alberta for any amount of time, this flip-flop weather is a regular occurrence. But as we drove home under that beautiful blue sky, I realized that the weather wasn’t the only thing that shifted that day, our spirits did, too. We left our house gradually driving into a blinding storm, but we found refuge in the house of the Lord. Gathering for worship, catching up with people over a meal, and learning together in the afternoon workshop completely reset my perspective.
This is exactly what Jesus intended when He said, “The Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27). God knew that the six days of our weekly routine would often be foggy, rainy, and filled with treacherous storms. He created the Sabbath as a sanctuary in time, a place where we can step out of the blinding blizzards of life and walk into the warmth of His presence and community. No matter what kind of weather you are navigating this week, remember that God has provided a weekly refuge. Church fellowship has a beautiful way of clearing the fog and letting the Son shine back into our hearts.
A Psalm, a song for a Sabbath Day Psalm 92:1 “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, Most High; 2 to proclaim your loyal love in the morning, your faithfulness at nighttime 3 with the ten-stringed harp, with the melody of the lyre 4 because you’ve made me happy, Lord, by your acts. I sing with joy because of your handiwork.
