THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRES

6-5-08

“He touched people we don’t even know about, he made a difference in the lives of people we don’t even know.”

These were the words spoken by Duke’s son, as he reflected on his father’s life as we prepared the memorial service. His dad was a member of this church for over 40 years, sang something like 1600 anthems with our choir, and gave of himself in numerous ways. He was a leader, whose life bespoke service and patience and also childlike playfulness and curiosity. He died of complications after an auto accident. We miss him terrifically, and will likely miss him more as days go by.

His son is right of course. Not only about his dad, but about each of us: God gives us the capacity to use our lives to bless others and change the world. We will, like it or not, touch others whose names we don’t even know.

C.S. Lewis once said that every person we meet will one day be a creature so twisted that we will no longer be able to recognize their humanness; or else a creature of such indescribable beauty and holiness that we will be tempted to fall down in worship. This is the destiny of each of us.

And every interaction we have, he said, with everyone we meet, moves them a step closer to one of those destinies or the other.

Our kindnesses, our gestures of mercy or love make a difference. Similarly, our abruptness, our mean-spiritedness, and our thoughtlessness also matter. They touch and change us, and they touch and change others.

Kevin came in today to talk about the ability to see and love beauty that was still present in his mother, even 2 days before her death from cancer. He spoke of her capacity to see, cherish, and acknowledge small kindnesses; that a lifetime of training her eyes to see goodness and beauty held her in good stead as her life neared its close.

And in my conversation with our executive presbyter this afternoon, he said, “I am convinced that there are miracles going on all around us- but we walk as if we have blinders on!”

God is at work, my friends:

using our words and actions to touch others,

Offering us small miracles of grace and beauty,

Showing us that the Spirit is present.

This Sunday, we will baptize a young child and promise to raise her to see the gifts God is continually offering, to help her recognize the miracles, to help her know about following Jesus so that her life may touch others for good.

Also this Sunday, we will bless our graduates and give thanks for their presence in our midst as they have grown up. We will pray for how their lives will go on to touch others.

And we will confirm 7 young people who feel ready to choose discipleship and unite with this community of faith to join us on the journey.

It is a sacred journey we share, my friends. “In life and death we belong to God, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. ..” May we live as people who treasure the gift of life, who know the power of our actions, who have eyes to see the miracles of grace. Amen.

P.S.- when you show up on Sunday, look carefully at the sanctuary we call home: it has a gorgeous coat of fresh paint, and looks brand-new and beautiful! a small miracle we helped make happen!