Reflections

Reflections

I’ve spent several days this week in Sewanee being a part of a variety of family activities associated with the funeral of my cousin, Sam Lloyd. He had been battling cancer for a number of years, and had lost considerable strength recently. Yet, at his son’s wedding just over a month ago he summoned up what was left of his strength to dance one dance with his newly engaged daughter.

I was the celebrant at his funeral on Wednesday. As I stood at the altar, looking into the congregation of multi-generations of the Lloyd, Gray and Spivey family, I was overwhelmed with emotion thinking through so many family memories stretched out on the very large family tree.

But what caused my voice to falter, and me to momentarily pause, during the Eucharistic Prayer, was the sight of Sam’s new daughter-in-law and about to be son-in-law sitting on the front pew with his widow.

Those two young people appeared to me new green shoots on a very old tree- God’s renewal of life in the midst of painful death. And as I swallowed that very large lump in my throat, I swear that I could see Sam dancing...and more than a few tears of deep gratitude welled up in my eyes.

Sunday’s Scripture- brief thoughts

Exodus 32:7-14

Moses intercedes to God on behalf of the Hebrew people who had just stepped on God’s last nerve...and God changed God’s mind. Very interesting concept, the changing of God’s mind. But Moses trusts God’s compassion, and the Hebrews are spared.

Psalm 51

Again, the compassion of God is what the psalmist trusts, even as he/she pours bares his/her soul.

1Timothy 1: 1-12

St. Paul speaks of God’s compassion and mercy as that reality that changed his life. Notice a common theme developing?

Luke 5:1-10

I love the particularity and specificity of this story. God doesn’t just love humanity in general. No, it’s for that particular runaway sheep that the shepherd is willing to risk the safety of 99 others to bring him home. Yes, it is scandalous, but that’s the way God operates.

Dates to Remember:

September 12-

Nativity Budget Committee

7:00-8:00pm@ Church

September 20-

Nativity Mission Committee

6:00pm @ BTC

October 1-

St. Francis Blessing of the Animals 9:00am@ Pocket Park

October 16-November 13

Christian formation for adults:

“Episcopal Church 101-a guide to our peculiar way of life”

See you Sunday!

Peace,

Duncan