Magnify

There is a small town in the hill country of Judea called Ein Karem.  It sits nestled in the among the trees outside of Jerusalem.  Among these trees sits the Church of the Visitation.  Like the majority of Christian holy sites throughout Israel/Palestine, it is held in the tender and caring hands of the Franciscans, and it is here, legend has it, that Mary came to visit her cousin Elizabeth.  It is here that Mary gave her song of praise and glory to God, which we call the Magnificat. 

A mile or so from Visitation is the Church of St. John the Baptist, which marks the birthplace of Jesus’ prophetic cousin.  Underneath the altar, carved in the wall, is a grato with an altar—the place where Elizabeth, said to be unable to have children, gave birth to the “prophet of the Most High.”

Both of these sites speak to the Incarnation, that beautiful and sacred mystery which we will celebrate one week from today.  But as I walked around these holy sites in the summer of 2010 the Incarnation hit me in a different way.  Here in the place, touching and seeing sites connected to an unwed mother, an elderly couple, and a crazy man who ate locusts, the true beauty of the Incarnation came pouring over me:  it’s about regular people who said ‘yes’ to God!

God’s story becomes our story in the Incarnation.  Our story becomes God’s story.  No longer are we separated by the false chasm of mortal/immortal.  Thanks to these regular people saying yes to God—thanks to a little girl who must have been terrified to learn she would be the theotokos, thanks to a family told they would never raise a child, thanks to that child saying yes to God’s call for him to preach repentance and prepare the Way—the whole of existence is transformed. 

What is the ‘yes’ that God has planted in your heart this Advent season?  What is burning deep within you?  We are, each of us, pregnant this season.  We are pregnant with God’s hope for the future, a hope that was planted in the womb of a young Palestinian girl.  And if the Incarnation is about regular people, then that means it is about you and me!  It is about us taking our places in the story alongside Mary, Elizabeth, John, and countless others.  It is about us joining them in giving glory to God and transforming the world.

Advent invites us to feel Jesus growing inside of us, as He grew inside of Mary.  Advent invites us to give birth to Jesus ourselves.  How will Jesus be born in you?  How will you take your place in the glorious story of the Incarnation?

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”

--The Magnficat  

This Little Light of Mine

The Thanksgiving  weekend  afforded me the opportunity to visit with a friend who was on the road to recovery from surgery. The wait for the surgery had been bad enough, the recovery and rehabilitation grueling. My friend praised his physician, surgeons, hospital staff and rehab staff for the excellent treatment and care he received. His appreciation for his wife's care and patience was without question. After a moment of silence, my friend said "But it was my buddies who kept us going."

That conversation resonated with me on Sunday when a parishioner told me how much she had appreciated the care she had received from several of Christ Church's pastoral care teams. The funny cards, encouraging visits, the conversation and meals lifted her spirits and let her know how much she meant to her church family. The visits made her feel less isolated. The cards made her smile and the goodness of homemade meals awakened her appetite.

During this time of Advent, while we wait and reflect on the holy gift of Jesus's birth, I cannot help but think how the work of the pastoral care teams is a continuation of the light that came into the world with Jesus' birth. Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, to be His light in the dark places of the world. During times of duress, when some of us find ourselves in dark places of illness and injury, the pastoral care teams bring into their lives gifts of comfort and joy. For those ladies who so faithfully serve Christ and His church through their work on the pastoral care teams, I lift my thanks to God.

May you have a blessed Advent.
Paula

Annie

     Sometimes my breath is taken away in a  moment of connection between an animal and myself.  Often the animal's connection to God goes unnoticed by us humans.   This Thanksgiving, I want to especially give thanks for the gifts that were showered on me from the moment that Annie entered into our lives. 

     Almost 12 years ago I came home from work to hear a message on the answering machine from our beloved veterinarian about a sweet little dog that he had down at his office.  You see, 8 months before our sweet Harmony had died.  We knew we wanted another dog, primarily for David (then 12) but I didn't think we were ready.  Eight days earlier this little dog was brought into Eric's ofice to be put down as she had parvo.  Eric thought he could save her and save her he did.

     When David came home from school we went to the clinic to meet 7 week-old Annie.  This tiny brown and black, scrawny, shaved legged animal captured our hearts.  She looked as if she had a mask on so we thought maybe she had some Husky in her.  Whatever line her blood originated from, this survivor was already gifting us with kisses.  She survived and had much to give.

     Four weeks ago Annie let go of this life that she had survived to be in.  She had been with us for almost 12 years.  We found out the night before she died that she was a “walking time bonb.”  Annie had tumors that could rupture at any moment.  After many tears with Eric, Annie and I came home to wait for David.  It was difficult to let this news sink in that night as Annie felt so good.  She greeted David, her closest buddy, as always.  Unbeknownst to her or to us, she had only a few hours to live.  She begged for food, licked us profusely, and laid her beautiful heavy head on  my lap as usual.  It was a good evening even though David and I were tentative.

     A call came in to me from David the next day during staff meeting.  As soon as I got out I returned it.  Unable to clearly understand the words that he was saying, I did clearly understand that the bomb had been detonated.  I left and went to  David's place.  Things had changed drastically.  We sat and talked with her as we cried.  We thanked her for loving us through so many hard times in our lives.  We thanked her for loving us even though we were often unlovable.  We thanked her for wanting to be with us.  We thanked her for how she would sometimes slow us down.  We thanked her for persisting in drawing out the best in us.

     When I had left the office several people had offered to come if we wanted.  David thought this would be good.  After we got down to the clinic, the dean met us there after we knew that Annie's eyes were closing for good.  We spent a long time coming her hair, loving her and telling Annie stories.  Carol said some prayers with all of us and we sat together with our tears as she died in that God soaked room.  This was truly a holy time.   Annie had been sent to us for a season with some important gifts.  She left those gifts with us and departed.

     So Annie, this Thanksgiving I especially give thanks for you.  I thank you for your deep wisdom that slowed us down to remind us that we were human and to not miss this great life.  I will do  my best.  Thank you for teaching us how to welcome people.  You were always excited about anyone coming to the door – may I take that gift to heart.  Thanks for teaching us how to deeply love some often very unlovable people.  I will try.  Thank you for being by our sides in some very hard times.

     Pay attention to animals (even a bird coming to the window.)  God speaks through them.  Slow down, listen deeply and give thanks.  God has just shown up.

Thanks Katniss

For the past several weeks, Christ Church Cathedral youth have reflected theologically on the Hunger Games. Unless you have been in hibernation, you may have noticed that Catching Fire, the second movie in the trilogy releases, on November 22.

On Sunday, our group watched the scene of Rue’s death from the first movie. Many people are familiar with this scene. Katniss, the main character forms a beautiful relationship with a young girl named Rue. The two are very different – Rue is a meek, hardworking, darker skinned, twelve-year old orchard picker from District 11. Katniss is a strong, rebellious, white, daughter of a deceased coal-miner from District 12. In the Hunger Games Arena, Katniss befriend Rue. As she does so, she finds that the differences between the two are far less than their similarities. Rue reminds Katniss of her younger sister, Prim. They form a special bond.

Upon Rue’s death in the arena, Katniss refuses to just let Rue be another disrespected and forgotten child who dies. Lovingly, Katniss prepares her body for burial with a wonderful blanket of flowers. It is a turning point in the story, for it allows all people to see Rue as a person of value and worth. By her actions, Katniss points out that all persons are worthy of dignity and respect.

God who made us knows that we are all worthy of respect. The Gospel of Luke reminds us how valuable to God we are – “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7, NRSV). We matter to God. All of us matter. We matter when we are up and when we are down, when we are from Appaliachia for from the capital, when we are 12, 16 and 102, when we are meek and when we are strong. All of us matter.

All of us matter to God and because of that, God sends us Katniss’ everywhere to remind us of how special we are.

Matthew 25 reminds us that whenever we help those in need – the prisoner, the stranger, the naked, the thirsty, and the sick we help Christ. All of us have been in a position to help those around us and all of us have been in a position to need help. As we live our days, let us be mindful of the people who God has sent to help us. 

A prayer written with help from Christ Church Middle Schoolers –

God, we give you thanks for loving and caring for us. We thank you for all the times that we were sick and you healed us, thirsty and you filled us with living water, imprisoned and you visited us. We thank you especially for the times when we were lost and you found us, when we were empty and you filled us, when we were confused and you gave us clarity. We thank you for the people who pick us up when we are stuck, made us happy when we are sad, and show us the way back home when we are homesick. Sometimes we feel like a fish out of water, but you always throw us back. You love us, and we thank you. Amen. 

What Happened to Thanksgiving?

As Halloween and All Saint's fade away, one would think that the next thing on people's mind would be Thanksgiving. But alas, Christmas has found its way into the stores, onto the radio stations, on houses, and on checklists and shopping lists. My question is, what happened to Thanksgiving? 

America is one of the few countries in the world to have a day of Thanksgiving. We remember the history of the Pilgrims celebrating a day of thanks. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of thanks in 1863 for all of the states to observe, which became a holiday during the 1870s. In 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt changed the day of Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday in November. 

All the history aside, what does Thanksgiving represent? Why do we celebrate it? Is it just a day to eat way too much, watch the parade, and watch football? I think there are more reasons than just those to celebrate Thanksgiving and why we shouldn't just cast it aside and launch right into Christmas. 

God calls us to be thankful and to praise Him for His blessings. Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." God wants us to remember and give thanks for everything in our lives. At times, this may be very hard to do and may be hard to find things to be thankful for, but there is always something God has given us for which we can be thankful. 

This year, I am going to write down something every day that I am thankful for during the month of November. I encourage others to join me on this adventure and see how God blesses each day. I want Thanksgiving this year to be more than just about the food and the football; it is will be a day of giving thanks. Christmas can wait. 

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." ~ Colossians 3:18

Miraculous Giving

Recently while reading the Daily Office I came across one of the most powerful stories found in the synoptic Gospels.  Often called The Widow’s Mite, the story appears in Mark & Luke and tells the story of Jesus, sitting across from the treasury, watching the rich folks place large amounts of money in.  Just then a poor woman puts in two copper coins (Mark tells us that these two coins together equal a penny).  Jesus’ response to this act of gratitude is, “This poor widow has put in more than all these…she has put in everything she had, her whole living.” (Mark 12: 43-44, Luke 21: 3-4)

At first we look at this story and say, well that’s nice.  But there’s no miracle.  Isn’t there?  I would say that there certainly is a miracle here, only it is not Jesus who performs said miracle; rather it is the poor widow.  A woman who has, seemingly nothing, offers all that she possesses.  Not in an attempt to be praised by anyone, not because someone hounded her and made her feel guilty.  She offers what she does out of her love for God, out of a sense of honor and respect for what God has commanded her to do.  And that, especially in our day and age, is truly miraculous!

In an age when we are told we need more, an age in which we are told to take, rather than to give, we need to hear this story.  The so-called Prosperity Gospel, which is preached far too loudly, tells us that if we give SOME money then God will bless us with MORE money (or some other treasure). But this is simply poor theology, and it treats our giving as some sort of contract with God, that if we do our part, God will bless us even more.  But what of the widow?  She does not give with the hope of attaining, rather she gives because that is what God has called her to do.  It is this same kind of giving of the self that we are still called to model today. 

New Testament scholar Preston Epps once wrote: “The Kingdom of Man says ‘get and accumulate,’ while the Kingdom of God says ‘give and share.’”  The widow is not concerned with the getting; instead, it is the Kingdom of God with which she is concerned.  When we give of ourselves, whether it be time, talent, or treasure, we are giving for the growth of the Kingdom of God. 

We can learn from this woman’s example of giving in a world that often tells us to take. We can learn that, to borrow the words of St. Francis, “it is in giving that we receive.” For when we give we do so prayerfully, carefully, in deep conversation with God.  Because when we give we do so, like the widow, for the growth of the Kingdom of God.  And in the giving, miracles happen. So whether it is time, talent or treasure, ask yourself:  what will I give to God?

The Tyranny of Perfectionism

Be perfect, as your Father is perfect in heaven.  - Matthew 5:48

The late father of a friend loved to tell this joke whenever he met his children’s new friends.

The Father: “You know what, I used to be perfect.”

Gullible Kid: “What happened?”

The Father replied, “One time, I thought that I had made a mistake!”

This “goofy dad” joke always made his kids groan, but it also filled them fear.  How could they possibly live up to such a perfect father? 

We often ask that same question when we hear Jesus’s final admonition in his Sermon on the Mount.  We marvel at his beautifully transformative words.  “Love your enemies.” “Turn the other cheek.” Go the extra mile.”   Then suddenly, it dawns on us how impossible these words are to put into action.  And then, Jesus adds, “Oh, by the way, as you’re working on that to-do list, don’t forget to be perfect too.”  Really?    

For anyone who struggles with the tyranny of perfectionism, and who doesn’t these days, Jesus’ words are not just uncomfortable; they are downright overwhelming.  Flooded with fear, we ask, are my grades good enough for college, are my children attending the right schools, is my parenting flawed, am I loving my neighbor, why can’t I answer all those emails, watch the game, get to the gym, and which fork am I supposed to use at that elegant dinner party?  Surely this is not what Jesus meant when he tells us to be perfect?

Blessedly, there is good news; after all, it is Jesus speaking.  His “command” to love others, care, forgive, practice generosity and be perfect is not an indictment, but rather an invitation to love as God loves.  Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount offers us a portrait of an all loving Parent who seeks us out, welcomes us home and graciously calls us children.  Jesus is not asking us try harder, but to walk with him in amazement at the power of what Love can do through us, because God’s love can do infinitely more than we can imagine.

“Love wins,” says Glennon Doyle Melton, and creator of Momastery.com  and the best-selling book, Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed.  Glennon grapples with life’s imperfections with a dose of courage and a dash of wit, and reveals that life is indeed challenging.  But with love, forgiveness and honesty, together we can do hard things.  As children of an all-loving God, we need not just survive, but rather together we can thrive.  Glennon will be with us at Christ Church Cathedral tonight.  If you are in Lexington, I hope you stop by as we explore the power of such amazing Love.

The Very Rev. Carol Wade 


Register for Carry On, Warrior here until 3:00pm today. You may also register at the door. The event begins at 7:00pm. $20/person.

Gravity and the Greatness of God

      I fret about some of the craziest things! In a fashion world where I see people matching stripes with polka dots, reds with purples and yellows, I worry if the two shades of blue I am wearing clash or compliment one another. I fret about having to go out into the humidity because my hair will become its unruly self after I have spent 20 minutes trying to have it look as good as the time it was last styled. I fret because I think you will focus on my hair rather than what is in my heart. I fret because I cannot do some things as well as others can. I fret about things over which I have absolutely no control. I laugh at my craziness of fretting.

      My son, daughter-in-law and I recently went to the Kentucky to see the film, Gravity. Without giving away the storyline, let me tell you the images of our beautiful blue planet were magnificent. During the film, I imagined myself in the place of the astronauts, quickly recognizing how great my fear would be in their circumstance. Perhaps that is what the producer wanted me to do- to feel the angst the characters were feeling. When we arrived back home, I took my dogs for a walk under a beautifully moonless and cloudless star-filled sky. New solar systems are born and others implode upon themselves as our universe continues to expand. Comets soar through the  silently cold vastness of space which separates the planets of our solar system. I was reminded of how small, how tiny and fragile I really was compared to the  awesome vastness and power of Creation. Thank goodness gravity holds my body to this planet. That is one less thing I have to worry about.

      Recently, while reading Glennon Doyle Melton's blog, I was reminded of how very much she and I are alike. We both have a tendency to fret about the craziest of things. We both are often too harsh on ourselves and then have to remind ourselves we are beautifully made children of God.
Glennon (I call her by her first name as if we are acquaintances in addition to being sisters in spirit.) recognizes God in the details as well as in the vastness of interstellar space. She sees God in the day to day snippets of life as well as in the vastness of the oceans and the stars in the sky. She sees God at work in her life as I see Christ in mine. More importantly, she recognizes the importance of others seeing God's hand at work in her life as I try to order my life.  When I read Glennon's works, I see myself in her words. I love that we are both drawn to the sea for the same reason. I get it that she has to remind herself that she is one of God's most important children just as each of us are all one of God. I celebrate with her the greatness of God in the smallest of places just as in the vastness of space and time. I think Glennon would agree with me, thank goodness for gravity; it is one less thing with which we need not trouble ourselves.

    

For I know that The Lord is Great

     Last evening, my son, daughter-in-law and I went to see the new film Gravity showing at the Kentucky Theatre. Without giving away the story line and plot, let me say the footage, shot from space, of our beautiful planet Earth was breathtaking. When we arrived back home from seeing the film, I joined my husband in his observatory to have a look at the night sky through his telescope. As always, the stars and visible planets were magnificent; the crescent of the moon floated silently as a sentinel in the darkness.

     I went indoors marveling at the magnificence of God, who created the beautiful planets that surround our lovely island home in the vastness of space and the suns of other solar systems and galaxies. I thought of the view of our beautiful island home from space and considered all the glorious gifts God has given us here on earth. We have the love of our families, pets and friends who enrich our lives. We have abundant food and water. Above all, we have the faithful forgiving love of God, who is ever-present with us.

     Before I went to sleep, I read Psalm 135.  The psalm includes the following: "For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases Him in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the deeps. He brings rain clouds from the ends of the earth; He sends out lightning with the rain, and brings the wind out of His storehouse." Indeed, I know that the Lord is great and for that I say Amen.

God in the Atmosphere

God is the atmosphere

in which

“we  live, and move, and have our being.”

Acts 17:28

    Early one morning a few weeks ago, I lay in bed listening to a rumbling in the distance.  It continued to move closer.  Finally the sky moved gently from a foggy overcast morning with some light seeping through, to a dark morning with thunder crashing and the rush of water being poured onto the earth.  I took my plants out to get all the water that they could get.  I go into our family room with a cup of coffee and open the screen door to get closer to this beautiful symphony.  I settle in and just listen and was moved to a beautiful place.  The pouring rain allowed a deeper silence to come through.

    Rain drops drilled holes into the earth, revealing the wisdom of creation.  I moved outside after the storm slowed down and planted my bare feet firmly on the ground. I felt as though I was being cradled by the earth as the water washed into the cells of my body.  In this moment I knew my oneness with all of creation.  I saw how we are all connected though we live in the illusion of separation.  This was a moment of grace.

    The above incident gave me a glimpse into our essential oneness with God and all of creation.  I believe that the universal call is to this union with God.  We live and move and have our being in the atmosphere of God but do not realize where we are.  We look in many places for God when we are already there.  Every now and then we catch glimpses of this union as I did on that stormy morning a short time ago.  

    On October 25th, Glennon Doyle Melton will share with us in her humorous down to earth way, how living a life with armor keeps us from being awake to the atmosphere of God in which we always live.  The armor not only hides us from God and others, it hides us from ourselves.  

    “Melton is a courageous truth teller and hope spreader, a wise and witty friend who emboldens us to believe in ourselves and reminds us that the journey is the reward.  Carry on Warrior proves that by shedding our weapons and armor, we can stop hiding, competing, and striving for the mirage of perfection, to build better lives for our lives in our hearts, homes and communities.” (form Carry on Warrior, Thoughts on Life Unarmed)

    So may we continue to move together into this call of awakening to the atmosphere of God that we already live in.  In shedding armor, we will move close to this true home.  Please go to our website www.ccclex.org to sign up!

Grounded to God

Have you ever given thought to the joy of our incarnation? We are spirits, souls, beings (pick your favorite word), who inhabit bodies. This has tremendous implications because it’s something that most of the time we don’t think about or realize. It’s not too different from a fish not realizing that it’s in water. As incarnate beings, it’s difficult to separate ourselves from our incarnate, material reality because like the fish in water, what else is there? And yet we know that there is more. Even as we live and breathe and eat in our beautiful, flawed, material world, there is a spiritual realm that is as close to us as our breath.

Think of the satisfying crunch and saltiness of a potato chip. Or perhaps the golden, soft light streaming through autumn trees. Consider the delicate but durable petals of a rose as they unfurl in bloom. Think of the sonorous sound of a choir with every voice adding depth to the music to create a unique instrument. Or the simple pleasure of climbing into a bed with freshly laundered sheets. Our incarnate reality is an amazing gift. And so is our spiritual nature that lies along side our material selves.

When Christ Church Cathedral member, Holly Milburn, was in town recently she spoke with us about her experiences for the past year as a missionary in South Africa. We were spellbound by her stories. But she also said one of the most profound things that I’ve heard in a long time. Holly, who is perhaps 22 or so, said she thinks, “God created us because God thought we might enjoy it.” What a remarkable insight!

Holly is right. We do enjoy our incarnate reality, and a loving and generous God gave it to us. But it is easy to loose sight of our God given gifts. It is easy to loose sight of our spiritual reality that is as close to us as our breath. It is easy to become cynical, bitter and pained in a difficult world.

I think that it is our spiritual nature that grounds us back to the goodness that God breathed into all of creation at the beginning of the world. From time to time we need to pause and give thanks to our loving and generous God. This spiritual practice helps us to recall the joy of our incarnation.

Simple Gift of Ice Cream

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down
where we ought to be,
and when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained
to bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,
to turn, turn, will be our delight
till by turning, turning we come round right.

-Shaker Song, 18^th Century

I really enjoy ice cream. Really really really enjoy ice cream. Last night, a group of friends and I celebrated a friend’s thirtieth birthday with dinner out.  After the plates were clean and the Birthday cake we brought was consumed, our server brought us the biggest ice cream Sundae I have ever seen - ten huge scoops of Crank & Boom in three different flavors, served in a gigantic bowl, with whipped cream and magic shell on top, with ten spoons. When the waiter set it down on the table, all were surprised. Everyone at the table, including our lactose-intolerant friend, got really excited. There was no question that we had already eaten cake – this ice cream was divine. We passed the bowl around and around and around feasting on delicious and wonderful creamy locally crafted ice cream. Finally, one of our friends stopped eating long enough to ask the server how the ice cream ended up at our table – he pointed to the owner back in the kitchen. We sent our thanks. 

Long after the ice cream was gone, my friends and I sat in the parking lot, joking and laughing with a sugar high. It was really good ice cream. As I drove home, I contemplated what a great night it had been and how easy it was for the owner to share her gift. It was a huge bowl, but it was not a huge gesture on behalf of the owner, and yet, it made a recent thirty-year old and her ten friends smile and giggle like third graders for hours. Enjoying the gigantic ice cream, made with some of the best ice cream, with my ten closest friends was the highlight of my week. It was communion with the joy of creation.

Driving home, I reflected on how easy it was for that owner to share with us and how her sharing with us created an infectious joy. Some of the best gifts we have to share are the simple ones.

Wednesday night’s Dr. Steve Stratton has been speaking to us about how we have the innate ability to effect and feed off of one another's emotions. By smiling a simple smile, saying kind words, or doing a nice gesture we alter the psyche of those around us. Simple gifts of our selves, shared with each other make a happy world. 

I think Jesus probably shared similar gifts with his Disciples – gifts of his presence through listening, sharing a simple meal, the gift of friendship laughing and crying over a bowl of something sweet, the gift of enjoying life and the effect that we can have on one another, the gift of sharing Sabbath and rest with friends.

And over time, I’d like to think that Jesus’ simple gifts to us have grown our joy. That my joy and celebration for life and all of God’s creation effects you and your joy and celebration for life effects me, and that all our lives together are building the body of Christ into one large bundle of thanksgiving and joy. Do something simple today, share some joy! 

James 1:17-18  Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Anxious about Earthly Things

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure.

That is the collect for this week.

It is sometimes hard to remember not to be anxious about earthly things. We hear of earthly things in the news, we are inundated with ads, and social media demands our constant attention.  Demands are made on our time, talent and treasure by our job, family, school, church, community, or organizations that we belong to. But are these heavenly? Are these enduring? Last week we heard about the “good shepherd” and how the flock would be left while the shepherd sought the lost sheep- freeing it from its struggles and carrying it back to the flock.  Am I (are you) a good shepherd?  or are we like sheep that have gone astray?

I couldn’t help but think of our choristers while contemplating these concepts: loving things heavenly, holding fast to what shall endure and the good shepherd. These children embody these concepts.  In the Cathedral Boys and the Cathedral Girls Choirs, we assign new singers a “shepherd”. The shepherd is responsible for making sure their “sheep” knows what to do for rehearsals and services. The shepherd watches out for their sheep, guiding them through rehearsal routines and terminologies, helping them make the correct marks in their music, making sure they have everything they need for a rehearsal or service and have it in the right order, and to be available to answer any questions. The experienced singers love having this job. The sheep love having a mentor. It creates a community of caring. We have 25 girls and 16 boys to start the choir year.  Six are brand new to the program. Our head choristers have taken on leadership roles with conviction and love.  The Boys and Girls spend, on average, a minimum of 6 hours a week in choir rehearsals and services.  Choristers come from all over Lexington, Frankfort and Versailles. They develop enduring relationships with each other, all the while using their God given gift for music.  To me, this is heavenly.  Watch them when they sing, you will see it in their faces.

We are all asked to be good shepherds: for our families, our communities, our church and even the earth. We are asked to love one another, with real and abiding love, not the “ I love my new iphone” kind of love. We deserve the love of one another. God is the ultimate good shepherd, who offers enduring heavenly love.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moths nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:19-21


Kathleen Balling, Music Assistant