O Lord, who has taught us that to gain the whole world and to lose our souls is great folly, grant us the grace so to lose ourselves that we may truly find ourselves anew in the life of grace, and so to forget ourselves that we may be remembered in your kingdom.
- Reinhold Niebuhr

Rules of the Road
Yesterday, on the 4th of July, the entire population of Maryland decided to cycle on the NCR trail. Or so it seemed, as dog Stella and I walked from the Sparks parking lot, and dodged the bicycles going to and fro. I stuck to the far right of the path, just like pedestrians are supposed to. It was not my usual experience of walking, which I find to be restorative, partly because of the quiet that surrounds me. This was more like being on Southern California freeway during the commute.

Stella and I had a great walk in spite of the numbers of people, and we learned some things along the way. There was one extremely able-bodied person, an obvious athlete, who endangered the life of a child when, in his desire for speed, he threaded his way between Stella and I and a family coming the other way, who had one of those child trailers behind mom’s bike. He couldn’t be bothered with the considerate way of cycling, saying "on your left" as he came near a pedestrian, nor could he be bothered to slow down when the path was crowded. He came so close to hitting the bike trailer and child as he rushed by at top speed that he left us all standing looking after him in shock at his boorish and dangerous behavior.

There was one person, not so able-bodied – an elderly woman walking with a four-footed cane, an I-pod stuck in her ear. She took the time to say hello, remark about the weather as she made her slow, methodical, and perhaps painful way along the path. She wasn’t interested in speed, in achievement, in competition. She was just enjoying the journey.

In between these two contrasted persons were the many people who followed the rules of the road, were friendly, or not-so, intense on their activity, or out for fun – enjoying a day off, and glad to be alive. I came away thinking that I, too, was grateful to be alive. And I was reminded of the importance of the rules of the road, even when they seem unnecessary.

God has laid down for us some rules of the road. They’re pretty simple really: prayer, study, worship, action – all expressing love for God and neighbor. They have lots of permutations, found in the sacraments: baptism, eucharist, healing, reconciliation…Without them, we can become as insensitive to those around us as that young man intent on speed. But if we follow them daily, we’ll find that the journey itself is where the reward is found.

For now my sight, clear and yet clearer gorwn,
Pierced through the ray of that exalted light,
Wherin, as in itself, the truth is known.

O light supreme, by mortal thought unscanned…

Make strong my tongue that in its words may burn
One single spark of all Thy glory’s light
For future generations to discern.
- Dante

Debra’s Midweek Meditation
For once you were darkness,
but now in the Lord you are light.
Live as children of light—
Ephesians 5:8

I am writing this on July 4th.
Thinking of Independence Day celebrations expands the image of light to include the dramatic and startling brilliance of fireworks as well as the steady light of sun and moon.

Jesus has given us a new medium--light.
Just as a painter uses oils to express inspiration, we now are able to use light to create and illumine a life.

Some of us will be firecrackers, bursting forth with exuberance and energy to light up the night sky for someone else.
Some of us will be like the sun--steady and intense and bright.
Some of us will be more like the moon, consistent but mysterious.

All of these "lights" participate in the illumination of the world and its souls.
All of these "lights" bring us closer to the kingdom and
closer to the Savior-the author of light.

Emily Dickinson has a lovely short poem entitled "an everywhere of silver".

Perhaps this is what our life becomes as we embrace living as children of light.
An everywhere of silver gilding the souls of the faithful with enough light to be seen by all.
"Live as children of light".

Blessings,
Debra

Daily Morning Prayer
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/morning_prayer.htm

Come, true light.
Come, life eternal.
Come, hidden mystery.
Come, treasure without name.
Come, reality beyond al words.
Come, person beyond all understanding.
Come, rejoicing without end.
Come, light that knows know evening.
Come, unfailing expectation of the saved.
Come, raising of the fallen.
Come, resurrection of the dead.
Come, all-powerful, for unceasingly you create, refashion and change all things by you will alone.
Come, invisible whom none may touch and handle.
Come, for you continue always to be unmoved, yet at every instant you are
Wholly in movement; you draw near to us who lie in hell, yet you remain higher than the heavens.
Come, for your name fill sour hearts with longing and is ever on our lips;
Yet who you are and what your nature is, we cannot say or know.
Come, Alone to the alone.
Come, for you are yourself the desire that is within me.
Come, my breath and my life.
Come, the consolation of my humble soul.
Come, my joy, my glory, my endless delight.
- St. Symeon

This week at St. James
The Bartons are on vacation until August 3.
Friday: Honduras missionaries return
Sunday: Services at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.
Monday: Paul’s Place camp begins.
Tuesday: 7:30 Vestry meeting
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist in Meditation Chapel; 9:30 Prayer Shawl ministry, Parish Library

Prayers, Etc.
For safe travel for our Honduras missionaries and all who “wander” during the summer.
For Laura and Lyle
For those who are deployed.
For the children from Paul’s Place, and those who work with them at the camp next week.
For those deployed and their families.
For those on our prayer list:
Dot; Sue; Lori; Bill; Sarah; Joel
Toni; Anna; Philip; David; Brooke; Brian G.
Leib " Carlyn; Lovisah Brooke H.; Brian E.
Jeffrey; Margaret S.; Nancy B.; Miriam F.; Cris
Traskey family; Harold Fitch; Walter Rasmussen
Louis Burkhardt, who has died, and his family, who mourn.
Lelia Griswold, who has died, and her family, who mourn

In Closing:

Desires
May I speak each day according to Thy justice
Each day may I show Thy chastening, O God;
May I speak each day according to Thy wisdom,
Each day and night may I be at peace with Thee.

Each day may I count the causes of Thy mercy,
May I each day give heed to Thy laws;
Each day may I compose to Thee a song,
May I harp each day Thy praise, O God.

May I each day give love to Thee, Jesus,
Each night may I do the same;
Each day and night, dark and light,
May I laud Thy goodness to me, O God.
- From "The Celtic Vision"

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

<- Back to Parish News