06/10/2026
Your Pastor’s Thought of the Week…
Have you ever taken a walk around the inside of your home looking at what is hanging on your walls or on your end tables or on your mantel or your television stand? I have mostly pictures, some are photos but many are paintings or framed art or some “Precious Moments” figurines, a vase with some palm wood flowers and some art work my granddaughters painted for me. Years ago, I had been given by friends a large poster that is matted and framed of one of Georgia O’ Keefe’s paintings. It is a picture of a river in New Mexico that runs between two areas of rocks and trees on both sides of the river. When I was in New Mexico last year for two retreats, I stood above a water falls, the Jemez Falls to be exact. I had a great photo of the falls and the trees and rock formations on each side. I had sent away and had that photo enlarged and put on canvas. It doesn’t look all that different from the poster that’s a painting except the trees and the waterfalls and the huge rocks are more prominent and specific. I was standing above and in front of the falls. Some of those who were with me climbed down and walked under the water falls but I was not adventurous enough to go down there, knowing I would have to climb back up to get back to the van.
I read that water is the newest anti-anxiety treatment. Both to be in water, to view water or even to imagine water, as it calms us down. We are blessed to live near the lake and even Niagara Falls. We could get to a place fairly quickly to water that might serve that purpose for us. Back in the 90’s my son and I would go to the harbor on Wednesday evenings to watch the abundance of sail boats on the water and seeing the 20-30 boats come in to dock. It was so calming, be it the water or the sail boats. I don’t know if they still sail on Wednesdays now.
What brings you to a quick anti-anxiety moment? I wonder if we need to be reminded that God is with us in our anxious moments. I believe God is with us all the time and even during our most devastating times in our lives, when we are scared, depressed, anxious, angry, lonely….what feeling can you add to that list? My favorite bible verse is in 1 Peter 5:7: ”Casting all your care on him for he cares for you.” In the New Revised Standard Version(the version I prefer) states: ”Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” I believe that, do you?
O God of hope, remind us to find a place where we can reflect on your presence, all the time. You help to hear us and give us peace.
Pastor Paula
