Thursday, February 24, 2011
Stewardship Sunday
Video streaming by Ustream
Here is the recording to the 10:30 a.m. Stewardship Service at St. Boniface from 2/6/2011.
There is a "Teaching Moment" before the beginning of the service on Hymn 333.
You will find the reading of the Gospel at time marker 22:20.
You will find the Stewardship Sermon, given by Mr. Bob Elliot, at time marker 24:15.
Thank you for your time in watching this the service from St. Boniface, especially this Stewardship Service.
Also, we acknowledge Mr. Tom Miller for his 13 years of service as the Acolyte Director at time marker 45:52.
If you have any comments, please feel free to leave them by clicking the comment button at the bottom of this post or send me an email.
God Bless,
Kenny
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, Feb 20, 2011
Video streaming by Ustream
Here is the Sunday, February 20, 10:30 a.m. service from St. Boniface Episcopal Church.
The reading of the Gospel begins at the 18:20 mark with the sermon following.
Here is the letter and blog post I refer to in my sermon.
If you are interested, here is the link to the 8:30 a.m praise and worship service.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
An open letter to our leaders
To: An open letter to Governor Walker, Senator Darling, Representative Ott,
From: The Rev. Kenneth C. Miller, Rector of St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Mequon
Date: February 17, 2011
RE: Statement on Collective Bargaining Rights of Public Employees and Unions
Budget seasons are always hard and tough decisions always need to be made. When there are financial crisis such as the ones facing the United States or the State of Wisconsin, those elected to serve the people of the State are under even more pressure to more faithfully serve the common good, both in the immediate and the long term future.
However, I would caution the elected leadership of Wisconsin against fear and panic. While this very well may be a time to ask the people of the State of Wisconsin “not what the State can do for you, but what you can do for the State”, I would strongly urge you not to devalue the workforce of this state by stripping away their right to assemble and right to collective bargaining because of the economic state we find ourselves in today. Your goal of shared expenses can still be accomplished without telling the great people of Wisconsin that they are less valuable and without muting their voices.
At the same time, Unions have had both a positive and, at times, negative effect in our country. However, I understood Wisconsin to be a state on the cutting edge of development and of progress. It seems to me that by totally removing the vast majority of the Unions of the public sector, you as the elected leaders miss a most valuable opportunity to re-organize the Labor Movement into a more profound and positive progressive venue for labor negotiations, equality and fairness and to once again be a leader in this country.
For the sake of political gain, I hope you will not marginalize or shun the citizens of Wisconsin, specifically those who have worked so very hard to make sure that Wisconsin has one of the best educational systems in the country, are some of the most conscientious and some of the most caring individuals I’ve ever met. After having lived in five states and five cities, I was proud and thankful to call Wisconsin “home.” In my view, this bill that is on the table is a step backward. It is a step that I hope you do not take.
Therefore I urge you to reconsider your plans to strip the collective bargaining rights of your public employees and unions.
The Rev. Kenneth C. Miller
Mequon, Wisconsin
My personal thoughts, feelings and convictions about what is happening in Wisconsin.
From: The Rev. Kenneth C. Miller, Rector of St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Mequon
Date: February 17, 2011
RE: Statement on Collective Bargaining Rights of Public Employees and Unions
Budget seasons are always hard and tough decisions always need to be made. When there are financial crisis such as the ones facing the United States or the State of Wisconsin, those elected to serve the people of the State are under even more pressure to more faithfully serve the common good, both in the immediate and the long term future.
However, I would caution the elected leadership of Wisconsin against fear and panic. While this very well may be a time to ask the people of the State of Wisconsin “not what the State can do for you, but what you can do for the State”, I would strongly urge you not to devalue the workforce of this state by stripping away their right to assemble and right to collective bargaining because of the economic state we find ourselves in today. Your goal of shared expenses can still be accomplished without telling the great people of Wisconsin that they are less valuable and without muting their voices.
At the same time, Unions have had both a positive and, at times, negative effect in our country. However, I understood Wisconsin to be a state on the cutting edge of development and of progress. It seems to me that by totally removing the vast majority of the Unions of the public sector, you as the elected leaders miss a most valuable opportunity to re-organize the Labor Movement into a more profound and positive progressive venue for labor negotiations, equality and fairness and to once again be a leader in this country.
For the sake of political gain, I hope you will not marginalize or shun the citizens of Wisconsin, specifically those who have worked so very hard to make sure that Wisconsin has one of the best educational systems in the country, are some of the most conscientious and some of the most caring individuals I’ve ever met. After having lived in five states and five cities, I was proud and thankful to call Wisconsin “home.” In my view, this bill that is on the table is a step backward. It is a step that I hope you do not take.
Therefore I urge you to reconsider your plans to strip the collective bargaining rights of your public employees and unions.
The Rev. Kenneth C. Miller
Mequon, Wisconsin
My personal thoughts, feelings and convictions about what is happening in Wisconsin.
Who is "unnecessary" in today's society?
Please read this letter to our elected Wisconsin leaders as well.
Almighty God our heavenly Father, send down upon those who hold office in this State the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice; that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN! (Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, p. 822.)
One thing I have learned, probably before I was ever ordained, and definitely over my ordained life, is that if you are engaged with the Gospel and the life of the parishioners of your church, there is no way to totally separate religion and politics. From Mary’s conception of the Christ child, to the angel of God’s appearance to Joseph convincing Joseph to adopt the Son of God as his own, to the traveling of the Theophany couple to Bethlehem, to the finding a room in a stable, to the discussion of the Magi with Herod, to the Magi returning home on a different road, and many other points of the story that I didn’t mention, the story is political ... and that is just the story until Jesus’ birth. The political story says nothing of Jesus turning over the tables in the Temple, Jesus’ Baptism, Jesus healing on the Sabbath, or Jesus dining with prostitutes, lepers and the other “untouchables” of his time. The very essence of Jesus the Christ is political.
Having said all of that, there is a definite taboo of standing in our pulpits, especially Episcopal pulpits, and preaching on the political issues of the day. (Not to mention the threat of losing our non-profit status.) If we as clergy in the Episcopal Church, even outside of our pulpits, begin to speak about the evils of abortion, the benefits of the death penalty, the abnormalities of homosexuals, or the right to carry guns, we are labeled as right-wing fanatics. If we talk about the rights of women’s free choice, the evils of the death penalty (remember “Thou shall not murder”?), equal rights for all people of this country, or limiting the gun laws and where we should be allowed to carry guns in public places, we are labeled progressive left-wing nuts and “un-American.” Either way, half of our congregations would stop attending and the other half would stop giving. And heaven forbid that you point out that irony of being “pro-life” when the child is in the womb, but “pro-death penalty” when someone is an adult. Then you are said to be mixing the issues and told, “It has never happened to you.”
I preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that, my friends, is very political. I do not tell people how I vote or for whom to vote. That would be wrong. I ask parishioners to examine their life, examine their Baptismal and Confirmation teachings, examine the teachings of the Gospel and the Church, and then make their decisions based on who they are in relationship with God and where they are on their spiritual journey with God. In the Gospel, we are called to see that we are loved by God, to see that we are sinners, to repent of our sins, and to share God’s love with the world -- and not necessarily in that order.
In the Episcopal Church, when we are baptized, when we witness the baptism of another child of God, or when we make our public profession of our faith, we are asked and then answer the following questions with, “We will, with God’s help”:
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? (Book of Common Prayer, pp. 304-305)
These three parts of the covenant are central to who we are as followers of Christ, regardless of denominational affiliation.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is asked by the Sadducees which commandment is the greatest. Jesus responds by telling the group gathered around him that, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NRSV).
The first two questions that I reference from The Book of Common Prayer are directly related to this passage from Matthew. If we are loving our neighbors as ourselves, then it follows that we would want justice and peace among all people. I know we as individuals want our dignity respected, so we should respect the dignity of others as well. We all know that sometimes, we have to make sacrifices that require caring for ourselves now, so that we can be in better health later. We also know that we as individuals would never want to give up certain freedoms we have now so that our children or grandchildren couldn’t enjoy what we now enjoy, such as the freedom to practice our religious convictions, beliefs, or practices. Or have the opportunity for safe working conditions. That is respecting the dignity of all human beings, not just those that are gathered now, but the ones yet to come.
And this, then, is where it gets political. We are all children of God, regardless of whether we are Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, another faith or even no faith. In all of our faith traditions, we have similar teachings of loving God above all things. The question for us all becomes, “What/who is our God?” When we say “God,” do we mean the creator of heaven and earth? The Supreme Being of all of our faith traditions? Or when we say “God,” do we mean that which gives us meaning, that in which we put our faith and love, and look to for redemption? Or, when we say “God,” do we mean that which gives us comfort in this world and pays our bills?
I mention this last sentence in regard to the third question I quoted from the Baptismal Covenant, “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305). We as clergy and as members of the Body of Christ must stand against tyranny and evil when we see it happening. We must stand for the rights of individuals and of communities and to be voices in protecting the individuals from oppressive governments where rights are limited, and people are treated as mere spokes in a wheel instead of the very essence of what makes the wheel continue.
In Matthew’s Gospel, it also is written, “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24, NRSV.) At some point, those in positions of public trust are going to have to choose between serving the wealth, the big bottom lines of corporate America and maintaining a balance of fair Labor Laws (respecting the dignity of others, loving your neighbor as yourself, and seeking and serving God in all people, not just Big Business), not only in the state of Wisconsin, but in Tennessee, Ohio, New Jersey, and other states around the country. It is time for the voices of the people to be heard. When we couple the tax breaks for businesses that was passed in early February here in Wisconsin, along with this measure to recover the lost revenue from the paychecks of the working class of Wisconsin, it makes one wonder who we are serving. One of these measures without the other seems fine on the surface. Yet putting these two issues together, along with other measures to be proposed by this legislative session, this becomes not a question of what is “right” for the state employees to pay, but one of justice. Is it just to give businesses a big tax break and to have middle class Wisconsinites completely pay the bill, regardless of where they are on the pay scale?
There has to be a better way. There has to be a “middle ground.” It is time for those with hidden agendas to stop trying to break down all of the progress of this country, and to stop hiding behind a facade of allegedly caring for the people. It is time the Gospel to be heard. Search deep...who/what is your God in this situation? What are you worshipping, the almighty dollar or the almighty God? It is time for this country to stop the self-serving political wrangling, acknowledge the sin, repent and return to God.
The Gospel is political. Jesus is political. Being a priest is counter-cultural. Believing in God is counter-cultural today. Using a personal/sick day to go to the State Capitol to have your voice heard in peaceful protest is not only your right as a U.S. citizen, but something that Jesus himself did during his ministry. Maybe that’s why we crucified him, because he stood up for those without a voice. Jesus stood up for those being oppressed or shunned or thought of as unnecessary in their society. Who will you stand up for? Who will stand up for you?
Almighty God our heavenly Father, send down upon those who hold office in this State the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice; that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN! (Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, p. 822.)
One thing I have learned, probably before I was ever ordained, and definitely over my ordained life, is that if you are engaged with the Gospel and the life of the parishioners of your church, there is no way to totally separate religion and politics. From Mary’s conception of the Christ child, to the angel of God’s appearance to Joseph convincing Joseph to adopt the Son of God as his own, to the traveling of the Theophany couple to Bethlehem, to the finding a room in a stable, to the discussion of the Magi with Herod, to the Magi returning home on a different road, and many other points of the story that I didn’t mention, the story is political ... and that is just the story until Jesus’ birth. The political story says nothing of Jesus turning over the tables in the Temple, Jesus’ Baptism, Jesus healing on the Sabbath, or Jesus dining with prostitutes, lepers and the other “untouchables” of his time. The very essence of Jesus the Christ is political.
Having said all of that, there is a definite taboo of standing in our pulpits, especially Episcopal pulpits, and preaching on the political issues of the day. (Not to mention the threat of losing our non-profit status.) If we as clergy in the Episcopal Church, even outside of our pulpits, begin to speak about the evils of abortion, the benefits of the death penalty, the abnormalities of homosexuals, or the right to carry guns, we are labeled as right-wing fanatics. If we talk about the rights of women’s free choice, the evils of the death penalty (remember “Thou shall not murder”?), equal rights for all people of this country, or limiting the gun laws and where we should be allowed to carry guns in public places, we are labeled progressive left-wing nuts and “un-American.” Either way, half of our congregations would stop attending and the other half would stop giving. And heaven forbid that you point out that irony of being “pro-life” when the child is in the womb, but “pro-death penalty” when someone is an adult. Then you are said to be mixing the issues and told, “It has never happened to you.”
I preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that, my friends, is very political. I do not tell people how I vote or for whom to vote. That would be wrong. I ask parishioners to examine their life, examine their Baptismal and Confirmation teachings, examine the teachings of the Gospel and the Church, and then make their decisions based on who they are in relationship with God and where they are on their spiritual journey with God. In the Gospel, we are called to see that we are loved by God, to see that we are sinners, to repent of our sins, and to share God’s love with the world -- and not necessarily in that order.
In the Episcopal Church, when we are baptized, when we witness the baptism of another child of God, or when we make our public profession of our faith, we are asked and then answer the following questions with, “We will, with God’s help”:
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? (Book of Common Prayer, pp. 304-305)
These three parts of the covenant are central to who we are as followers of Christ, regardless of denominational affiliation.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is asked by the Sadducees which commandment is the greatest. Jesus responds by telling the group gathered around him that, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NRSV).
The first two questions that I reference from The Book of Common Prayer are directly related to this passage from Matthew. If we are loving our neighbors as ourselves, then it follows that we would want justice and peace among all people. I know we as individuals want our dignity respected, so we should respect the dignity of others as well. We all know that sometimes, we have to make sacrifices that require caring for ourselves now, so that we can be in better health later. We also know that we as individuals would never want to give up certain freedoms we have now so that our children or grandchildren couldn’t enjoy what we now enjoy, such as the freedom to practice our religious convictions, beliefs, or practices. Or have the opportunity for safe working conditions. That is respecting the dignity of all human beings, not just those that are gathered now, but the ones yet to come.
And this, then, is where it gets political. We are all children of God, regardless of whether we are Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, another faith or even no faith. In all of our faith traditions, we have similar teachings of loving God above all things. The question for us all becomes, “What/who is our God?” When we say “God,” do we mean the creator of heaven and earth? The Supreme Being of all of our faith traditions? Or when we say “God,” do we mean that which gives us meaning, that in which we put our faith and love, and look to for redemption? Or, when we say “God,” do we mean that which gives us comfort in this world and pays our bills?
I mention this last sentence in regard to the third question I quoted from the Baptismal Covenant, “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305). We as clergy and as members of the Body of Christ must stand against tyranny and evil when we see it happening. We must stand for the rights of individuals and of communities and to be voices in protecting the individuals from oppressive governments where rights are limited, and people are treated as mere spokes in a wheel instead of the very essence of what makes the wheel continue.
In Matthew’s Gospel, it also is written, “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24, NRSV.) At some point, those in positions of public trust are going to have to choose between serving the wealth, the big bottom lines of corporate America and maintaining a balance of fair Labor Laws (respecting the dignity of others, loving your neighbor as yourself, and seeking and serving God in all people, not just Big Business), not only in the state of Wisconsin, but in Tennessee, Ohio, New Jersey, and other states around the country. It is time for the voices of the people to be heard. When we couple the tax breaks for businesses that was passed in early February here in Wisconsin, along with this measure to recover the lost revenue from the paychecks of the working class of Wisconsin, it makes one wonder who we are serving. One of these measures without the other seems fine on the surface. Yet putting these two issues together, along with other measures to be proposed by this legislative session, this becomes not a question of what is “right” for the state employees to pay, but one of justice. Is it just to give businesses a big tax break and to have middle class Wisconsinites completely pay the bill, regardless of where they are on the pay scale?
There has to be a better way. There has to be a “middle ground.” It is time for those with hidden agendas to stop trying to break down all of the progress of this country, and to stop hiding behind a facade of allegedly caring for the people. It is time the Gospel to be heard. Search deep...who/what is your God in this situation? What are you worshipping, the almighty dollar or the almighty God? It is time for this country to stop the self-serving political wrangling, acknowledge the sin, repent and return to God.
The Gospel is political. Jesus is political. Being a priest is counter-cultural. Believing in God is counter-cultural today. Using a personal/sick day to go to the State Capitol to have your voice heard in peaceful protest is not only your right as a U.S. citizen, but something that Jesus himself did during his ministry. Maybe that’s why we crucified him, because he stood up for those without a voice. Jesus stood up for those being oppressed or shunned or thought of as unnecessary in their society. Who will you stand up for? Who will stand up for you?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
A Reflection on a Snowy Day
If I’ve learned one thing this week, it is that we must live in the moment of where we are and with what we have.
Let me back up...for the last couple of days, we’ve had this impending snow storm threatening most of the greater mid-west. Milwaukee was to be the just on the north side of the storm and then, at the last moment, the storm took a northward turn and we were to take the storm head on.
In the days prior to the snowstorm, I made my trip to Dick’s Sporting Goods and finished purchasing snow-bibs and snow boots for my wife and daughter and snow-bibs for one of my sons. The rest of us (the other three) had our stuff, or the rest of our stuff already. As this is our first winter in Wisconsin, I’ve been slowly buying these necessities in preparation for the “Wisconsin snows”, but the time finally arrived when I had to buy the last few items en masse so that the entire family was properly fitted. (I had bought mine as a Christmas present to myself from my family so that I could enjoy Lambaugh Field and and the Packers win over the NY Giants on Dec 26!)
After going to be last night listening to the howling wind (and having to practically drag my 140 pound dog outside for one final bathroom trip), we drifted off to sleep knowing that we didn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn because school had been canceled for the children and I, the scared southerner, had closed the church. But we also went to sleep not knowing if we would actually get any snow or not. Afterall, during the last Wisconsin “blizzard”, we actually LOST five inches of snow because it rained more than it snowed.
Much to my delight, when I woke up, there was snow...and a lot of it! Now, I live in Mequon which is just north of Milwaukee. According to the “unofficial” measurements that I took in my driveway and in the driveway of the church, we received about 21” of snow in 3 days. Of this 21”, 14” fell in the early morning hours of February 2, 2011. I think the “official” total was 18.7” at the Milwaukee airport for the 3 days. (Then, we had some terrifically awesome snow drifts. Some were 2 feet and some were almost 6 feet tall!)
After breakfast, my entire family, all five of us, donned our snow-bibs, snow boots, heavy coats, thinsulated gloves and toboggans and went out into this winter wonderland! The kids and my wife went sledding on the already large mounds of snow that had collected from the previous days plowing of the church parking lot and were made even bigger by the over night snow. The boys found huge icicles that they carried around like walking sticks. Our dog was playing with sticks, digging in the snow, chasing the kids and absolutely loving where he was.
After sending the boys inside because they had almost as much snow inside their coats as they did outside their coats, my wife, daughter and I walked around the church building for an “inspection” of the property. When we made it to the back of the building (which is actually designed to be the “front” entrance) we spotted the six-foot snow drift along the glass windows of the building. I wanted to investigate further. Against my wife’s better judgement, I climbed over the drift and was able to get behind the drift to the building itself. My wife followed along behind me, and then there came the dog! Then we had to go back...And we were faced with a climb up instead of a gradual incline. We were able to safely get back over the drift, which in the place where I “climbed” over was more like four feet now. However, when I did, we saw my daughter laying on the top of the portion of the drift that was 6 feet tall. Then my wife laid down beside her and me beside my wife. The dog just looked at us like we were crazy. We laid there, looked at the beautiful blue sky and talked for about 15 or 20 minutes. (The snow-bibs and coats did a fantastic job of keeping us warm!)
We finally came in and as I looked at our back porch and the clothes strewn all over them and the snow covered boots laying everywhere, I knew that I was the luckiest man alive. I was looking at the signs of a happy family...something that I truly hadn’t seen, or maybe taken the time to notice, for a really long time. I felt as I was Kevin Spacey in American Beauty
and I was having my “American Beauty Moment” and fortunately, my wife was as happy as I was!
See, all of this was taking place on her birthday. I didn’t get her a big cake or a fancy card or even an extravagant present (her boots and bibs were her present!). But what we shared today was a day enjoying our kids, the life that they have...that we have together as a family. I realize over and over how happy I am, how proud I am, how thankful I am to have the life that I have, to have the family that I have, to be where I am.
Sure, I could complain that we had so much snow that we were snowed in or that it was 70 degrees in somewhere else and that they had beautiful weather (even though I think this weather is beautiful!). Or, I could complain that the snow plow company didn’t come plow our drive until almost 5pm or that they still haven’t plowed the church parking lot, but what’s the point. What is so important that I have to go out and do something or been seen by others or be perceived as being the priest that is out doing the ministry of the church when my first ministry is acknowledging the gifts we are given, caring for that which we have around us, and stopping long enough in this hustle and bustle we call life to give thanks to God for all that I have and what he calls me to be: A husband, father, friend, confidant, stick-thrower, shoe-tier, coat-buttoner, hood-putter-upper, family loving, loved by my family and blessed child of God.
And while I’m writing this at nine o’clock at night, most all of this took place before noon today. And if you can believe it, the rest of the day just got better.
Thank you God for a wonderful family, for putting me in this place, and for allowing be to be where and who I am.
I realized that as I sat on top of that snow drift, I actually sat on top of the world!
I had a great day. Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife. I hope you enjoyed “your day” as much as I did.
Let me back up...for the last couple of days, we’ve had this impending snow storm threatening most of the greater mid-west. Milwaukee was to be the just on the north side of the storm and then, at the last moment, the storm took a northward turn and we were to take the storm head on.
In the days prior to the snowstorm, I made my trip to Dick’s Sporting Goods and finished purchasing snow-bibs and snow boots for my wife and daughter and snow-bibs for one of my sons. The rest of us (the other three) had our stuff, or the rest of our stuff already. As this is our first winter in Wisconsin, I’ve been slowly buying these necessities in preparation for the “Wisconsin snows”, but the time finally arrived when I had to buy the last few items en masse so that the entire family was properly fitted. (I had bought mine as a Christmas present to myself from my family so that I could enjoy Lambaugh Field and and the Packers win over the NY Giants on Dec 26!)
After going to be last night listening to the howling wind (and having to practically drag my 140 pound dog outside for one final bathroom trip), we drifted off to sleep knowing that we didn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn because school had been canceled for the children and I, the scared southerner, had closed the church. But we also went to sleep not knowing if we would actually get any snow or not. Afterall, during the last Wisconsin “blizzard”, we actually LOST five inches of snow because it rained more than it snowed.
Much to my delight, when I woke up, there was snow...and a lot of it! Now, I live in Mequon which is just north of Milwaukee. According to the “unofficial” measurements that I took in my driveway and in the driveway of the church, we received about 21” of snow in 3 days. Of this 21”, 14” fell in the early morning hours of February 2, 2011. I think the “official” total was 18.7” at the Milwaukee airport for the 3 days. (Then, we had some terrifically awesome snow drifts. Some were 2 feet and some were almost 6 feet tall!)
After breakfast, my entire family, all five of us, donned our snow-bibs, snow boots, heavy coats, thinsulated gloves and toboggans and went out into this winter wonderland! The kids and my wife went sledding on the already large mounds of snow that had collected from the previous days plowing of the church parking lot and were made even bigger by the over night snow. The boys found huge icicles that they carried around like walking sticks. Our dog was playing with sticks, digging in the snow, chasing the kids and absolutely loving where he was.
After sending the boys inside because they had almost as much snow inside their coats as they did outside their coats, my wife, daughter and I walked around the church building for an “inspection” of the property. When we made it to the back of the building (which is actually designed to be the “front” entrance) we spotted the six-foot snow drift along the glass windows of the building. I wanted to investigate further. Against my wife’s better judgement, I climbed over the drift and was able to get behind the drift to the building itself. My wife followed along behind me, and then there came the dog! Then we had to go back...And we were faced with a climb up instead of a gradual incline. We were able to safely get back over the drift, which in the place where I “climbed” over was more like four feet now. However, when I did, we saw my daughter laying on the top of the portion of the drift that was 6 feet tall. Then my wife laid down beside her and me beside my wife. The dog just looked at us like we were crazy. We laid there, looked at the beautiful blue sky and talked for about 15 or 20 minutes. (The snow-bibs and coats did a fantastic job of keeping us warm!)
We finally came in and as I looked at our back porch and the clothes strewn all over them and the snow covered boots laying everywhere, I knew that I was the luckiest man alive. I was looking at the signs of a happy family...something that I truly hadn’t seen, or maybe taken the time to notice, for a really long time. I felt as I was Kevin Spacey in American Beauty
and I was having my “American Beauty Moment” and fortunately, my wife was as happy as I was!See, all of this was taking place on her birthday. I didn’t get her a big cake or a fancy card or even an extravagant present (her boots and bibs were her present!). But what we shared today was a day enjoying our kids, the life that they have...that we have together as a family. I realize over and over how happy I am, how proud I am, how thankful I am to have the life that I have, to have the family that I have, to be where I am.
Sure, I could complain that we had so much snow that we were snowed in or that it was 70 degrees in somewhere else and that they had beautiful weather (even though I think this weather is beautiful!). Or, I could complain that the snow plow company didn’t come plow our drive until almost 5pm or that they still haven’t plowed the church parking lot, but what’s the point. What is so important that I have to go out and do something or been seen by others or be perceived as being the priest that is out doing the ministry of the church when my first ministry is acknowledging the gifts we are given, caring for that which we have around us, and stopping long enough in this hustle and bustle we call life to give thanks to God for all that I have and what he calls me to be: A husband, father, friend, confidant, stick-thrower, shoe-tier, coat-buttoner, hood-putter-upper, family loving, loved by my family and blessed child of God.
And while I’m writing this at nine o’clock at night, most all of this took place before noon today. And if you can believe it, the rest of the day just got better.
Thank you God for a wonderful family, for putting me in this place, and for allowing be to be where and who I am.
I realized that as I sat on top of that snow drift, I actually sat on top of the world!
I had a great day. Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife. I hope you enjoyed “your day” as much as I did.
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