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Grace Notes from Father David December 2007 
We Made It! The process of moving is a daunting task no matter how old you are but doing it as mature adults could quickly turn into a nightmare. Though there was a lot of work involved, Elizabeth and I marveled at the ease with which our move to Sterling was accomplished. The trailer was delivered to our home on time. Elizabeth's employer sent a crew of nine people to move our belongings from the house to the truck. Members of St. Clare's did yeoman work in assisting and cleaning. They also put us up in a hotel for our last nights in California and gave us a rousing send-off on our last Sunday. Among the many gifts we received was an electric blanket. What a blessing that's been! The truck arrived here on First Avenue at exactly the same time we did. In fact, we passed it coming up the street! Pat and Deb Fecht along with three high school boys helped to unload the truck. Elizabeth's brother and three cousins were on-hand to help with the unpacking. Our new home is probably the loveliest we have ever lived in. The love and care that the people of Grace Church have invested in it over the years is quite evident. In short, we are most privileged and grateful for all that has happened. We look forward to beginning a new chapter in our lives and yours. Though the move went flawlessly it was not without a certain amount of pain and not simply because we were leaving those we had loved and cared about for the past seven years but because of the "stuff" we had to part with. Going from fourteen rooms to eight meant dumping a lot of excess baggage. We had a yard sale. A large truck hauled away a lot to a local thrift store. A three ton truck carried a full load to the dump. Even after arriving here we've continued to bring boxes to Goodwill. It is amazing what junk one can accumulate in a few years. As I contemplated this mountain of trash I felt more ashamed of that than of anything else I've ever done in my life. It also contains a powerful lesson for us all of us. We all accumulate a lot of junk as time goes by and not just things, but junk in our souls as well. If we're to move forward in life we need to take an inventory and get rid of that which would weigh us down, that which would keep us from moving forward, that which could have no place in a new life. Stuff has to go! C. S. Lewis in his book, The Great Divorce, describes a young man who wants to get into heaven but he has this great, red, lizard on his shoulder that he is so fond of. But it makes just too much noise and he has to leave it behind in order to move into paradise. What a struggle he had with that decision. What things keep you from growing into the fullness and stature of Christ? Are there bad habits, debilitating thoughts, harmful attitudes that keep you from being what God intended? It's not easy to dump the trash of a lifetime. In fact, it's just about impossible without a little help. We could have never made the move here or dumped all our trash had it not been for the presence of our Lord and Savior in our efforts. With Him, all things are possible...and exciting! Church is about growing and moving forward and we can't do that if we are burdened with a load of trash. But the good news is that Jesus is great at cleaning house! Behold, I stand at the door and knock... ~ Father David January 2008 A Very Happy New Year! Each and everyone wants every year to be a happy one but it doesn't always work out that way. It seems like some years are just to be endured. My father used to say that when he started to see the light at the end of the tunnel he soon discovered it was another train it was another train coming right at him. When he seemed to be in a rut he would quickly point out that the only difference between "being in a rut" and "being in the groove" was just a matter of perspective. They both look the same but they feel quite differently. If you 'feel' in a rut you have the choice of not acting that way, however. Or as Jesus put it, "Pick up your cross and follow me." You'll soon find yourself in the groove, in a new place because he promised, "Come unto me, all you that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." How gracious is Our Lord that he will smooth the way and soothe our hearts. If we come unto him we can know that truth for ourselves and find our hearts filled with thanksgiving. Now, if we really do have a good year, a happy new year, it's because we perceive that we have been blessed in many ways. What then? It's really quite basic. When your favorite team hits a home run you scream and yell and jump for joy. That, my friends, is called worship, expressing our delight with the team. We naturally express our delight in the wonderful things that flow from our heavenly Father. It would be basically 'unhuman' to not get excited, to be delighted with a happy new year. But the Bible makes this amazing promise, So, want a good year, a happy new year? Then...clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. (Psalm 47:1) ~ Father David February 2008 There are probably as many reasons to go to Church as there are people. But in theory there are only a few. First and foremost is to worship, i.e., to express our delight and joy for what God has done for us in our lives, to give thanks. Another reason is to be in His presence, to commune with Him, to be touched and strengthened and healed by Him. Finally, we come for education, to hear the scriptures read and commented on and challenged, that we might grow evermore into the fullness and stature of Jesus Christ. We sing that wonderful hymn, Just a Closer Walk With Thee. This is a good time of the year to consider just how important this is to you. Do you really want a closer walk with Him? Or, perhaps you are caught up in St. Paul's observation that, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." To be sure God is worthy of a very healthy respect yet He has always wanted one thing only since time immemorial, to be in an intimate, loving relationship with you. Consider some of the things Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid," or "Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," or "My yoke is easy and my burden is light," or my favorite, "Come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden and I will refresh you." Do you dare to take a step closer? As we enter this Lenten season I would ask us all to make personal, spiritual growth a priority. Do something you've not done before to take a step closer. Instead of giving up something for Lent take a step closer to our Lord and Savior. In some small way add to your education in The Lord. Read a book, we have many in our library; watch a spiritually uplifting movie, attend our Prayer of Jabez classes, come to the Rosary Group, listen to a Christian Radio Program. Another way to grow is to give away what you've got. Bring a friend to Church, tell another of your faith and why it's important to you. Inshort, do something you've never done before in order that you might move a step closer. Jesus is ready to meet you half-way, on your own terms, but you have to take the initiative. John wrote in his Revelation, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man let me in I will sup with him and he with me." Take a step closer this Lent. In one way or another, answer the door! ~ Father David
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