February 2006 Newsletter by Carrie Davenport
Reflection
By Carrie Davenport
Young Adult Volunteer in Seattle, Washington
Today something amazing happened...the sun came out. Now I must admit that doesn't sound that amazing, but after almost a month of relentless gray skies and wet days, seeing an unfamiliar orange ball in the sky is something to get excited about. I think it's safe to say that I am experiencing one those Northwest winters that gave Seattle its reputation.
But today the weather broke and as they say in Seattle, "the mountains came out." You see, Seattle is surrounded by mountains, but on a gray, rainy day it would be hard to convince someone that they are actually there. These mountains are huge, snow-covered mountains, and it is amazing that they seem to disappear.
I think this experience helps me understand the faith of the people of the Old Testament a little better. Back then, way before the days of electricity, night was much more scary than it is today. At night, everything disappeared like the mountains disappear in the Seattle winter. But the people of the scriptures knew that hope came with the morning. They knew that light soon come again. Lamentations 3:23 says that God's mercies "are new every morning." Every morning new, refreshed hope would come in God the Creator. I try to think about that as I look outside and all I see are gray skies and clouds. I know that mountains are there and I know I will soon be able to see them again. And just as God will restore the sunshine, He will also restore my soul, time and time again.
May you discover God's mercies every morning. ~ Carrie Davenport
| Carrie lives in an intentional Christian community with other Young Adult Volunteers in South Seattle. She attends a multi-cultural Free Methodist Church to which she has been assigned. Carrie volunteers at a "clearing house" for the homeless population on Monday nights and is helping write grants for an intercity group of churches working on urban problems in the Seattle area. Her home church is West Avenue in Gastonia, where her father Charles is pastor. Her mother Betty is Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian, Cherryville. |
The Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program of the PC(USA) gives persons between the ages of 19 and 30 the opportunity to explore and deepen their faith as they live and minister in specific sites in this country and abroad. The deadline to apply for the next class of YAV's is fast approaching. Go to http://www.pcusa.org/nvo/youngadultvolunteers/yav.htm for more information, and call 888-728-8228, ext 5739 to talk with someone about the details.
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