Excitement of Children

We are so spoiled as adults. We have lived through so much that was fun and we become dissatisfied with what we have done. I'm not sure it is human nature but is certainly an easy trap that we want the newest and biggest and best. I have been reminded of the excitement of children this week. One of my nephews has two young children and I have watched them be filled with excitement over some of the same simple things that excited my children and grandchildren. Olivia with her tea party that took hours to prepare. Cameron with a bike ride around the block and how fast he could go. The beach and sand castles and walking the dog all show a measure of excitement. I have returned to a more simple life in some ways. I don't go out to eat and I cook and live a simple life. I walk the beach and swim and play golf. I can't say those things excite me, but I am certainly content. I do excited when I am involved in worship and especially when peaching I get excited. I just wish we could retain some of that child like simplicity. We need back to basics and not in school. We need it in life.

The Newest Boynton

My nephew Kevin is in his early forties and was late to get married. I performed the ceremony for Kevin and Jill on Mother's Day in 2008. I'm not sure if they thought they would ever have children at that point in their lives, but they have indeed had a lovely little girl. What an adjustment for two people who had lived single lives for so many years. First to married life and now to parent life. I thought it was so appropriate when they named their daughter Grace, because what a gift of God for these two wonderful people, who a couple of years ago might have thought this to be impossible. I met Grace for the first time yesterday and this afternoon had my camera when she was placed in my mother arms, another great grandchild. It was also interesting to watch my brother hold Grace and feed Grace and burp her and all those things as Kevin and Jill spent some time at the beach. I loved being and Bumpa but I had never seen my brother with his grandchildren as babies or even as children. His other two grandchildren were at Kevin's wedding but not really with my brother Terry much. I could see that same love in his eyes that I can remember so well from those years in my own life. I do chuckle a little when I think that my youngest grandchild is seventeen and his oldest is six. My great grandson is three and yet I'm five years younger than he is. It seems odd that my family is so much older than his. I do wish him the same happiness with his grandchildren that I found with mine. They are Grace indeed.

Family Time

Since moving to Myrtle Beach I've had the pleasure of spending more time with my brother Terry who comes here with some regularity. In Massachusetts we always had a regular family connection with Marsha's side of the family, but we always had limited contact with my side of the family. My family for many years lived scattered in Florida, Virginia and Wisconsin. This weekend my side of the family is here at least with my mom and my older brothers piece. I've always liked family time. Something comfortable happens for me when family gets together. I know that is not always true and I'm not even saying that it has always completely been that way with me, but it has been very rare for me to feel uncomfortable with family. I'm not in this blog talking about our nuclear family, although we may have been separated from them by miles for a lot of years it never felt that way. The telephone kept us in contact and time together was special. It is the extended biological family I'm talking about. I've had so much extended family that is not biological and that has been another kind of gift. I got to perform or at least participate in the weddings of most of my nephews and nieces. I got to baptize some of their children. I loved all the formal and informal opportunities to be family. Marsha also valued family above almost everything. This weekend is a good time with so much family here together. I'll cherish what I have.

Play With the Pro

I've been having fun on the golf course. I play with guys like me. Older guys with limited ability who have fun playing the game but who are past their most athletic years. Some of them are clear that their drives and other shots get shorter by ten yards a year. I feel pretty good when I play with that crowd. In fact I'm pretty good in comparison with that group after playing as much as I do. Tomorrow will be a definite reality check. I play with my nephew who gives golf lessons for a living and who spent years striving to become a tour pro because he was close in many ways but far away in others. he has the game but is a step below what will make a real living. He's sure he'll shoot a 69 tomorrow and I know when he hits the ball I will just stand and stare. I'll have fun anyway but it won't be one of those days to build my ego. It's a good thing I really like him.

Busy Not Bad

Friday night was a program at church with an award winning author and speaker. Pat and Dave went with me. Saturday I played golf with my Saturday group and then went to a dinner party at Pat & Dave's. Pat even wanted me to help and that was great. Sunday started at 6:30 AM with the hanging of a large banner across the altar at church. The picture shown is of the same altar on the day of Marsha's service. I helped with the services as usual and then after a restful afternoon had an opportunity to speak at a Cursillo gathering at church Sunday night. It was busy but it was not bad. I realized that I love the fact that I don't have to be in charge of anything. I loved teaching but you can't do it without being in charge of everything. I loved being a priest but I have to admit the most fun was at the Church of the Holy Spirit where I had a lot to do but was not in charge of most things. As a rector my job was a gift. I loved being a rector but in hind sight, even though I had lots of help from parishioners, I always knew I was ultimately in charge. I really like this not being in charge, it frees me to just participate at my pace at my level. Maybe I should have found a way to not feel like I was in charge years ago but I can't see how it doesn't go with the territory.

Power and Presence

Tomorrow in the church calendar is Pentecost or Whitsunday. In church history it celebrates the day the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit with a miraculous display of God's power working in them. God's presence through the Holy Spirit brings character change and development to us. I love the fruit of the spirit because they are the character work that God does in us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. That character development grows the ability in me to have inner peace when it wouldn't be expected or patience when I used to be impatient. I can love more and more without any strings attached. These are not my human goals or achievements but rather the work of God that happens by allowing the Holy Spirit to be more and more the genuine presence in my soul.

Pentecost or Whitsunday however is more about the power of God to accomplish through us what we are unable to accomplish in our own abilities. A whit is an old name for a spirit. We are always keenly aware of our senses, and give great preference to those things that can be measured by our senses. The growth of science elevated the importance of our biological senses, but we retain the vocabulary that provides evidence of the past value given to our spiritual resources. The spelling of whit became wit and we all know we need to keep our wits about us, or we might come to our wits end. And if we do something completely foolish we might be called a dim wit. So many times I have known what to do because of the Holy Spirit. People sometimes say to me how did you know, and my answer is only that I know because I know. I have somehow learned to sense the leading of God's spirit, which is his desire for us all, and I just know because I know. When you know you have to tell a young woman who has been struggling with an inability to get pregnant that God says she will be pregnant very soon just because you know God really wants her to know it can get a little scary. I told she and her husband with some fear and trembling. What would she think and what if I was wrong, but I knew because I knew and indeed she was pregnant very soon. Example after example could be given of places I went and things I knew I needed to do because of the Holy Spirit. I celebrate tomorrow because the reality of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life has been amazing and more amazing. What a gift freely offered to us all.

Prayer

I have talked about prayer so many times with people and so often all I get is the glassy eyed blank stare. It becomes clear that they are in a complete state of disbelief when I speak about the ways in which God has answered prayer. Sometimes I must admit I let it get to me because it feels like they are calling me a liar when I tell them about my experience and then I look into their eyes. With others the look or the words portray that thought that answered prayer is only a coincidence and then I think they must judge me foolish to hold such illogical beliefs. I so much want people to understand my reality about the power that is available through prayer to meet needs. Often the prayers are not for my own benefit but on occasion they have been personal. The house in the picture is an example. When I accepted the call to be rector of the church in Whitman, Marsha wanted to live close to the church. At the time we lived in Wrentham almost an hour away but we began looking for a house in Whitman. The closest we could find was about a mile away and that wasn't bad, but the house was small and not what we wanted either by it's location or quality or price. We asked the church to pray for us to find a home close to the church and we actually had and agreement on the house in the picture before the realtor's sign in the picture went up on the lawn. The sign went immediately to sold. The house was great, in fact it was magnificent. For Marsha and I it was a perfect home for our present and when we sold it also for our future. Our grandchildren all thought this was the best place for us and for them when they came for a month in the summer. Some of their best memories were in that house. The house was diagonally across the street from the church and it was the same price, almost, as the tiny slanted ceiling house a mile away. Coincidence people might say. Well if you live in my skin and you keep track of the large and small answers to prayer that continue to happen it just becomes impossible odds for so many coincidences to happen as a result of the prayers of one person. I also have friends both clergy and regular folks who have similar lists which defy the odds. I know I have a relationship with a gracious God who cares about us and who listens and answers prayer. Some prayers are not answered the way I want. Clearly Marsha would be alive today if all my prayers were answered the way I want, but I trust God even in this circumstance. Day by day I find God answering my prayers as I cope with my grief and the changes in my life. How can I do anything but praise the God who has answered so many prayers, and how could I keep silent and keep this blessing to myself when I know God wants us all to come into the fullness of that blessing. Thank you Lord that somehow we met and I came to find the deep love you have for us and the blessing you desire to shower upon us. Praise you and thank you Lord.