“Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of Your presence, Lord.” (Psalm 89:15 NLT)
I grew up in a town of 900 people: Correctionville, IA. It was and still is eight square blocks. In the 80’s and 90’s, rural Iowa was still relatively safe and our parents were endlessly encouraging us to get out of the house. They believed healthy kids ran around outside. We pretty much had free reign of the entire town, as long as we were home when the whistle blew.
The whistle was our town’s tornado siren: set to scream at 7am, noon and 6pm. We ate according to this schedule and when we let Mom and Dad know we were leaving, they would inevitably say “Be home by the whistle.”
Us kids knew exactly what that meant. Wherever we were in town, that whistle went off and we started running. The screen door needed to bang by the time the whistle wound down. By middle school, I had figured out the maximum radius of my run: I knew just how far I could get and still make it home without making Mom mad.
To this day, I hear our town’s noon whistle and my legs want to burst out in a run. (It’s significant because I hate running!) But what I wouldn’t give to burst back into my childhood kitchen one more time; legs burning and tummy grumbling. “Mom, I’m home, what’s for supper?”
Today’s scripture reminds me of my whistle run.
The Israelites went to Temple when the shofar sounded. The church bell tolls and the saints come running. There is still a trumpet peal coming where we are all headed Home for good.
It is a joyful occasion to go the house of our living, loving God. He has given us incredibly opportunity to walk rightly with Him; in the light of His presence.
"I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." (Psalm 122:1 NLT)
Father God, we hear Your call to worship this morning and we are overjoyed, ready to run into Your presence, ready to receive from You. You are worthy and we are grateful. Have Your good way in our hearts this morning. Amen.