Uplook - September 12, 2026
Saturday Greetings,
September is a month of transitions. Many students begin their classes again in the United States. Later in the month the seasons will change from summer to autumn. And while the weather is still quite nice in Seattle during September, you can feel the temperature begin to cool in the evenings and the leaves beginning to change colors.
I've been considering the transitions which we all encounter through life. On my shelf is a book which suggests that we all have "necessary losses" which enable us to grow. There are some examples of the loss of dependent childhood (at the appropriate time) in order to embrace independent adulthood, and the loss of singleness in order to embrace marriage. Some might consider it a loss of a married couples' flexibility when they embrace children. When we have moved several times over the years, we would certainly have considered it a loss when leaving beloved congregations but perhaps a necessary one for us to fully embrace the loving new congregations to which we were called. As we age, we grieve the perceived loss of our adult children and yet without this loss we would not be able to embrace our children's beloved spouses nor the grandchildren which came after. And as we consider employment, it is not unusual to experience some loss when changing jobs whether intentional or unintentional and when we approach the transition called retirement, there is also a measure of loss. These losses must be embraced if we are to truly embrace and enjoy the growth the Lord has in mind for each of us.
Consider these scriptures as you face the transitions that may be facing you today. Grief is sometimes necessary but it never has to be the final word. God has promise to redeem those transitions and losses for His glory.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
2 Corinthians 4:17–18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
God bless you all,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
September is a month of transitions. Many students begin their classes again in the United States. Later in the month the seasons will change from summer to autumn. And while the weather is still quite nice in Seattle during September, you can feel the temperature begin to cool in the evenings and the leaves beginning to change colors.
I've been considering the transitions which we all encounter through life. On my shelf is a book which suggests that we all have "necessary losses" which enable us to grow. There are some examples of the loss of dependent childhood (at the appropriate time) in order to embrace independent adulthood, and the loss of singleness in order to embrace marriage. Some might consider it a loss of a married couples' flexibility when they embrace children. When we have moved several times over the years, we would certainly have considered it a loss when leaving beloved congregations but perhaps a necessary one for us to fully embrace the loving new congregations to which we were called. As we age, we grieve the perceived loss of our adult children and yet without this loss we would not be able to embrace our children's beloved spouses nor the grandchildren which came after. And as we consider employment, it is not unusual to experience some loss when changing jobs whether intentional or unintentional and when we approach the transition called retirement, there is also a measure of loss. These losses must be embraced if we are to truly embrace and enjoy the growth the Lord has in mind for each of us.
Consider these scriptures as you face the transitions that may be facing you today. Grief is sometimes necessary but it never has to be the final word. God has promise to redeem those transitions and losses for His glory.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
2 Corinthians 4:17–18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
God bless you all,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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