Hallowed Moments
God is always with us. Acknowledging that is often just a breath away. And oh, how we need him. Sunday night, a final glance at the phone before bed and seeing Seattle headlines struck me with a need to know God is here, that he is coming again. I could have despaired and spiraled, but I took a breath and asked God for mercy and justice. Then in my first moments this morning walking the garden and seeing the gladiolas open I could have just walked by, but instead breathed thanks to God for such beauty.
Our emotionally heightened moments and our mundane moments together call for a hallowing. This past week has me calling that word forward into 2026. Please hallow this moment with me.
The only time I think we’ve used this word collectively is for those who like the Harry Potter franchise and think of the “deathly hallows.” Or if you grew up in church and pray, “Hallowed be thy name.” We declare something hallowed when it bears weight, is set aside as holy, and calls for the respect of sacred noticing.
Life felt hallowed for us Hackmans in the past week. Ceremonies culminated in weight, wine and water.
We buried Larry’s mom. He remarked on the weight of being a pall bearer and how the weight felt appropriate. The struggle to carry the weight of the casket together with his brothers and nephews hallowed the moment.
We celebrated the wedding of a Kitsap House couple. I called for a toast, saying, “We receive the gift.” What was already a fun moment on a rooftop with amazing food became a hallowed moment as we acknowledged this couple, this view, this food, as gifts that we receive from our generous God.
We baptized four men of Kitsap House and three sons. The brisk water set aside this moment as a lived experience of being “buried unto death in Christ and raised to walk a new life in him” (Romans 6:4).
I wonder - how might we intentionally hallow everyday moments today, this week, this month, this summer? When we believe Jesus is with us always, to the very end of the age, every moment with him is a hallowed moment. With a simple moment to breathe in and out, we can remember and reconnect with the Spirit of God who lives in us and is with us. The gladiolas become a moment of praise; the news becomes a practice of lament.
You’ve taken the time to read this blog (thank you). Now, I invite you, take a moment to breathe and hallow this moment.
Jesus teaches us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” – or, “your name be honored as holy.” Most of Kitsap House folks have an alarm that goes off at 10:10 everyday. I encourage you to set a 10:10 alarm and join us daily in praying the Lord’s Prayer. Let that 60 seconds remind you how God has made hallowed every moment by the promise of his presence with you. Let the sacred nature of being with God seep into every moment of your life. May you know God’s presence with you today and every day.
Pastor Megan
