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EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

Mother’s Day we attended Queens Church in New York, our second visit in the last calendar year. This time they were packed; they have experienced great growth in this their sixth year of existence and topped the service with 111 in attendance. This very diverse church’s pastor is a dynamic communicator of God’s grace, love and challenges all to share Gods truth in an often “me first” culture. His three points: 1. You have been brought near; Christ wants us to come close to him from our wandering ways. 2. You have been reconciled; he wants our hearts, for us to make Jesus our passion. 3. You have a new home. Jesus is the one and only way. He is the answer. We have access to eternal life through him. He is the firm foundation in a shifting world.

We were blessed to go to New York to visit our biological son. His love language is food, making New York a great place to live. I had caviar accoutrements (hard boiled eggs, fancy cream cheese, scallions, green onions) atop milk toast he prepared for Mother’s Day brunch. In the evening Swordfish steak and grilled tummy satisfying vegetables.

We had many delightful “let’s try it” experiences, including octopus and tartar (raw steak).

I had been gifted a book for my birthday in January, one I would not have purchased; however, it was given with love, a very kind gift. I had started it prior to our trip, I’d read two pages, put it down and picked it back up a few days later; it was out of my reading comfort. However, I was committed to it; on Mother’s Day, relaxing on our son’s five-story apartment deck overlooking a busy soccer field and the Triborough Bridge, I sat and read. As I opened my mind and trudged through the pages I was delightfully challenged, realized I did understand the intelligent authors concepts, and although I would not agree 100% with all of it, I grew.

We ended our day with a beautiful walk in the park. As I rested my weary body, I realized all three experiences aligned. Family, the earthly world we’ve been gifted to live in and most importantly the heavenly world, ultimately our true home.

I feel so honored and blessed to have come to knowing, walking out and now even more challenged to share his truth to others. We all have “others” in our lives; let us not get too comfortable that we keep this truth to ourselves.

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Matthew 9:37b & 38, NIV

I love New York (the official slogan of New York) and I love Jesus!

Robin (Beckman) Gudal is intentional in life, a wife, momma, nana, friend and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.