David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Waiting

How are you with waiting? As a child I recall having such a difficult time waiting for the presents under the tree to be opened that I peeked into one that was for me, and I was actually disappointed by it. Waiting for your 16th or 21st birthday can be a challenge. Waiting for (putting off) a physical, or paying your taxes; well that’s another matter altogether. What about waiting for God?

Sunrise at the Seashore
The Psalmist waits for the Lord more than the watchman waits for the morning. (Psalm 130:6)

The Psalmist speaks of waiting for the Lord in Psalm 130:6

My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen (wait) for the morning, more than watchmen (wait) for the morning.

The prophet speaks of waiting for the Lord in Isaiah 40:30-31

30Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

I spent an insufferable amount of time yesterday on the phone waiting for tech support to help me through a computer problem. We wait at stoplights, in lines at the store to check out, for a chance to go on vacation – the list is a long one.

Most of us would not connect such waiting with anything to do with waiting for God. But if we keep God in view in all of life, we might come to a different conclusion. Let every moment we wait – at the doctor’s office, while stuck in traffic, for the end of the work week – be a reminder of the most important and beneficial waiting we will ever do.

For we who live here and now are waiting for Jesus’ return and the great Last Day. Then the scales of justice will be brought into balance. Then evil will be ultimately and finally thwarted and death itself will be dealt the final death blow. And we can look forward to that with confidence because Jesus is our life, salvation, righteousness, and hope.

We may not connect waiting for the economy to rebound, or looking forward to a special vacation, or the end of school with God’s presence or Final Coming. But if God is truly part of all of life they connect. And we can wait in the confidence that he will sustain us through all things and that we are waiting for something eternally good.

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