Change of Season

Over the last eight years I have gone north to south and south to north along this east coast of the United States a number of times. Marsha and I went to Myrtle Beach for vacations in my present home twice a year for six of those years. The high today in Myrtle Beach will be in the 90s while here in Massachusetts it will be in the mid 70s, and in Maine my final destination in the low 70s. It is summer in all those places but especially with the reduced humidity it feels like the season changed. That was our experience no matter when we made the trip. We have made it in winter, spring, fall and summer and yet it always feels like a change of seasons.

I have been reflecting, as is my nature, upon my recent Cursillo experience last weekend in SC. I have been on so many of those retreats that they sometimes blur in my mind into one another, except for my first. One thing I can say though, in during each retreat I saw and felt a change of seasons. The spiritual climate went from cold or cool to warm or hot. Last weekend was no exception to that statement. God just seems to arrange things quietly in the background so the right people are together at the right time to accomplish the right things. One thread for example on this retreat was the six or seven participants that ride Harley Davidsons. No big thing but it helped make them feel at home and helped them open up to what God wanted to do. Some of the threads I learned are too personal and would be too obvious to discuss because confidentiality would be a stake, but they weave together in a God ordained mutually feeding kaleidoscope of grace. So many people shared with me deep circumstances of their lives and let me participate as God helped them change the season in a short journey from head to heart. That short journey moves me every time, and is so much more important than my enjoying this clear cool Massachusetts morning.

Journey Begins

I went to staff meeting after golf this morning. Today I played golf with the old guys who are part of my weekly golf groups. I play with them a couple of times a week and as I'm heading north tonight and won't see them until the end of September it was a goodbye of sorts. At staff meeting it was much more of a goodbye and yet, through my computer, I will be working with them in some ways all summer. It is clear that I am leaving a group of people who have become very important to me. The staff at Resurrection is only a small part of that group but were symbolic for the whole bunch this morning. It seems funny to be leaving a group of people who have become important to go to a group of people who feel like they have always been important. Attachments are funny that way. The picture of the church represents one group with the picture of my grandson and great grandson representing the other. I look forward to spending time with a lot of folks that I have missed while I'm up north, and I know that I will then start to miss many of the people who form my life here. It seems odd to be leaving Merrie in my home as I go and I wish I could have spent more time with her. Often we just do our own things in the same place, but it is so nice to look over and see her there in the room or down the beach. I know I'll be with Merrie and her family for the holidays after I return, and that will be great.

The saying "Parting is such sweet sorrow." comes to mind. I've never been able to understand why it is sweet. I understand the sorrow part. Perhaps it is because every time we depart from somewhere, we arrive someplace else, or perhaps because inside the parting is the hope of returning, I'm not sure. I do know I begin my journey tonight and I'll miss somebody no matter where I am.

Cursillo #160

I just got back from another Cursillo retreat to add to many before. The top photo is of one the decks that looks out at the ocean over the dunes from among the palm trees and live oaks. Every day we could watch deer grazing in the short space between the chapel and the ocean. The diocese owned 1400+ acres of Seabrook Island just south of Charleston but sold some of it many years ago that is the the gated community you must pass through to reach Camp St. Christopher. Now the camp and conference center sits on 300 plus acres on the ocean on one side and a salt marsh estuary on the other. We housed 62 team and participants but the facility holds more and in fact had other programs at the same time. The rooms are 2 double bed rooms with private bath. We housed the 62 with only two people to a room.

I must admit I started this first experience in South Carolina comparing it to my many Cursillo experiences in Massachusetts. SC does many things differently than Massachusetts Episcopal Cursillo and I treasured so much of what we did in Mass that I didn't know how something different could work. As you cab see from the other pictures we had a larger group than we have seen in Massachusetts for a long time, and jesus the King of Kings showed up. Jesus from our skit night was George a good friend making his Cursillo as a candidate from my parish. We had so many laughs and good times on this retreat.

This particular Cursillo was a deep healing Cursillo. I have never seen the number of profoundly healed and restored people as I personally experienced on this retreat and I don't know about the other spiritual directors personal experience. Most of you know how much I love Cursillo and I am so happy to be part of it again here in SC. I don't know if I will ever be called again to be a spiritual director but you know I will jump at the opportunity if ever it is offered. I love being a priest in the church and I have seen some great and miraculous things happen in people's lives even through normal church activity, but what happens on a Cursillo just exponentially expands those kinds of results.

Last Sunday at Church Until September

This morning was my last Sunday service at Resurrection before I head north. It seems funny to say north when it still seems somewhat natural to say home. Myrtle Beach however is truly home. I can visit and I do love to visit friends and relatives both north and west, but Myrtle Beach is home. Ron, our rector, made a point of praying for my trip at all three services and the response at the end of each service was overwhelming. I was saying to Ron and some of the staff that it is clear that the plan to go north at this time was providential with my friend Allen's service happening as soon as I get to Massachusetts. At the same time it feels like I am leaving at the very time our team is growing together and the parish I think is growing together as well. I will love seeing my son and Jess, my grandson, granddaughter and great grandson. I have missed many people in Massachusetts and reconnecting will be very meaningful as well. I'm lucky to be so accepted in different worlds, and yet it is challenging at the same time. I'll love seeing Merrie next week, I'll love going north and in it's time I know I will love coming home. How can you constantly be in a place where you miss something and someplace else. That's not to even mention missing Marsha.

My Friend Allen

I met Allen Cornell and his wife Cheryl at Camp Dennen in 1979. I was managing the campground and Allen's father was a camper. Allen & Cheryl and their family then became seasonals as well. Our lives were woven together through all the years to follow. Allen was part of my men's group for some of those years, but Marsha and Cheryl were in the same support group for thirty years. When the campground needed a quality presentation to get approval for a license from the Town of Plymouth Allen did it. When I had someone who needed detox but was outside the usual I called Allen. He was a good friend even when at times we didn't see each other very often. I knew I could count on him and he knew he could count on me. Like all of us he was not perfect, but he got on his knees every morning to ask for help to get through the day and every night to thank God for his help. He regularly worked at becoming a better man. Once he said to me that he didn't know what his ministry was. He struggled like many of us with what God wanted him to do. When I said he was already doing it he was surprised. Allen was a leader in AA for over thirty years, and God used him mightily to help people restore their lives and many to come to know God as their higher power. Allen died today and I don't think you'll find any headlines, but he lived a life that made a difference doing God's work. I'm sure today he heard "Welcome home my good and faithful servant." See you some day my friend.

Joy In Service

I arrived at church this morning to find the commons
ready for the start of Joseph: Journey from Prison to Palace. This is a different application of Vacation Bible School because it will include people of all ages. It was clear on arrival that a lot of energy and preparation had gone into this event already. Later in the morning some of the presenters were in the midst of the congregation between services in costume and the excitement level was huge. You could feel the high energy in the air. When I was in Mattapan at The Church of the Holy Spirit we had a large energetic congregation and I can remember some of the same excitement over activities. Resurrection has a great staff and a large congregation and I love being part of that again. I will be heading back to church in a moment or two to be part of the first night of the program. I know we have a significant preregistration, but I hope we are overwhelmed with the turnout. Our children really do need to see that we adults are as committed to grow in faith as we expect them to be. No area is more important than our understanding of God for our life long learning plans.

Nearly Over

Amanda & Ryan are two of those special people God has placed in my life. I've watched Amanda grow up from a baby to a wonderful Christian woman, wife & mother. I didn't meet Ryan until he was in high school and coming to Camp Dennen. He has a spark in eyes and clearly has a gusto about life. I'm not sure I'll take him golfing again though. On one hole he hit a line drive chip shot that required my demonstrating my great athleticism. I had to leap in the air as the ball went right between my legs. Oh the thoughts that went through my head. Seriously I think they are a great couple. Our time together this week has been a really wonderful time of sharing, some mine and some theirs, about life today and in the past. I love company and they have been perfect company. I have gone my way at times and they have gone theirs, but our time together has been relaxed and meaningful. I love getting to know Maddie, she too is a treasure. In many ways the week has been too short.

It has made me think about all the great young people that God has put in my life from Camp Dennen and from three parish experiences. A few I get to follow a little on Facebook but most are just found among the treasured memories they have given me. I wish many of them could spend a week with me. I love seeing what God has done with their lives. I introduced Ryan to friends the other day and said he was among the many young adults that called me uncle Dana. So many adults, including my biological relatives, with whom I really do feel in my heart like they are family.

Memories Are Made Of This

The pictures are from the 4th of July field games at Camp Dennen in 1986. It seems like this year many people have been remembering the good times that we had for many summers at Camp Dennen. July 4th brings out most of those because we did all the old fashioned field games and then in the afternoon water games and then the chicken BBQ. You would think in modern times that these old things would lose their appeal, but right up until the camp closed the games on the 4th were as popular as ever. One year we managed to be there with our grandkids when I was no longer the manager. They loved it too. My picture was in the paper a few times in my life. I think the first was on the front page of the New Bedford Standard Times for winning the blueberry pie eating contest and you knew immediately by looking at the picture. i might have been eleven at the time. That picnic was only for newspaper boys.

People seem to avoid the old fashioned and simple things of the past, and yet when they get involved in them they have a great time. I hear from all kinds of young adults how much they wish they could share those experiences with their children. I'm not talking about all calm well behaved people. It didn't seem to matter when they were involved in those simple things. They all miss it.

Perhaps all this modern entertainment just distracts us from what is really good for us and healthy and enjoyable. I think we get hooked on tension and action. Perhaps we have exceeded what God intended for us. Perhaps the simple and natural are really better than all these electronic improvements. It doesn't seem to me that it makes people happier, and it definitely has not made society better. Come to think of it I don't miss the good old days, just the good old ways.

Simply Children

I arrived at the beach today to find Ryan building a sandcastle with his daughter Madison. They have been visiting for one day and she is so special. Charming and confident with a winning smile and an absolute confidence in her mom and dad, she is so comfortable to be around. I like to be around little kids like that. What you see is what you get with kids. At church there is a little girl that holds back and hugs her mom and dads legs when she leaves church. She doesn't tremble and it is not fear but it is an I'm not sure who I can trust behavior, but i know I can trust mom and dad.

I want to be like that with my Lord. I want to be Maddie in the presence of my God. I want to have that ultimate trust and confidence in my Savior. The Bible says we believers are the children of God and yet most of the times I think we act more like teenagers. I'm better now than earlier in my life at just accepting what God wants as being what is best for me, but like a teenager I can have a tendency to question everything and rebel at times.

Jesus said. "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." The world says grow up. God says be my child. Maddie reminded me today what that looks like.

Church Is Not A Building

One of the summer activities for the Church of the Resurrection is our church at the beach cookouts on Wednesday evenings at the Myrtle Beach State Park. Last night the social gathering had an added dimension. We did have our usual cookout and fellowship time, but during that time I was having a wonderful conversation with a teenage boy who was seeking to be baptized. When we moved to the water after dinner as usual, we gathered in a more unusual way to conduct the baptism right there right then. It was exciting for those gathered but especially for Caleb Christian who had chosen baptism. I saw people with tears in their eyes and other with expressions of great joy and excitement. Standing out in the waves saying the prayers and moving the book up high each time a wave crashed against me was exciting, but did not take away from the seriousness of the baptism. Church is the mission and work of Christ in the world wherever it happens. It is not just what happens in the building on Sunday in fact the most effective church of the first century had no buildings but had a huge number of baptisms. Let's be the church not just go to the church. Christ did some of His most important work last night without an altar or a stained glass window. I loved it.