We invite you to take a peek inside our weekly Light for the Way devotional series provided for staff.
By Pastor Chris Wheatley, PHS Senior Director of Pastoral Care Services
“And again Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I now send you.’” —John 20:21
When you were a young child, you would bring your parents a problem, and they would solve it. You wanted a glass of water, so they would find a clean glass, fill it and take the dirty glass away to wash later. Over time, this changed. They eventually taught you how to get water, find clean glasses and wash up after yourself, because you were growing up.
When you started school, your teachers would show you sentences to write, copying exactly as they were. They would assign you books to read and questions to answer about them. As you advanced in your education, this also changed. Your teachers showed you how to choose your own books, define your own questions and compose your own answers, because you were learning.
When you started working, your supervisor showed you exactly what to do and gave you the tools to do it. You were given a name badge and process-documents which you were to follow precisely. Over time, you were encouraged to improve those processes, find better ways to do things and pass on what you learned to others. When you brought forth problems, they were not solved for you; you were empowered to solve them yourself, because you were growing.
In each of these, the process of maturation is to become more educated, empowered and involved with making the world a better place for yourself and others.
And this is also how Easter gives way to Pentecost. On Easter Jesus declared our salvation and redemption by his own work, and only his own work. We do not earn these but are given them as grace. On Pentecost he calls us to be his agents, sending us as his Father sent him. We join in his mission to show forth love as he did, and to continue his mission with all that he has given and taught us.
On Easter we were made God’s children. On Pentecost we are invited to become ambassadors.
Rev. Chris Wheatley serves PHS as Senior Director of Pastoral Care Services. He is an ordained Lutheran pastor and has served in hospice, eldercare, hospital, HIV/AIDS and congregational settings. He and his wife Nicole are perpetually outnumbered by cats and Dobermans.
The Light for the Way series provides staff with an examination of a biblical reading to deepen our focus on scripture. Thank you for engaging with this series as we seek wisdom through prayer and reflection as a Christian Ministry.
Find more in the Light for the Way series:
Get to know us: a Christian ministry
Introducing Light for the Way, a new devotional series