I’ve been blessed in my life to have had the opportunity to travel. I have a job that allows me to travel with ease and my daughter, Rayah, lives in Europe. This has afforded me the opportunity to explore, here and abroad, various cities and towns. The depth of history in Europe is astounding to me, though I’m especially fond of exploring old churches. If left to my own devices, I’ll spend hours roaming around old church grounds absorbing the past. I find it awe-inspiring. 

I’ve visited many churches of vastly different ages, styles, and dissimilar cultures. All have a unique testimony to tell, if you listen for it. For example, the Vatican spoke to me through a 400 year old Raphael painting—a fresco that displayed a broken statue of a man shattered upon the floor, with the cross on the pedestal it once stood. Oh my soul, to lay broken at the foot of Jesus daily! 

In Barcelona, Spain I found myself on the rooftop of a 700-year-old cathedral at noon. To my delight the old bells on the tower started to chime—then the bells on an adjacent church started to chime. Then another, and another… The Holy Spirit rang out, calling all to come and worship. I became overwhelmed again by the immensity of a church’s testimony. 

Later that same trip a storm rolled into town leading Dawn and me to slip into the doors of another medieval time period cathedral to escape. The sound of a children’s choir filled the sanctuary as it had probably many, many times before our own visit but it froze me in place. I could almost close my eyes and hear the angels sing. So beautiful. 

In a series of small chapels in Italy, the skeletons of 3,700 Capuchin Monks testify that “What you are now we used to be; what we are now you will be…”. Their skeletal remains arranged decoratively, with hands holding a scythe and another holding scales, is not as macabre of a display as you’d think. It was a deliberate timeless testimony from them that life is short and death is certain. 

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Most recently, I took a stroll through Ixworth Village in England. I found myself, as usual, drawn to the church. I walked in and was welcomed kindly by Pastor Francis Brown, who graciously allowed me to wander through the building unescorted. She asked if I had any questions and eagerly told me answers. Her joy and kindness of sharing her church heritage were infectious and inspiring. 

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Closer here to home, in Alabama exploring an antebellum cemetery, I stumbled upon a headstone that had an incredible statement on it: “By faith, our loving Pastor, still speaks to us.” I was instantly overwhelmed with the love and overpowering presence of the Holy Spirit. It was a life-defining moment for me. 

The inscription on the headstone is a reference to Hebrews 11:4. 

“By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.” 

Pastor Justin Paulk shared with us one Sunday morning about his own visit to Westminster Abbey. He described a scene I so easily recognized and long to experience again. Justin described it as his “Thin moment.” He went on to explain that a thin moment is what the Celt’s call experiences when we feel in our bones that we are part of something much larger than ourselves. It’s a sacred place. Holy ground. 

The awe and wonder of God’s love for His church are so deep and prevalent throughout history. Every church has this history. Every church has a thin moment to experience. 

So much of what we do here at Fellowship of the Parks will echo past our lifetime: reaching the disconnected, restoring families, defending those in need. What an absolutely beautiful mission for our church: Our thin moment is now. 

“As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me.
Night is coming, when no one can work.” – John 9:4