Being the Light

I pray that you and yours are well, especially in a time when chaos and darkness have risen up again in our midst. The tragedy in Boston is so heartbreaking and sad.  People’s lives, innocent lives have been torn up and their lights extinguished in the midst of one of our country’s great events. As a parent of a former cross country runner and a person who attended a lot of running events in support, it feels even darker to me since these races are such gentle, genial events where everyone cheers runners of all abilities and gifts.

Events like the chaos that rose up in Boston can challenge one’s faith and one’s practice of being a Christian. When bad things happen to good people, or when sickness or death or real difficulties come our way, our faith and trust in God can take a hit. We wonder whether God is really there and, if there, whether God really cares. We wonder if we can trust in a God who would allow others to do such dark acts. For myself, I wonder how to practice Jesus’ call to forgive and pray for our enemies, when my mind is moving away from mercy and more toward vengeance and retribution.

We do not know all the mysteries of how God set up this world and what the effect of free will can have on our lives in these dark moments. But we do know, particularly in this Easter season, that violence and darkness do not have the last word. We believe—we know—that Jesus’ resurrection from death means that sin and chaos and death itself have been overcome and will be overcome by God’s grace and God’s power. And even though that day has not come in all its fullness, there are signs that the light is overcoming the darkness, even in moments like these. There is light and goodness and beauty and love all around us; a greater power than the darkness will ever be. When we look to the light, we can find a peace and a purpose that enable us to press on in our lives with God.

And you and I are part of that light. Jesus is the Light of the world, but we are lights, too. We, who have some sense and experience of the light and love of God in our lives, are called to share that light and love with others. We are called to act and live in ways that bring more light into the world by our lives as individuals and by our lives in community. We are a people who look to the Light and who are light ourselves. And the more we act as lights in the world, by God’s grace and power, then the faster the darkness and the chaos will be overcome.

Please pray with me for those who have been so affected by the events in Boston and for all who are suffering, that God may touch them and heal them and restore them with His presence. And may all of us remember that we, too, have been called to act and be lights in the world. May God give us the hope and the strength to be such lights.

Grace and Peace
WFA

Dedicated

“All things come of thee O Lord, and of Thine own have we given Thee.”  1 Chronicles 29:14

I pray that you are well and are enjoying these beautiful spring days. The flowers and blossoms on some of the trees are literally bursting forth in this warmer weather and I am reminded of all the many gifts that God has given us so freely and abundantly to enjoy and to use for God’s good purposes.

This Sunday, we have an opportunity to remember all that God has given us and how we have used some of those gifts to complete part of the building program we started back in 2004. The lower level, below the new Chapel, has been completed! We now have a fine choir rehearsal/meeting room, a new classroom, real offices for our music staff, and a place for our choirs and acolytes to robe. The completion of this important space is a tangible example of how we, as a community, have given back to God some of the gifts that God has given us for God’s purposes. I am excited to think of all the lives that will be formed up through music and learning in that space and want to thank everyone for their prayers and financial support in making this a reality.

And because this space is a concrete example of using some of the gifts for God’s purposes, we will be dedicating the space with prayer and some refreshments after the 9:15 service (followed by a shortened segment of my class on prayer). I hope you will come to give thanks with us and dedicate this space for God’s purposes at St. David’s and in the world.

Dedication is one of the ways that churches and individuals can focus on their true purposes, but more importantly, when we pray in dedication we open the way for God’s Spirit to renew us and empower us for the purposes and lives we are about. In fact, each day is an opportunity for you and me to dedicate ourselves to God, to our families, our work or learning and to whatever path we are walking with God. When we dedicate we keep in mind what we are about and open the way for God to come in.

So allow me to share my favorite prayer of daily dedication with you and invite you to pray it regularly. It comes from our Prayer Book (page 461):

This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth,
but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand
up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly.
If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing,
let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give
me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.

May God continue to bless you with all God’s gifts and the courage to use them wisely for God’s purposes. See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace
WFA