A Note From Father Bob
Once, an old prospector came into a saloon and ordered a glass of milk with a shot of whiskey in it. While the bartender was fixing the drink, the old prospector wandered over to speak to some friends. Before he returned to the bar, a man came in wearing a thread bare black coat. He walked over to the bar and timidly said: “Sir, I am a poor traveling Methodist circuit rider. I’ve just made it across the desert. Could I have that foamy glass of milk I see you’ve just poured?” “Take the milk”, the bartender said with a twinkle in his eye. “We are glad to have you in town. Take the milk and drink up!” The preacher drank the milk real slow, savoring every drop. Then he looked up toward heaven, and with a smile on his face he declared: “Lord, what a cow!”
Have you ever been surprised by the generous bounty of God? Has God ever overwhelmed you with such a gift that all you could do is thank Him?
I am afraid too many of us are like the lady who went to a local church to ask for help with her rent. She told a sad story to the minister, who said he would try to help her. The preacher put out the word to his church, and soon collected a sizeable donation to help with her rent. When he went to the woman’s house with the donation, she didn’t answer the door. He kept trying to no avail, so he left and never was able to give her the donation for her rent. Some time later he learned that the lady had been home the whole time, but was afraid to answer the door because she thought it was the landlord who had come to collect the rent. All the time, she cowered behind the door, when the answer to her plea was right outside the door.
God gives us so much…but how often, in our fear, do we miss out on the answer to our prayers? How often do we miss the bounty God has in store for us? “Consider the lilies of the fields… if God clothes them with such beauty, will He not also provide for our every need?” Most of the time, all we need to do is open our eyes to see God’s gifts all around us.
As you take the Parish Survey, which the search committee has sent to each member, prayerfully consider all the gifts that surround us at St. James. Consider who we are and what we have in our parish family. What do you treasure, appreciate, and participate in at St. James? Share this to help us call the right priest to share in these treasures, as well.
Bob +
