Three ‘Loves’ – Desires of the Heart by Peter A. Black

Lately I realized that three longstanding ‘loves’ in my life have received continuing avenues of expression, even into my wife May’s and my retirement years. We can hardly keep up with it all.

Music making, both vocal and instrumental, has been virtually life-long for me. The interest was awakened when, as a three year-old, I got my first harmonica.

Creative writing, while showing an early start in elementary school, blossomed during the second half of my pastoral service years.  

Pastoral care and sharing of the message of redeeming love and life in Jesus Christ, in the joy and peace of His grace, budded during my teens through engagement in Sunday school teaching, music and witness teams.

These three ‘loves’ in some measure found outlets in two successive careers spanning fifty years till retirement (the music instrument servicing industry and pastoral service). However, they continue to find avenues of expression today in various volunteer and pulpit supply settings.

Recently, during a pastor friend’s hospitalization and recovery my wife and I had the privilege of ministering to his rural Baptist congregation (we’re often involved there, musically). On 

Rotunda. St Paul's, T'burg, Ont.

 Easter Sunday we were at a United Church, St. Paul’s (its beautiful sanctuary is a favourite of mine), where the choir presented one of my compositions – an Easter anthem – and I sang "The Holy City." 



Front. St Paul's UC, Tillsonburg, Ont.

More than a decade ago I had that anthem and another piece arranged by Joy Brown, a Toronto area arranger and accompanist.  I’d hoped to have her arrange several other inspirational compositions, but didn’t get around to it.


St. Paul's UC

Instead, since then, the writing occupied available time, finance and creative focus, resulting in publishing two books and hundreds of newspaper columns and a number of magazine articles.
The other arranged piece – an ode to Canada, with Christian motifs – may be presented by St. Paul’s in June of this year. Its original form was written for a Canada Day celebration almost two decades ago.

How grateful and blessed I am to experience, even with limited and jaded abilities, avenues for expressing those three loves that have been woven into the gift-mix and fabric of much of my life.
Jaded? Faded? Maybe, yet it often feels a lot like spring!

Our Heavenly Father has seen fit to grant the desires He has placed in my heart (Psalm 37:4-5) regarding that threesome. The day will come when one thing or the other will be laid to rest, and so will I.

The Lord has given, and the Lord has the prerogative to take away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

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Snapshots of St, Paul's UC, taken by the author.

Peter, now retired from fulltime pastoral service, is an author, inspirational columnist and songwriter living in Southwestern Ontario. He enjoys singing and playing sacred music and praise songs – especially for his friends in a number of residential care facilities and in area congregations.

~ Raise Your Gaze ... Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart

~ Parables from the Pond

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Humble Sanctuary (Peter A. Black)

A red-brick building sits atop a small hill, its lines clean and true. A graceful square tower rises, affording the place some prominence. That prominence however, is somewhat diminished, since trees on either side of the lot, while much younger than the building, are now mature and challenge the tower in reaching towards the sky.
 

It was the first time I’d ever set eyes on that building. Once I’d parked the car I stepped out and glanced around, advanced toward the white-painted door then pressed the latch and pulled the handle. The door opened just like I’d been told it should.

This admitted me into a small vestibule. Several strides took me into the auditorium where I stood on a red runner. The interior is plain and its dark brown furnishings old and modest.

I could further describe this rural church building and its interior – it dates well back into the 1800s, but there’s nothing remarkable about it. Oh, I had nostalgic moments when seeing the old pump organ, yet didn’t indulge my strong inclination to check it out as to whether it was in playing condition. Who was I to touch? And there was no one to ask.

A second visit had me overcoming that resistance, so I briefly tried the instrument and discovered, not surprisingly, that it is unplayable; it’s in need of considerable restoration. How I would love to tackle that job myself. Thirty-eight years have passed since I restored a vintage pump organ. That project turned out well, and I’m sure this one could again be made to sing God’s praises.

Since that first visit I’ve occasionally retreated to that place to read and pray and meditate. Within its walls I’ve also sketched out rough notes for sermons, when preparing for upcoming pulpit supply ministry stints. Initial ideas for two newspaper articles were conceived there, too. 

That humble Anglican sanctuary, situated a short country drive from where I live, no longer hosts regular services, but is maintained by faithful souls whose heritage reaches back generations, as indicated by memorial stones in the adjacent cemetery. Two services, held annually, garner donations to help provide funds for maintenance.

 

The Church of Jesus Christ, however, is not a material building. It is comprised of people redeemed through the sacrifice of Himself that He made on the cross twenty centuries ago – people who appropriate in faith what was accomplished for them there.

The apostle Peter wrote: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers but with the precious blood of Christ . . .”; “. . . like living stones, [you] are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:18-19; 2:5; bold font added).

 

Also, Paul wrote, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands” (Acts 17:24). Elsewhere he explains that as Christian Believers our lives are temples of the Holy Spirit.

The following beloved hymn speaks to that truth:

There is a Place of Quiet Rest

There is a place of quiet rest
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest
Near to the heart of God.

(Refrain:)
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet
Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release
Near to the heart of God.
A place where all is joy and peace
Near to the heart of God.

(by Cleland B/ McAfee, 1906 PD)

Nevertheless, places dedicated to the worship and service of God, such as that humble ‘not-quite-abandoned’ country edifice, afford sanctuary – space for spiritual retreat. I’m grateful for this place of quiet sanctuary, where I can temporarily escape to raise my gaze Godward, away from clamouring distractions, to focus on Him.
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The above piece was adapted from an article in Black's weekly column, P-Pep! published in The Watford Guide-Advocate, July 23, 2015.

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Peter's second book is a compilation of inspirational articles on a variety of themes from his weekly column. These are interspersed with brief expressions intended to encourage. Ebook edition is now available through Amazon.

 

ISBN: 978-0-9920074-2-3 (Angel Hope Publishing)

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Peter's first book: “Parables from the Pond” – a children's / family book (mildly educational, inspirational in orientation, character reinforcing). Finalist – Word Alive Press. ISBN: 1897373-21-X. The book has found a place in various settings with a readership ranging from kids to senior adults.Black's inspirational column, P-Pep! appears weekly in The Guide-Advocate (of Southwestern Ontario). His articles have appeared in 50 Plus Contact and testimony, and several newspapers in Ontario.

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