During adolescence, most of us believe that our hometown is the most boring place on earth! I was that way.
As an adult, I realize that my hometown was straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
Choral Union sang a beautiful anthem last Sunday called “I Choose Love”, by Mark Miller. It opens and closes with this: “In the midst of pain, I choose love. (repeat) In the midst of pain, sorrow falling down like rain, I await the sun again, I choose love.”
If you were like me, your dress code during 2020 was decidedly more casual than any other year. Those of you who have seen me realize that I have taken the modeling of t-shirts, gym shorts, and sweat pants to a whole new art form.
Serendipitous moments are often pleasant and unexpected. Let me tell you about such a moment last month that was not just pleasant — it was downright providential!
The Mission parking lot has been transformed into a sacramental table that respectfully feeds people in body, mind, and spirit.
We all know the ways we have been supported and loved and blessed — and we have the wonderful and desperately-needed opportunity to do the same for others. I can’t imagine a better time than RIGHT NOW for each of us to embrace the partner, shareholder, and participant in each of us!
William Willimon says that the very essence of grace is to receive the gift of laughter — especially when the joke is on us. The reality is that at any age of our lives, perfection is always elusive. Sometimes our learning moments happen in public. One of the gifts of God’s presence is an indwelling awareness of the wonder and enjoyment of graceful growth, and the realization that life is always more meaningful when we invite others to join us.
2020 can and should be a time for all of us to remember and share the good things from our family, friends, and community. To help you in that search, I offer you one of my favorite stories: “The Good Stuff” by Robert Fulghum.
Twenty years ago I learned that life can change in an instant, and that the power of raging water should never be underestimated. But more importantly, I learned that the presence of God’s love within a caring and supportive community can enable us to overcome adversity and find meaning in every moment of our lives.
Reinhold Niebuhr said somewhere that the very essence of sin is to take ourselves too seriously. If that’s true, then the very essence of grace is to receive the gift of laughter, especially when the joke is on us.”