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"And who knows whether you have not come to
the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14).
Flying back from being the president’s representative at the Metropolitan
Washington, D.C. Synodical Convention in May, I was thinking about the dilemma
in my hometown. In all honesty, I was counting the months until January 1, when
my term on the City Council would end. Our mayor had just resigned out of
frustration, and I dreaded our next council meeting. I wished I had never let
people talk me into running for a two-year term back in 2000, yet it seemed as
if God had been leading me to do that at the time. With the meeting of my
congregation’s church council held on the same evening as the city council
meeting, I longed to be back in the safety and love of my congregation. It
seemed so much more "blessed" than city government.
Could it be possible that I was meant to be on the city council "for
such a time as this"? I pondered this over the days until the meeting I
dreaded. I didn’t fast or ask others to do that, as Esther had asked
Mordecai, but I did ask some of my praying friends to be in prayer for us.
Though some observers thought otherwise, I thought it was a wonderfully smooth
meeting, and we got a lot accomplished. I felt blessed with a calm, peaceful
spirit.
Since that evening my attitude has changed. Instead of counting the months
until my term ends, I envision city government as God’s garden where I am
asked to bloom. I will search for the truth, keep a calm head, give credit
where credit is due, and continue to ask for prayer support — yes, even for city
matters. What garden are you in? God wants to help you bloom!
Prayer
Dear Jesus, help us to hear your call each day and show us where you would have
us serve you. May the "Prayer of St. Francis" become our own. In
Jesus name, Amen
Nancy Christian is a former vice president of Women of the ELCA.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible,
copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education
of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, and are used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright
© 2002 Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. All rights
reserved.
May be reproduced for use in congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America provided the copyright information above appears on
every copy with these words: Used with permission.
For all other purposes
contact Women of the ELCA.
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