Missing you!

Dear Friends in Christ -

The ironies of life sometimes make me laugh. The irony I'm thinking about today is that in the midst of St. Paul's 12-week season of talking about spiritual disciplines, my own discipline of writing daily in this blog - a discipline which I kept faithfully for over 2 months - has completely fallen apart. Ugh!

In this midst of this, I've learned something: I miss communicating with you all this way! And I've heard from some of you that you miss hearing me. I feel blessed in having this mutual affirmation of this holy habit.

And so I press on. Today, I found on a paper stashed in a pocket something that I had saved to share with you. It's a note written by a priest friend of mine to his congregation. The truth of this resonated with me. I hope it resonates with you, too, and blesses you in continuing to share goodness with those around you.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Dear Friends,

Here is a story I like to tell.

"A man and his son were walking in the forest. Suddenly the boy trips and, feeling a sharp pain he screams, "Ahhhh!" Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, "Ahhhh!"
Filled with curiosity he screams, "Who are you?" but the only answer he receives is "Who are you?" This makes him angry so he screams, "You are a coward!" and the voice answers, "You are a coward!"
He looks at his father, asking, "What is going on?"
"Son," the man replies, "pay attention." Then he screams, "I admire you!" The voice answers, "I admire you!" The father shouts, "You are wonderful!" and the voice answers, "You are wonderful!"
Then the father explains. "People call this 'echo,' but truly it is 'Life'! Life always gives you back what you give out. Life is a mirror of your actions. If you want more love, give more love. If you want understanding, give understanding. If you want people to be patient and respectful to you, give patience and respect. This rule of nature applies to every aspect of our lives."
Life always gives back what you give out. Your life is not a coincidence, but a mirror of your own doings."

When I stop to think about it, it's uncanny how true this is. The people I know who only give out only disinterest or skepticism or bitterness or passive victimism. That's about what they get back. It's an ugly cycle. And then I think about the people who just give out funny stories and hope and optimism and trust and blessing. And that's about what they get back. You choose. I choose.

Blessings,
David+