Pastoral Letter: Running the Race of Grace, Life on the Rock
This fall marks my first autumn in Simsbury—a season of brisk mornings and gentle sunlight. The chill of the breeze makes me pull my shoulders in, yet the warmth of light soon loosens them again. Autumn here carries a quiet charm. As the colors shift across the hills, I often pause to take it all in—and gratitude rises naturally.
Dear SUM family, as this season deepens, is it well with your body, heart, and spirit in Christ?
Last Wednesday, I had a joyful experience. Our family joined the Fun Color Run at Squadron Line Elementary School. Teachers, parents, and children filled the field with laughter; our family joined in the fun as well. It was a delight to see several SUM friends there, too. The children ran through clouds of colored powder, cheering with delight as laughter echoed across the grass.
Each time they completed a lap, they received a rubber band around their wrists. What began as lighthearted fun soon grew tiring, yet they kept going—slower, but still together. Watching them press on, even when tired, moved me in a quiet, unexpected way.
Paul’s words came to mind: “I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way.” (2 Timothy 4:7, The Message)
Their tired yet radiant faces stirred a quiet echo in my heart. What kind of race are you running today? May we, too, one day be able to say, “I have finished the race,” as we keep walking and running in the sustaining grace of God.
That evening, after coming home and showering, the kids joined the Youth Gathering, and our whole family came along once more. James, only in fourth grade, was thrilled to join his older friends, because his parents were there too.
Over slices of pizza, the youth shared stories of their lives—some joyful, some tender. One friend spoke excitedly about an upcoming birthday; another remembered a friend who had passed away a year ago. Others shared the stress of homework and tests. Listening to them, I found myself not as a pastor or parent, but as a fellow learner—understanding their joys and burdens alike.
Jiseon had brought a variety of Korean snacks, and the group enjoyed tasting and rating them. Soon, we were making plans for a ramen tasting night. That evening’s reflection was the story of the one who built a house on the sand and the one who built on the rock.
“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” – Matthew 7:24–26, The Message
After our reflection, we played a simple game. Two cardboard boxes looked the same—one empty, the other weighted with something inside. Standing a few steps away, the challenge was to swing your shoe with your foot and try to land it on top of the box. The empty box wobbled, and the shoes kept falling off, while the heavier one stood firm.
When the challenge proved too hard, we made it a little easier. This time, the kids threw their shoes by hand. There were many misses and lots of laughter, until finally, a few succeeded—and the room erupted in cheers.
Before heading home, I gathered the group together. Sitting on the sturdy box, I began, “This box doesn’t wobble because it has weight inside. But why do you think the lighter one shook so easily?”
Then I said, “People often look for stability in things like education, wealth, power, or reputation. But all of these can change. I hope you build your life upon the Word—Scripture given to us by God as the foundation of life and faith. When we read and meditate on it, we come to know God more and to learn, day by day, God’s heart and will. When we build our lives on that foundation, we stand firm, no matter the storm.”
The children nodded, looking again at the Bibles inside the box. There was a stillness in the room—a quiet sense that something sacred had been planted deep within their hearts.
Dear friends, where does your heart rest amid a changing and uncertain world? May your daily life become a race of faith—run by grace and grounded upon the unshakable foundation of God’s Word. And may the living presence of our triune God guide and sustain your every step, in grace and in peace.
This Sunday, our Mission Possible series continues with the theme,
“Through Our Prayers: Mission Possible” (Luke 18:1–8). I warmly invite you to join us—to meet God in prayer and to worship together in the grace that holds us, shapes us, and sends us forth.
In Christ,
Pastor DH