Today’s reflection comes from Rev. Angie’s parting words to us at her final service with us last month.
I once had a dream that I was given a very sacred duty of safely carrying a very large, very fragile vessel across a fallen log suspended over a raging river.
I dropped it.
I was overwhelmed with shame, fear and self-recriminations. But before I became completely paralyzed by the full terror of failing, this very large, very fragile vessel was again placed into my hands to carry it safely across the river. I was given another chance.
I got halfway across the river and to my horror, I dropped it again!
Nearly overcome with shame and self-loathing, for a third time this beautiful fragile precious cargo was entrusted into my hands. This time I was able to spirit it safely across the river.
Once I got safely to the other side I came to a clearing in front of a simple little cottage where I handed the sacred vessel over a little fence to someone, I’m not sure who, and then I walked on alone along a path that led into the woods.
At the time I understood the dream to be a sign that God had sacred work for me to do. I understood the dream to be about grace — something I didn’t know much about at the time. I also understood it to be a sign that I didn’t have the choice of giving up.
For reasons beyond my wildest knowing, God gave me the sacred work of creating Beloved Community where all people are celebrated as precious children of God. And now that I have carried that sacred cargo safely across the river, God has reached out to hand that sacred vessel into the hands of others
As I hand it back to God, I hand it back to you. You, my Beloveds, have in your hands this sacred vessel, this gift, this gathering of Beloved Community where all people can be loved and where all people can serve.
I have re-read Paul’s letters to his beloved churches that he founded. It must have been hard for him to start these churches and then have to part with the people to move on where the Spirit led him. So I say to you, as Paul said to his beloveds in Philippi:
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen, and the God of peace will be with you.
That’s a promise. It’s a promise that can be trusted.
