The Associate Rector's Reflections: March 1

"O God, from my youth thou has taught me, and I still proclaim thy wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, till I proclaim thy might to all generations to come." Psalm 71:17ff"

Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven pillars..." Proverbs 9:1

Susan Stoker, who until her death last week was the oldest active member of our congregation, was someone who seemed to me to look forward to the future with as much hopeful expectancy, as she looked to the past with wise and discerning remembrance. And above all, she was fully present to the present. Her life, not only in its length (95+ years), but also in its depth, in its true wisdom, and in a deep spirituality that never lost touch with her reason, is a gift of God to her friends, family, Church, community, and world and a sign of how extravagantly generous God is. I personally considered her friendship and companionship on the pilgrim journey of faith in Christ to be both a gift of God that went beyond “churchy” fellowship, and pointed to the possibilities of what authentic Christian community can be.The two person community which she shared with her sister Elizabeth for almost 100 years is a testament to a steadfast fidelity rooted in love. I've asked several folks over the past few days if they could imagine living with a sibling for almost 100 years. Most rolled their eyes and some even intimated that they might have ended up in jail! I'm sure there must have been difficult times between Elizabeth and Susan, as between any siblings, but their lives were lived in that "seven pillared house" called Wisdom, and that divine gift of wisdom led them to trust in a love that continues to have reconciling power, and ultimately to lives which endure with joy and peace. Susan paid me a tremendous complement on the last day I saw her before the stroke which silenced her. She said that in my sermons that I believed that "Christ said what he meant and meant what he said." I have no doubt that I fall short of that mark more often than she generously stated. But what I rejoice in was that what she said was a value to her, that she took the Words of her Lord Jesus Christ seriously, and let them be written on her heart.

"Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister, and call insight your intimate friend...'" Proverbs 7:4 

Peace and Blessings, Bill Bennett, Associate Rector