Scattered and Gathered

Thursday morning at sunrise I stood in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Towering slabs of stone seemingly rise up from the foundations of the world to form a site so breath taking it was named, “Garden of the Gods.” One does indeed feel small and is overcome with wonder, almost awe, standing in the shadow of these monuments. That afternoon I was sitting in the Colorado Springs airport, hoping my flight would not be delayed (which happens to me with increasing frequency) and I was looking out the window at the beginnings of the Rocky Mountain range. Colorado Springs is on the front range and anytime you look to the west you see a vista so breathtaking, it would surely never get old if one lived there.In the midst of all this beauty, I texted a picture to my wife from the Garden of the Gods and one from the airport of the Rocky Mountains and it just said this, “As glorious as all this is, it is nothing compared to you and home.” I wasn’t trying to be sentimental or maudlin, but seriously, the mule was headed to the barn and I was jonesing to get home to my people, my place.So for about three weeks most of us in our parish have experienced this. Three fall breaks have scattered us from Canada to Florida. We have taken breaks from the normal and healthy routines of life to enjoy sabbath, rest, and refreshment. And after Sunday we all will be gathered back for a while. I don’t know about you, but as good as scattering is, home is always better. What really makes a place great is the people you love and the investments you have made.Many of our staff are still scattered Sunday and it is our privilege to have Dr. Charles McGowan preaching for us about God’s invincible purposes in our lives. His text is a familiar one—Romans 8:28. Aside from being a great preacher of the gospel, Dr. McGowan loves to be at St. Patrick for other reasons—his daughter and her family are members here. So Martha Murphy will feed her dad all the greatest food in the world and we will be privileged to be fed Sunday by him.Blessings,Jim