Love.
From the way we
toss that word around you would think that every use is equal to
every other use. It should be obvious that that's not the case. For
instance, I love pie and triple chocolate fudge ice cream. I love
football. I love my mom, my wife, and my daughter. I love Canon
Beach, Oregon. I love the mountains of western Montana. I love
seafood. But my love of pie, mountains, and the women in my life are
not equal. We can't put our love into a mathematical equation.
Sometimes we can't even quantify in an emotional sense what one kind
of love means to us over and against another kind of love.
At our diocesan
convention, Assistant Bishop Chilton Knudsen gave her address in
which she was telling us about her two-year experience here in
Maryland. She relayed a story of when she was first elected bishop
and a mentor told her, “Being a bishop is easy, just remember to
love your people, have fun, and say your prayers.”
Remember to love
your people.
This was
essentially the same advice given to me when I was ordained to the
priesthood. Love your people. Celebrate with them in times of joy.
Stand with them in solidarity. Kneel with them in prayer. Weep
with them in times of sorrow. And remember that people don't care
how much you know until they know how much you care.
When I was going
through the search process, my good friend Jane (who will be
preaching here on June 18), continually told me that she heard a
touch of excitement in my voice whenever I talked about St. John's.
Being one who tries not to get too excited, I generally shrugged it
off. I mean, really, how excited could I get about transplanting my
family 3000 miles and having to wait until noon for the first college
football games to air?
As usual, she
was right.
This has been a
good move for us. It hasn't been perfect, but it's been good; and
even God didn't create the perfect, he created the good. From the
hospitality of the search team, to the warm welcome we received upon
our arrival, it's been good. From our opening worship together on
All Saints' Sunday to the quiet, small, prayerful group that gathers
for Evening Prayer, it's been good. And at Mayfest, someone asked me
how things were going and how people were treating us. I responded,
“Everyone has been great, and people have been unobtrusively
supportive.” Meaning that people aren't hovering over us, but they
show up in a variety of ways at a variety of times with a variety of
little gestures letting us know we are welcome.
It's hard to put
into words just how good things have been, how much I've enjoyed
being part of this congregation, and how good you all have been for
my soul. I can't give you a list of equivalency, but know that you
are right up there with pie, my mountains, and my girls.
Love,
Todd+
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