No Steeples Required for God’s Greatness

Today’s reading: Psalm 84

An old friend who lives near my church stopped me on a walk one day and made a special point to tell me that the church’s steeple has long been an important part of his life.

“You know I don’t go to your church, but I just wanted to share with you what a blessing that steeple has been in my life. Every morning for more than 30 years, I have looked out my kitchen window and seen that beautiful sight. It always reminds me of what a blessing this world is!”

This was difficult to hear.

I assume my friend does not know, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him, the steeple is endangered. It has developed significant structural problems in recent years and may prove impractical to repair. For several months, there has been serious talk of tearing it down entirely.

No one but God can yet know the fate of this glorious steeple, but thinking of its possible demise makes me sad.

Until I remember that even the first Jewish Temple was destroyed during Israel’s exile in Babylon.  But the nation itself, however, never died. In fact, God restored both nation and temple, to more glory than ever.

It’s important for me to remember this lesson from history.

No matter what happens to our church’s steeple, nothing can take away the years of morning blessings it has supplied for my friend (and countless others, of course).

And these words from today’s reading  will always apply:

“Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.” (Verses 4-5)

Thanks be to God for eternal joy and peace. May I (and we) always rejoice in it.