​There have been a few times in my life that I have received a compliment by mistake. Good job on this or that when I didn’t have anything to do with why that thing was good. I often don’t know what to do with those types of compliments. Most of the time, I graciously accept because I don’t want to be the cause of an awkward moment.

​People tend to self-divide into two major categories in my experience: Givers and Takers. No one is totally one or the other, but it seems to me there is a predisposition to one or the other in each of us. Givers default to a posture of seeking to benefit the “other.” Takers lean the other direction, most often concerned with what benefits them. 

T​he life of the Church revolves around a different calendar than the normal January to December calendar. The Church does not celebrate the summer holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day). There is no space in our calendar for the upcoming holiday of Mother’s Day.  

​As a congregation named “Holy Trinity,” we are familiar with the trinitarian name of the One God – “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” That does not necessarily mean that we understand the three persons of the One God, who exists in a union of Divine Love. It is often the Holy Spirit who is overlooked and misunderstood most – at least in our tradition of Christianity. Yet, it is the Spirit’s work that is most obvious in our daily living. The Work of the Spirit is often the most concrete manifestation of God right now, right here.

Last Sunday we confirmed a group of young disciples who have journeyed through the confirmation program for the last three years. Pastor Travis preached about Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who calls his sheep, and they follow because they know his voice. 

George Buttrick was a pastor of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City from 1927 until 1954. He wrote a book on prayer. There is a passage in that book where he tells the story of a man who used a unique illustration to help people see the goodness of God.  ​

​This past Sunday we began a journey towards the cross and then onto the resurrection. In this week we praise, break bread, wash feet, make promises, and then break those promises. We deny, betray, condemn, abandon, grieve, despair, disbelieve, and celebrate. All in this week called Holy.  

Secularization is a big word used to describe a long-term trend in our culture. It refers to the simple fact that all sense of the Holy has been drained out of our existence. When everything and everyone becomes an object useful only for my enjoyment or my purchase, nothing is sacred or holy anymore. The only subject that matters is me because everything is about me. There is nothing bigger than me, beyond what I can consume or enjoy. Life becomes watered down to a simple hedonism – “Eat. Drink. Be merry (not happy or joyous). For tomorrow we die.” 

​I was speaking with someone the other day about being in a hurry even when we aren’t going anywhere.  We get up in the morning and we hurry to make a pot of coffee or a favorite cup of tea.  We must get to our prayer and devotional time.  We hurry from that to then making a list of things to get done around the house. 
​​I act like everything must happen now.