An Armful

I thought I might write a little of my disjointed thoughts tonight.

It occurred to me today that on November 3^rd we had a great All Souls service that was hosted at the Marcotte Funeral home and was a great moment for all who were grieving to come together.  I did not at the time write a note about how very good that night was. The All Souls Mass is particularly special to a lot of people here at the church and special to those whom we have assisted in their hour of grief. Our Worship team did and unbelievable job of making a great night happen and the real sense of meaning and purpose from the liturgy was a direct result of their work and dedication. The choir was awesome as usual and we were grateful to the Arbour Funeral Services staff for their hospitality. It was a good night.  (To see a great little video of that night just CLICK HERE. I made the video on November 4 and have been meaning to upload it.) 

In the meantime there has been a lot to occupy my mind with the ever changing face of St. Mark’s by-the-Lake. If you have not been by the parish webpage at www.stmarkschurch.net please take a moment and have a visit and see the videos of the changes at the church. Watching what Fausto Volpatti can get accomplished with a crew of people in short order is unbelievable. The work is well done and the place is really going to be so wonderful when completed. We really have a lot to look forward to.

With all of this activity comes lots of works and lots of distraction. I admit that these past few weeks I have felt a little discombobulated. I have been trying my level best to keep all the balls in the air and from time to time I drop one or two. I have mentioned more than twice, I believe, that Robert frost is my favourite poet. This poem of his comes to mind.

 The Armful
by: Robert Frost

For every parcel I stoop down to seize
I lose some other off my arms and knees,
And the whole pile is slipping, bottles, buns,
Extremes too hard to comprehend at. once
Yet nothing I should care to leave behind.
With all I have to hold with hand and mind
And heart, if need be, I will do my best.
To keep their building balanced at my breast.
I crouch down to prevent them as they fall;
Then sit down in the middle of them all.
I had to drop the armful in the road
And try to stack them in a better load.

I am sure that you must have those days too. You know the ones, where it all seems a lot to juggle around. I have at times in the past week or so felt as though ‘the whole pile is slipping.’ Funny (funny odd, I mean) how you can restack the whole thing differently after you drop it, all of it! I think that is where I arrived this past Monday.  There I was, ‘sitting in the middle of them all.’ There I dropped, figuratively, all of my packages and parcels.  I just let them drop. At that moment I was able to ‘stack them in a better load.’ And right there were people ready and willing to not only help me restack that which I must carry, but also prepared to take a parcel or two off my hands so that my load is a little easier to manage. Thanks!

If I have not done a well enough job balancing the parcels that you have entrusted me with, please forgive me and be patient and know that ‘With all I have to hold with hand and mind and heart, if need be, I will do my best.’   

I am fortunate to have been invited into ministry here at St. Mark’s by-the-Lake. This is a very loving and compassionate place that is powerful in God’s love devoted to God’s service. Each day affords me a new opportunity to see another person witness to me what it means to be a minister for God. The baptised here have a firm command of living to make the world better. Being a part of that means that when things get as woolly as they have been here lately, I can be secure knowing that God’s work continues in the powerful priesthood of all believers.

I have begun this past week restacking the pile of stuff that you might need me to carry.

If I have forgotten a package, please lovingly let me know. I want to ‘try and stack a better load.’  With your help, we will carry the armful!