Pastor’s Corner 11-9-2025
Hello church friends!
Many of you know I love spending as much time as possible on two wheels. My first choice of transportation is always my bicycle, followed by my motorcycle. I spend a good amount of time thinking about wheels and tires, trusting my life and career to them. Wheels are an important spiritual metaphor as well as a practical, simple machine. In the familiar image of a wheel, the hub holds everything together while the spokes extend outward toward the rim. In his blog, Br. Francis de Sales Wagner uses this image to describe our spiritual lives: God is the hub, and the many spokes represent prayer, scripture, daily work, relationships, and faith (pathoflifeblog.blogspot.com).
When each spoke remains connected to the hub, the wheel stays strong and rolls smoothly. When a spoke loosens or shifts, the wheel begins to wobble. This metaphor reminds us that our daily work, rest, and relationships are interconnected with our relationship with God. Everything in life is designed to be unified with faith, drawing strength and direction from the center.
The Sunday's New Testament reading in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 echoes this truth. The author writes to believers who are confused and misled by false teachings. Some thought the “day of Christ” had already arrived, and their faith was shaken. Paul encourages them not to be “quickly unsettled or alarmed” (2:2), but to “stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you” (2:15). He reminds them that they are “loved by the Lord,” “chosen… through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,” and called to share in “the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2:13-14).
In this letter, the bible directs us back to the true center of life. When our faith is rooted in Christ, every part of life aligns with divine purpose. The hub remains steady, and each spoke finds its strength. The faithful prayer that God would “encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2:17) relates directly to how the wheel operates. Every spoke stands for an aspect of our lives - our speech, actions, service, and relationships - and all of them draw power from the same source.
Br. Wagner’s reflection offers additional insight: as we draw closer to the center, we not only grow nearer to God but also to each other. The spokes come closer together as they approach the hub. Our unity in Christ naturally deepens our connection with others who are heading toward the same center. The closer we get to Christ, the more compassion, understanding, and community we experience among those around us.
For our congregation, this image offers both comfort and challenge. It reminds us to keep Christ at the center of our faith, to nurture the connection that holds everything together, and to realize that our closeness to God strengthens our relationship with each other. Each act of prayer, service, and love helps the entire wheel turn smoothly with grace.
May we continue to draw near to Christ, our center, and in doing so, draw near to one another so that we can move forward together in love and purpose.
Faithfully,
Pr. Josh