Unexpected Blessings

On Pentecost, I returned to the church that I had served for 29 years for the Sunday morning worship. That Sunday was also Mothers Day and our fortieth wedding anniversary. We married when we were both in graduate school and had no money. I told Gail that I would hitch hike from Chicago to Albany for the ceremnoy because I didnt want to pay for the bus.She insisted that I take the bus and sent me money for the ticket. Our reception was in the church basement. The caterer charged us $2.95 per person for food.

We were in love--times were tough. We moved to an illegal apartmenton the south side of Chicago. Robert Kennedy was assassinated a month after our marriage. King had been killed in April. Times were tough and yet we celebrated as we remembered loving each other and caring for one another through those days and weeks.

So we went to church together. Pentecost was also special because the confirmation class was leading much of the service.

Sixteen months ago, after I announced that I would be retiring in July of 2007, I met Patrick, one of our wonderful junior high youth. He said that he was bummed out that I wouldn't be there to teach confirmation. His concern brought joy to my heart and a decision to create a extra short term confirmation class. So this wonderful group of young people joined the church in 2007--with the understanding that they would continue studying and working together through 2008. So on Pentecost, 2008, they led worship again. When they were planning the service, Pastor Doug, the interim pastor, asked jokingly who was going to preach(he was planning on preaching, since he assumed no one would be willing). Everyone said Patrick should preach. So Pastor Doug asked Patrick, and Patrick said yes.

Patrick is the youngest of four. His parents had divorced and his father had died, when Patrick was about 9. He preached a sermon that he wrote himself on Mother's Day/Pentecost. He spoke powerfully and gratefully about how his mother had helped the children through such difficult times--and proudly said the his brother was now getting his Ph.D. at Harvard. See, mothers care for you and then when you are 18, you have to go out into the world and make you own way. In the same way, Jesus had been with the disciples in human form and then as a resurrected presence and now he has gone away. So the disciples have to act and live and serve based upon who Jesus taugth them to be.

Wow. What a joy--what a blessing to hear Patrick speak so eloquently and so comfortably. His slight nervousness simply reminded us all what a challenge it is to speak before other people and preach the word. I felt so blessed by the opportunity to love and lead this beautiful group of confirmands. I felt blessed and in truth a bit amazed at the throughtullness and grace and faith that flowed from Patrick.

Sometimes, life is filled with pain and distress. Sometimes, blessings just flow down upon us like a mighty river.