Your story reminded me of when it happened to me, it being my stumbling into the liturgy and into the river and into the arms of all those saints known and unknown who have offered up the prayer and worship that has sustained the Church. And still does. Otherwise there is no Church for us to wander into, and there is no long pew for us to travel, and there is no place to hear the Story of us all.
My long ago first steps in the world of the liturgy came during Advent when we were all slouching toward Bethlehem to be born — as opposed to Lent when we are all slouching our way toward Jerusalem to be killed. But your story reminded me of mine and for that I am grateful.
The stories also reminded me of one of my favorites in The Book of Common Prayer — “You have made us one with Your saints in heaven and in earth : Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to Your power and mercy.”
Ash Wednesday is only a few days away.
Happy Anniversary to you kind sir. Bring on the ashes, let us celebrate.
And let us be reminded of the power and the mercy that will surely come upon us, no matter where and what we are slouching toward these days.
