I wore it all day long ­ for days on end.
I slept in the cowboy shirt when I could get away with it.
It was my favorite shirt.

That shirt was my constant companion for the longest time.
But then I suddenly noticed that the shirt seemed to be getting smaller and smaller.
It was still my familiar and beloved cowboy shirt,
but it was getting harder and harder to squeeze into it.

Finally the day came when I could no longer put it on.
Even asking my mom to sew up the latest split seam wasn't going to work.

I remember feeling bereft. My familiar shirt no longer fit. I felt naked in front of the world. I wanted everything to stay the same. But I grew and I changed and the day came when I had to leave that shirt behind, just as I had to pass from childhood into life as an adolescent, and then finally move into the world and wardrobe of an adult.

Do you know the story of Saint Francis? His father was a wealthy merchant of fine fabrics. And although Francis probably did not have a cowboy shirt anywhere near as fine as mine was, Išll bet he had some favorite clothes too. But an even stranger thing happened to Francis than what I had experienced with my shirt. It seems that one day Francis realized that his entire life didnšt fit him anymore.

So Francis stripped off his fine clothing and his pampered life
and he stood naked in a courtyard before the Bishop.
It was a symbolic way of renouncing the world he had outgrown.
Francis stood in fear and freedom waiting for God to clothe him in a new life.
And God did. God dressed Francis in holiness and the merchantšs son became a saint.

For there are times when the old ways can no longer be patched up. There are moments when the only way forward is to step out of the familiar comfortable life we have known into the growing mystery that is calling us.

God wants us to grow and change. Saint Paul says that we are being transformed into the image of God, by the power of the spirit, from one degree of glory to another.

Notice that the scripture does not say "we are transformed BY OUR OWN EFFORTS.  The scripture does not say "we are transformed because we are successful, intelligent, capable or knowledgeable." It says that we are transformed by the power of the spirit.

Our job is to say "yes!" This transformation happens to everyday people.
Listen to the experience of a man named Hugh Strickland.

On Sunday I returned form a job interview in another state. It was supposed to be sign a contract, it turned out to be to watch a fight between a group of directors of a non-profit who couldn't agree on whether to hire anyone let alone me. I rose on Monday and knew that I wouldn't be getting the job.

On Tuesday I returned home from work and got a call from our Junior Warden, he delivered the bad news that or vicar had resigned and that there would be more information in a day or so.

I loved our little mission and it's small group. I loved Bill our priest and I prayed for us all. We had all had a hard time with disagreement and difficult relationships. It was especially hard to learn that he was hospitalized for depression.

On Wednesday I got a call from our Junior Warden and He told me than the Senior Warden had resigned for health reasons and that the vestry would need to meet. He asked if I had any suggestions. I had only been on the Vestry for one year and I had never led in the Church. I suggested that he take the job of Senior Warden and have us elect a new Junior Warden.

Two hours later our Bishop called and we talked. He asked me to be the new Senior Warden and said that the Junior Warden would help me, and of course he would help me. "I appoint you go forth and be fruitful" The Bishop said. I was right where I had no idea I would ever be.

The rest of the week was a blur. I was arranging Clergy for services, meeting with the treasurer and the Vestry and doing all sorts of things, reading all sorts of minutes and records.

I felt really under qualified and could not imagine what I would do. I kept hearing the voice of God through the Bishop say "I appoint you".

On Sunday morning I rose to address the congregation. I did the announcements, and gave the information that I had and we all prayed for each other and for those not with us, especially our priest Bill.

In a flash, I said what became my motto, "I appoint you go forth and be fruitful". For two years I sent others, I ask others to go, to come, to serve, to give, and to live up to the baptismal covenant that we all hold as our common pledge. We had a great time. We grew and God was with us and we were fruitful. All of us were fruitful.

So today, I appoint you, go fourth and be fruitful. We are all called to this, and we are all in this, and we are all about this. Didn't you always want a special message form God about what he wants from you. This is it! You have been appointed, go forth and be fruitful. The best part is we get to do it together with God and our neighbors.

Peace and all good,
Hugh Strickland, St. Martinšs Episcopal University Center

We have ways of pretending that the cowboy shirt still fits
and that the work of saints suits somebody other than us.

We do not want to take off our armor and stand naked before God,
and everybody, waiting to see what will happen.

But we cannot go forth if we will not move.
We cannot be fruitful if we will not let God work in us.

God calls into a deep relationship.
Remember what we just heard in the reading from the Book of Hosea.
"And I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will take you for my wife in faithfulness; and you shall the Lord".

We are being invited to be the friends of the bridegroom.
There is an abundance of new wine ready to be served
The celebration is about to begin.
Our wedding garments are waiting.
All we have to do is to be willing to change.