Dear Family,
Sometimes things do bear repeating. One of them is my gratude for the loving concern you have shown me once again. The last lile hiccup on the road to recovery brought me addional prayers and notes. Those kind words and thoughts are an inspiraon to want to do beer. I think the areas I want to look at are “sins of omission.”
It does raise an interesng idea, though. As a general thought, do you ever think about what you say or how you say it in terms of how someone else might actually hear it? Your cards and thoughts were sent out of concern for my parcular need.
Most of the time, I hope I’m doing okay, but as I write here and reflect a lile, I’m realizing that ulmately, if I want to communicate well, I really need to know the person to whom I speaking. That’s the rub. You can’t know everyone inside-out. But it’s a fine line between saying that and then not even bothering to try and ancipate how someone will hear what you say.
Sometimes, what I want to communicate may not be something someone wants to hear, no maer how well I know them or how careful I am at ancipang their reacon. Mulply the hearers by 300-800 – depending on the weekend.
Preaching! There surely are mes when the Gospel is not at all ambiguous in its demands. Indeed, at mes we squirm. (Hopefully.) Calling a community to deeper commitment is one thing. Saying it in a way that they can hear the call personally is something addional. Note I didn’t say “something else.” It’s not an either/or situaon. It’s another level, a deeper level of “holy experse,” so to speak. It’s one that asks of me prayer and forethought. It also promises that if I’m faithful to that prayerful preparaon then it will be the Lord’s work. So oen I have prayed, “Lord, just don’t let me get in the way.”
Don’t ask me how I got to this point by starng with your wonderful good wishes. Hopefully, it’s the Holy Spirit. My small boom line is to say thanks!
Shifting gears a lile, and also with more spirit of gratude, we have a new air condioner in the parish office. The last week I was in the hospital, Annie and Cynthia were hauling fans and trying to survive. I really did feel guilty. It was so hard not to think about how grateful I was that I was in an air-condioned room, hospital or no. I was glad we had the funds to replace the unit. $8, 397.00. Amazing isn’t it? I know I’m geng old when I was convinced that it shouldn’t be more than $2500. Of course that included coang the coils with an an-corrosion soluon. Apparently in this “salty” neighborhood it can extend the life of the unit by years. Holy Cross did not offer me any such coang, but I thought my care there was great anyway.
I know there are a few “far-flung” folk who read this Twitch online. Many of them are in cooler climes, and I just want you to know we are thinking about you. We hope the deprivaon of 90’s heat and 1000% humidity is not ruining your vacaon in any way. You don’t’ think that was sincere, do you! You’re absolutely right. In fact, my wonderful doctor has said I can go away and is strongly urging me to do so. Now the trick is to convince Annie to do the same!
With repeated thanks and appreciaon for you, as well as my sincere prayers for your well-being, I’m yours,
In Jesus,
