Life-giving Longing
Dear Mosaic Family,
When I was 13 years old, I set a goal to buy a car as soon as I got my license at 16 years old. For 3 years, I painted houses with my dad on weekends and over summer breaks. I was almost possessed by this goal. If I could just own a car, all of my problems would be resolved. I scraped together $3,000. As soon as I got my license, I started looking for a car. Fortunately, a family friend was selling his freshly painted 1989 Audi 80. After a little negotiating, he agreed to sell me the car for $3k. I was pumped. It was a dream come true. The next day, I was planning to drive my "new" car to school. I woke up early, and got ready in minutes. As I pulled out of the driveway, I was shocked to see a massive puddle of oil in the spot where the car had been parked. 90% of my oil had leaked out over night. Thus began my mechanical problems with my Audi 80. This was the most graphic memory I have of a longterm longing fulfilled, then immediately crushed.
We are creatures of desire. What differentiates us from animals then? Aren't they creatures of desire as well? Indeed, we do have physical desires, but we also have desires much deeper, which seem to have nothing to do with mere survival. We know this, because no physical things, people, or experiences can satisfy our spiritual or transcendental desires. They never have. They never will. We yearn for perfect knowledge, perfect love, perfect justice, perfect beauty, and a perfect home.
Any solely physical experiences of knowledge, love, justice beauty, and home leave us dissatisfied, frustrated, desiring more. Why? Because we desire the perfect versions. Deep inside, we innately know the perfect versions exist. As Augustine of Hippo wrote nearly 1,600 years ago, "Thou has made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." We long for the perfect knowledge of God, perfect experience of God's love, perfect reign of God's justice, perfect beauty of God's being, and the perfect home of God's presence.
Join us tomorrow as we study Psalm 84, where the psalmist describes our deepest longings and shows us how to (daily!) find ultimate satisfaction in God.
With Love,
Pastor Jan
This Week's Announcements
Membership 101 Class
Sunday, November 1st at 1:15 pm
If you'd like to learn more about Mosaic Boston Brookline, join us to hear why we are here and how you can join the church through membership. Visit our website to learn more and to RSVP.
Mini Mo Phase 3 Reopening
Sundays, 9:30 & 11:30 am
We are offering childcare for children 0-4 years old during the 9:30 & 11:30 am services as well as for children K-2nd grade during the 9:30 am service only. Capacity is limited so please visit our website for more information and to reserve your spot.
We are also looking for more volunteers for our Mini Mosaic team. If you are interested, you can find more information and sign-up on our website.
Songs for Sunday
If you would like to know what we'll be singing on Sunday, you can find the playlist here.
Reopening Process
For a full overview of our reopening process and the safety standards that we have in place, visit:
https://brookline.mosaicboston.com/covid-19.