This week, we welcome guest writer Brian Harriett, a lifelong member of Medford UMC, to share his reflections in a series called “Somewhere Down the Road,” about a disciple’s growth through the cycle of life.

Hebrews 5:12-13 (CEB)

12 Although you should have been teachers by now, you need someone to teach you an introduction to the basics about God’s message. You have come to the place where you need milk instead of solid food. 13 Everyone who lives on milk is not used to the word of righteousness, because they are babies.

Reflection

Every road that’s traveled, teaches something new.
And every road that’s narrow - pushes us to choose.
And I’d be lying if I said - I had not tried to leave a time or two.
But every road that leads me - leads me back to You.
Here we stand in the middle of what we’ve come to know. 
It’s a dance, it’s a balance. 
Holding on and letting go. 
But there is nothing that we can’t resolve. 
When love’s at stake. When love’s involved.
-"Every Road," Amy Grant, 1997

Have you ever heard of the “sandwich generation”? Given my middle age of life, I’ve served between taking care of my daughters, while being the primary caregiver for Joyce, my mom who passed several years ago. I’ve been honored to do both, but I can’t say it was an easy balance to strike. 

I’ve also had the privilege to work with Transitioning Service Members (TSMs) who are moving from service in our Armed Forces to a civilian life. True discipleship means recognizing what others need and how to use God’s grace to deliver – whether it’s deserved or not. 

Passing the Word of God to all we meet, family or strangers, is our sacred duty to our Lord God! “How quickly the time goes by. How quickly the torch is passed from one generation to the next. I’m grateful for the sheltering love of the older generations of my family. They are almost all gone now, but I learned what I needed to know from them.” (Amy Grant, 2009)

By Brian Harriett

For Pondering & Prayer

Has your view of God’s Word, love and truth changed over time?  While we model God’s Word to others, how much confidence do we present it with in all our relationships.

Prayer: Whenever someone speaks to me, I have a choice.  Lord, help me to speak truth out of YOUR Word without being judgmental of their truth.  Thank you, Lord, for keeping me in your perfect peace. Amen.