The Lights of Bellevue

It has been a long time since I have had more than a one mile walk as my commute, but I am adjusting.  My route follows Duval/Coal Creek Parkway north from Renton and it’s filled with curves, nice hills, and attractive landscaping, both natural and man-made, along the road.  I am a morning person, so the traffic is usually not too bad and most days the commute is OK, every now and then a hassle, and on occasion – delightful, unexpected occasion – it is positively wonderful.

Like on Monday.  The road was dry, the sky was clear, and there was virtually no traffic because of the MLK holiday.  Since I did not have to give 110% of my attention to other drivers, I was able to look around a bit and actually observe my surroundings.  As I said, the drive is pretty and on a clear, crisp morning one can really see the trees, the landscape, the shape and curve of the surrounding hills, the early dawn.  It’s great.

There is one curve in particular that stands out for me; traveling north on Coal Creek it comes as you pass some sort of transit barn on one side and what looks like an old train station on the other.  Just as you ease left and down the hill, the lights of Bellevue come into full view.  On Monday it was spectacular and many of the Biblical images of light – beacon on a hill, light overcoming darkness, a lamp for our path – filled my mind.

The Biblical use of light is generally metaphorical and these images led me to think of our church, and I wondered for how many has she served as a lamp for guidance, a beacon during a dark period, a light providing direction?  Certainly we can count the myriad of ways she does so now: working with Sophia Way, Angeline’s Center, Congregation’s for the Homeless, snack packs, groceries and bus tickets for the homeless, music, worship, education, and pastoral support for members and visitors; home to countless other groups such as the Sea Scouts and various 12 Step programs.  And there are no doubt many other ways in which our church has touched lives over her 110+ year history, ways which are no longer part of our memory but which exist in the Book of Life.   Incredible.

And over the coming months we will have the opportunity to reflect upon all that our church has done and all that she can do, and make decisions about our preferred future.  How do we see ourselves living out our collective ministry in downtown Bellevue?  In what ways can we continue to shine light in the darkness?  What form shall our “beacon on the hill” take in the future?

This is truly a remarkable time to be part of the Bellevue First Congregational Church, UCC.  Thanks for allowing me to be part of it.

See you in Church,

kevin