From the Rector's Desk

What we don't see.
This isn't the most pleasant example, but it was an experience that opened my eyes to begin thinking about all in life that I don't see.

I lived in downtown Toronto in my early 20's. There was park right out front of the co-op housing where I lived.  It was a well-used park.  Many, many people walked through it, played in it, and took their dogs to it.  And there was always dog poop to avoid.  The poop drove me to distraction.  I would lie awake at night (now you'll know how crazy I can be!) and imagine myself with a camera, lying in wait, taking photos of the offending dogs and their owners, and then making posters out of the photos in order to shame the people too lazy to pick up their dog's business.  I wanted revenge.  Every time I stepped in some poop, my fury would be triggered anew.

Until I shared my frustration and my fantasy with someone who said, “Why don't you take photos of all the people who DO pick up after their dogs? You'd probably find that the offenders are a small percentage of all dog owners.”  And in that instant, I knew she was right.

With this pandemic, there are people who have been frustrated with restrictions placed on their movement.  Many do not know anyone who has been directly impacted by the pandemic; those who have died, those who have lost a loved one, or know someone struggling with long COVID.  When we walk around, we don't see who is missing, who is ill, who is a caregiver dealing with long term stress and burnout.  We don't know who is a paramedic or an undertaker, tasked with the gruesome havoc the pandemic has created.  We just see what is in front of our eyes.  We don't see who or what is missing. I once wrote ICBC with an idea for an ad campaign.  I never heard back from them but here's the idea:  don't repair damage from rear end accidents for a month.  Have the people drive around with their dented bumpers with a large sticker saying how many vehicles are damaged by people driving too fast and not stopping in time.  I thought such a visual might have a big impact. We don't see what is hidden, or even in plain eyesight.

When we sit in church, we see who is there.  Maybe we notice when someone we know is not there.  But we cannot possibly see who is not there and might really want or need to be there. Someone who is lonely, searching.  Someone who yearns for spiritual nourishment, community, music, compassion.

And we often don't appreciate, or see what it is we have, until it's gone.

That's so true of our loved ones.... we get used to their presence.  We get caught up in irritations about small things and miss the big picture – that we are loved and able to love. You know the frog in boiling water example?   A frog is put in a pot of cold water which is put over a slow low flame. The frog doesn't notice the incremental change in temperature until it's too late.  We often don't know what we have until it's gone.

We need to develop keen eyesight.  The kind of eyesight that enables us to see God's presence and action in difficult times; that notices the changes in the world around us as species diminish and die out; that wonders “who is not at the table?” and cares enough to go out to find and invite those people in.

When we don't see someone, it doesn't mean we aren't connected.  The presence of someone's absence is a real thing. People who are mourning will know what I'm referring to.  And it doesn't have to be a death.  Just being separated physically from our loved ones over the pandemic is an experience of a real yearning that actually does keep us connected.  We can’t see the yearning, we feel it. What we don't see is essential to a balanced world view. We can't presume to know a person's past, we can't pretend to know the future, we don't know all the good works going on in the world that more than balance out the 'news' we get from the media. Our worldview influences what, who, and how we see.

We don't see Jesus. We don't see God. But we can see their presence and action in the world if we start to practise seeing through the eyes of faith.

The good news is written in our hearts and in the world; the Bible simply gives us a glimpse and some guidelines for how to begin to see what is not easily seen with unpractised eyes. “I once was blind, but now I see, was lost but now am found.”

I will soon be absent from your midst, but my love and prayers will be with you always.  You will remain in my heart.  And the work we have done together, in liturgy and in the community, remain at St. Mary's.  We have grown.  God will continue to bless and gift us all.  Thanks be to God.

With love and gratitude,
Selinde  

Don’t forget about the ANNUAL VESTRY MEETING via ZOOM Sunday February 27, 2022; 12pm.  Watch for the ZOOM invite Kat will be sending next week.  

LENTEN STUDY BOOKS are in!
From Living Compass, the group from whom we have been getting our booklets for Advent and Lent these past years, comes Living Well Through Lent 2022 – Letting Go with All your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind.

Available in the narthex on Sunday or from KAT in the office. We’re asking for a $4 donation to go towards costs.  

                           

More gift bags full of tasty treats tied up with a bookmark expressing our appreciation and prayers were delivered earlier this week to the 4th-floor staff at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital who care for COVID patients. Five volunteers took the money you donated and made up the bags: Mary H, Janet H, Jan E, Maggie M and Mary S.  Mary H presented the bags to Marysia Riverin, the Spiritual Care Coordinator at the hospital, who was happy to receive them on behalf of the staff.  There is money left over from this project so let’s see what other good work we can do!   

REMINDER:

                                                     

She’d love to see all of you!   

 

  We need your HELP, Sunday Readers!  

Please sign up on the brand-new Readings Roster.  Otherwise poor Rev. Alan may have to read everything in the service!      

    Flower Donations

Please don’t forget about the Flower donation sheet for a special Sunday to remember a loved one’s significant dates.  

The Diocesan Post is now called Faith Tides and it has moved online. Read the February issue at faithtides.ca     

Elaine thanks everyone for dropping off egg cartons.  However, she no longer needs them, as her “girls”, aka chickens, are going to a new home!        

A Quote for your week...from Elaine C, on the beauty of imperfection: 

“The best beauty product is to have a life. A real life. With challenges, disappointments, stress, and laughter. ”
- Terry Hershey