March 7, 2008 Perspective

Reminder: Sunday is Daylight Saving Time: Remember to “Spring Forward” Saturday night!

Dear E-pistle subscriber,

I’m sitting down to write this week’s e-pistle in the middle of what’s turned out to be a surprisingly busy two-week period.

First, as you may know, two weeks ago yesterday, we moved – we’re now out of the former Rectory and now living among dozens of boxes in the Seccombe House, or the “new” Rectory (seems funny to call something first built in the 1760s “new!”)

All of us LOVE the new space. The Building Committee and Vestry did a fantastic job overseeing the renovation of this house while keeping its historic authenticity and charm. Please know that an Open House, not only of this property but of the old Rectory (now being called “the Parish House”) is being planned for the spring. I think you’ll be pleased at the ways the Vestry is being good stewards of these properties.

All went very well and very smoothly with the move, with only one wrinkle: a week ago, my car was stolen! Mary and I had come home from a Leap Year gathering with friends last Friday night, and parked the car right in front of the house, but when we woke up the next morning it was gone. At first we thought maybe some teenager friends of the boys were playing a practical joke, but then we realized it really was stolen.

That brings me to the next thing that’s been keeping me busy: I’m finishing packing and otherwise making final preparations to go, early Sunday morning, to Honduras, where I’ll spend next all of next week digging ditches and laying pipe as I scout an adult outreach mission opportunity – bringing clean water to rural mountain villages in Honduras.

Boy, the things we take for granted:

In this house, we turn the faucet, and out comes water.

For almost ten years, I’ve left my car and house unlocked most of the time, and – living in such a safe town – nothing had ever happened.

By contrast, barely half the Honduran population has access to disinfected water. Every year 50,000 children under the age of five die from drinking impure drinking water. And people all over the world deal with deadly violence on a daily basis.

So, as I’ve said many times before, (but am now experiencing again first hand!) there’s nothing like hands-on-service to the poor to help you keep things in perspective.

A “thing” got taken away from me. It’s a bit upsetting – the feeling of living in Mayberry is diminished – and the theft means we’ll spend time and money in ways we hadn’t planned.

But it’s a thing. It’s replaceable. (Anyone out there with a spare car?) Mary and all three of our kids are healthy, happy, and living in a beautiful home. I have a rewarding, fulfilling job.

When I want a drink of water, I don’t have to hike 3 kilometers, and I don’t have to boil the water once I get it.

I just walk over to the kitchen and turn on the faucet.

And – like God’s blessings – pure clean water just comes gushing out.

Thanks be to God.

See you (Palm) Sunday,

Fr. John