We invite you to take a peek inside our weekly Light for the Way devotional series provided for staff.
By Campus Pastor Mark Triller, Kirkland Crossings and Towner Crest
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye upon you. —Psalm 32:8, NIV
Campus pastors and hospice chaplains at Presbyterian Homes & Services have wonderful opportunities to discuss spiritual life with residents and employees alike. Often, a person’s spiritual need involves a relationship question about another person or God.
Recently I listened to a resident in tears explain that she believes that her grandchild has left the faith.
She looked at me with desperation in her eyes and said, “How does this happen? Where did we go wrong?”
There are two problems here: the resident and her anguish and the grandchild and her spiritual condition. So I asked the resident, “Did you have an opportunity to tell your granddaughter about God?” She said that she indeed did. “So, I continued, “You modeled what Psalm 32 says about God teaching His people?” She said, “Yes, I guess so.”
I told her that her anguish is a good indication of how much she cares for this young adult. But still, God loves this young college student more.
For some who have not made a practice of sharing the faith with children when they were younger, this can lead to distress. The Book of Deuteronomy instructs that we are to, “impress [God’s commandments] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.” If this was not done when children were little and you have come to a mature faith later in life, it is not too late. Explain to your older children how this understanding has happened to you and what God might offer them as well. Humility goes a long way.
Our lives can have new meaning and direction as we pray for them and for God to open up a new opportunity to talk with them about the kindness of God and the legacy that He has in our family.
Rev. Dr. Mark Triller serves PHS as Campus Pastor for Kirkland Crossings and Towner Crest in eastern Wisconsin. He is an ordained pastor and has served in university education, pastoral leadership and nonprofit management. He and his wife Annika have six children living in the St. Paul area.
The Light for the Way series provides staff with an examination of a biblical reading to deepen our focus on scripture. Thank you for engaging with this series as we seek wisdom through prayer and reflection as a Christian Ministry.
