Today’s Author: Kent Olson

”The Isaac” is a new, almost finished apartment building on Fairview Avenue in Roseville, just north of County Road C. The website does not say how or why it was named Isaac or who did the naming. I am sure it was not Abraham and Sarah who named it. But God works in ways we do not know. Perhaps a new resident will wonder why it is named Isaac, search the internet, find the stories of Isaac in the Bible, and reconnect to their faith. Could a naming decision made by a marketing committee be the catalyst for a renewing of faith?

We all have stories of disconnecting and reconnecting, of falling away and renewing. These changes are part of life. Some happy, some not.

My high school class had it’s 50+1 reunion last month after a delay due to the pandemic. It was fun to talk to many I had not seen in so long, for many it was 50+1 years since we had talked. I had a great time reconnecting and renewing friendships. I wish we had had more time to talk. I have since talked via email, messenger, and texts to several classmates to continue the reconnection. Most of my classmates have had a good life, but not all. Several had lost spouses or partners. Several were divorced and now remarried to another partner apparently enjoying a new life together.

One classmate I visited with was doing well now it seemed. However, he has a strong story of reconnecting in his life that I did not know until I read our reunion book which we received at the end of the gathering. In his words, he was “once married, 1 son, divorced, remarried Ex wife, had twin sons.” (He capitalized “Ex.”) I wish I had known that history as I talked to him at the reunion, but I also realize now that I am not sure how I would have brought that up in the 5-minute conversations one has at a large reunion. 

Some of the football team reconnected with their coach at the reunion and thanked him for telling and showing them how to deal with loss in a football game, getting ready for the next game, the next day. My classmates said they used those lessons often in their life. And that they remembered it well because they heard the speech eight times during their senior season of 8 losses and no wins. They all laughed but the coach knew that he had become appreciated in their life paths.

We never know what we do today will help someone else in ways we do not know. We can pray that we say and do the right thing. And we can hope that someday, like the football coach, we can hear that our actions and words helped others along the path of life.

Dear God, please give us wisdom to have the right words, the right actions that help others. Please give us the reassurance that somehow we have helped others. And when we do not act and speak in helpful ways, please forgive us. Amen


“Mid-week devotions are authored by members of our community.  If you are interested in creating a trio of reflections to be shared on an upcoming Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday contact Pastor Peter.