Sunday in Puerto Rico

​We woke up in Puerto Rico Sunday morning, and the bright sun kissed my face, and a gentle breeze wrapped me in its embrace. The church Sexton was unlocking the church and a Psalm came to mind-“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”.

Indeed, once the community was gathered for worship at Iglesias Presbyterians Rvdo. Ramón Olivo Robles en Monteflores, we sang “This is the day, This is the day”. 

Earlier in the week we were most inspired by Dr. Lorna Jaramillo Nieves words on resilience, including her inventory of the social resources that Puerto Rico has for responding to disasters and other challenges. In the sermon that Pastora Arelis Cardona preached Sunday morning, we were challenged to build on a solid foundation and to build something that withstand the challenges of life.

To build implies a future- and indeed, Pastora Arelis told us to practice towards a goal- so I pondered the resources we have for building a future.

We have, first, a knowledge of our vulnerability. We know things will happen. We know we will make mistakes. We know the CHALLENGES are tremendous. We know we will need God’s mercy. Second, the Puerto Ricans (having endured a massive hurricane) now know their strengths. They’ve a new understanding of unity, an awareness of their capabilities, and s knowledge of what must be done. We who were privileged to see first hand the events of recent weeks (as well as the last two years) are also inventorying OUR strengths.

As people of faith, we know we have the presence of God, vulnerable with us, yearning with us, building a future with us. So we have HOPE.

We have our brothers and sisters in faith with us, even as we strive for a renewed earth, and wait for a new heaven. AND, we have this day. So let’s be glad, and let’s begin.

George Pasley
Martin TN