May 24th, 2020
May 20th, 2020
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| And boom! Summer finally arrived in WNY. The Pause is slowly un-Pausing. And it seems like we are at the beginning baby steps of the “new normal.” (Some of the “old normal” will still hang around, like the 6 yards of mulch that will get dumped in my driveway tomorrow that won’t magically move itself around the yard, self-spreading into the beds. Boo) One of the other pieces that I hope you are still holding tight to from the “old normal” is God’s unbreakable love for you. Just you. Because you’re you. Not because of your work, or your effort, or your title, or your pedigree, or your tribe, but just because you are you. All this Coronaness can make us forget that. Masks blocking smiles and compassion. Disconnection from relationships. Distance from social gatherings or work places or sacred spaces or rest places. We can get knocked out of center and as the dose exposure to these viral times increases, the memories and belief of our own self-worth and God’s love for us can fade. Let them fade no longer people! Because you are simply an amazing child of God! Want to remember that? Splash water on your face – and remember you’re a baptized child of GOd. Squirt a hose on someone in the yard this weekend – and remind them they are a baptized child of God. Run outside in the raindrops, like a scene out of Shawshank Redemption – and remember you’re perfect in the eyes of God. Thursday at 10am this week, we’re going to baptize Nathaniel Sileo. Danny Sileo (who was our intern at St. Paul’s a few years back) and his wife Mary Grace are moving to Virginia and want/need to have their son baptized before they go. So the new normal of CoronaBaptismalProtocol was created! Masks, distance, small groups – none of it can stop God’s powerful waters from washing over this kid! Godparents on FaceTime. And YOU are invited to be the congregation as we will stream this on St. Paul’s Facebook Live. New normal is slowly arriving. But we know some of the old normal is still profoundly here. Waters STILL pour. God STILL welcomes. Community STILL affirms and prays. And each of us are STILL worthy to be loved by God. Lord, let that love STILL flow. Amen Still in One Peace, PS |
May 17th, 2020
May 13th, 2020
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| How do you battle Coronavirus? Some people choose to dance! Robin Bishop, missionary at St. Paul’s, is the founder of Dancability in Buffalo, an individualized dance, fitness and movement program serving the special needs community. After searching for better spaces to hold their classes, they recently moved into a wonderful facility in Depew. Fabulous! And then COVID-19 hit and spaces like hers had to close their doors. So what did she do? Robin figured out a way to take her classes right into the homes of those who needed dance and interaction the most! Earlier this week she sent me a video of the community dancing, before and now during these viral times. She said: “Here’s what Dancability is all about. Watch it and it’ll make you feel good.” She wasn’t wrong! I’m a terrible dancer and I still felt myself moving as I watched their ministry unfold. In John’s gospel Jesus says to his disciples: “I will not leave you orphaned. I am coming to you.” And he did, sending the gift of the Holy Spirit to remind us we’re never alone. Thank you Robin for reminding these kids and adults that they aren’t alone and for bringing health, wholeness, love and joy right into their homes. Whose life can you touch today? Who do you know that might feel alone, abandoned and isolated in these difficult times? How can you reach out, listen to and dance with someone that might need to know they aren’t alone? I want to encourage you to do a couple things: 1. Watch this video. You will smile! CLICK HERE 2. If you are able, join me in financially supporting Robin’s mission. A business like this is hard enough to keep going when everything is running well. So these times are extra challenging. You can CLICK HERE to donate. Keep the faith my friends! Keep praying for our frontline and essential workers. Keep supporting those who are bringing joy right into people’s homes to battle isolation. And keep searching and listening for the ways you can impact the world with God’s love as well. And keep dancing! Lord, help us dance even in the toughest times. Amen Still in One Peace, PS |
May 6th, 2020
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| “We don’t know where you’re going? How can we know the way?” Ever asked that question before? This week? On a trip? Did you ask it because you weren’t listening? You were confused? Or you were maybe even afraid? Thomas (the disciple) asked it along time ago to Jesus directly after Jesus just told him that he was going to prepare a place for him. I think Thomas heard him. I think Thomas wasn’t confused. I think he was probably afraid. I just got back from a quick 20-hour backpacking over night with my friend Jeff. He’s a hiker, backpacker and now a runner. I’m just a runner. I occasionally hike when Michelle says we’re hiking that day and I only really backpack down to Haiti, but also have two carry-on full of supplies with me. For this quick and cold trip, I was going to try out my first night of sleeping in a hammock below 30 degrees. So Jeff sent me a list of stuff to pack. I put it together quickly Tuesday morning along with the supplies he sent over to my house to carry in my backpack to get me through the cold night in my hammock (that was last used in Haiti, which is a tad warmer). Then I added about 4 pairs of warm socks, extra shoes, extra warm clothes, two pairs of gloves/hats and chemical warmers (“hot hands” – nothing illegal). A full pack for sure of 35 pounds of “stuff” (along with food and Campfire Malt Beverages) for the 7 mile r/t hike and one night. Way more weight than I needed. I didn’t use most of the cold gear, which he said I wouldn’t need, but I threw in anyhow. As we sat by the fire at night he told me story after story of taking people out into the woods hiking or overnight and the incredible abundance of “extras” they would bring with them that only weighed them down, slowed their hike and blistered their shoulders because of extra weight. When the hardest hill climbs came, I was doing them with weigh I didn’t need but chose to bring anyways. He sent me list. And I didn’t trust it and threw in a ton of extra stuff. And then he said one of the most profound things I’ve heard in awhile: “People pack their fears.” People pack their fears. We pack our fears. I packed mine. Thomas packed his. We grab extra stuff along the way, question the lists along the way and second guess the gifts along the way…sometimes out of our own fears. I was afraid I’d be too cold last night. Jeff wasn’t. He had a list for me and a back-up plan as well. Thomas was afraid of what would come next. Jesus wasn’t. He had a vision to give his life and a back-up plan as well. People pack their fears. What fears are you packing? What fears can you allow yourself to take out of your pack knowing that God’s didn’t have those on your list and you don’t need them. They are only blistering you. Slowing you down. Weighing on you during your hill climbs? (By the way, to Thomas’ question about “we don’t know the way,” Jesus said “don’t worry, I’ve got that covered, I am the way and the truth and the life.” There’s God’s list.) God’s already got it packed. We don’t need to add the weight. Lord, thanks for taking the weight for us. Help us to not pack out of fear. Amen Still in One Peace, PS |
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