Mark 7:34 And looking to heaven, he sighed and said to him…be open In our fast-paced world, filled with fast food and deadlines and too much to get done, sometimes God can get the short end of our time. Jesus paused, looked to God and then said be open and the deaf man with a speech problem could open his mouth and speak and ears could hear. We sometimes call Mark the fast-paced Gospel. “And then”, “suddenly”, “immediately” …fill this Gospel account of Jesus’ life. Jesus, could have healed the man and moved on, yet he took a moment – sighed – and looked to heaven. Jesus knew that God the Father and Creator, the source of his call and power, was to be praised for what was about to happen. Ten maybe fifteen seconds, was all it took to make a connection and tap into the power of God the Father. Just a moment to acknowledge and give the Lord glory. When or where can you find a brief moment to….pause – sigh…and give thanks in your week?

It was my day off. I was standing by the sink doing dishes and my wife called and said turn on the TV. Most of us can remember where we were, what we were doing, who we were with. It does not take much to bring it all back. People say time heals all wounds… I don’t buy it. God heals all wounds… in the resurrection of His Son, our Lord. In this life, time may dull wounds, but it only takes an image, a voice, a sound, a smell to bring the pain of loss back and start the tears rolling all over again. Twenty years and my gut still tightens remembering 9-11-01. Never the less it is important to remember. To rejoin ourselves to the moment and the people and the events. We invite you to come remember 9-11 this coming Saturday, 9-11-21, at 4:00 PM in the columbarium of Lake Wylie Lutheran Church for a prayer service for the victims, survivors and heroes of 9-11, the troops that have lost their lives in service to our country and for our first responders and military members who still answer the call to serve. As the Hebrews of every generations remember the challenge and blessing of God when they gather for the Passover and never forget, we gather to remember the loss and sacrifice and to ask for the healing power of God in Jesus Christ and strength to forge ahead.