Dear Friends
I have been blessed to have the opportunity to have another letter to the LA Times published, expressing in words what many are thinking. I hope it brings a good measure of hope for 2028!
Full letter follows headline, picture and on-line introduction
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Last Friday, Kathleen and I celebrated our
50th wedding anniversary. We are mindful that not
everyone, for a variety of reasons, reaches this milestone. So as we give
thanks for this blessing, we are also thankful that God’s love and blessings come in many different ways and forms, and
enrich all our relationships.
But if someone were to ask me what my
advice would be for a healthy marriage, a few
words and phrases come to mind: friendship, kindness and respect. Communication.
The desire to be with each other no matter what we are doing. Being on the “same
page” about most things including values, but also honoring the fact that we
each have our own pages to live and enjoy. Being able to laugh (see pictures above) and cry together. Knowing we are loved for who we are, quirks and all. Being
able to apologize and forgive.
And perhaps the most important gift we’ve
tried to remember is that we invited God, that we invited Christ to be the
third person in our marriage, something that is made
clear in the wedding liturgy. We repeat vows and make promises not using the
phrase “I do” but “I will”; in other words, I will from this day forward, with
God’s help, with Jesus’ help.
Before the opening procession at our
wedding, we had a friend sing a hymn. It is a poem by George
Herbert set to music by Ralph Vaughn Williams. Its words are for everyone who calls God to be the center of their life. We all need to be reminded
that God, that Christ, is our constant companion who will help and guide us through
the changes and chances and challenges of a marriage, and any relationship we
have.
“The
Call” by George Herbert
Come,
my Way, my Truth, my Life;
Such
a Way that gives us breath,
Such
a Truth as ends all strife.
Such
a Life as killeth death.
Come,
my Light, my Feast my Strength;
Such
a Light as shows a Feast,
Such
a Feast as mends in length,
Such
a Strength as makes his guest.
Come,
my Joy, my Love, my Heart;
Such
a Joy as none can move,
Such
a Love a none can part,
Such
a Heart as joys in love.
John
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy said, "We choose to go to the
moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they
are easy, but because they are hard". In the successful Artemis
II mission, we have witnessed the hard work, using America's
passion and skills to begin our return to the moon in this decade.
Is it asking too much to also put our passion and skills into the hard work of pursuing peace?
One prominent person in the news currently, is fueled by an insatiable thirst for revenge and retribution against individuals and nations. His words are not worth repeating.
Another prominent person had something to say that is worth repeating: "I think as we go into Easter Sunday thinking about all the cultures all around the world---whether you celebrate it or not, whether you believe in God or not---this is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing. And that we got to get through this together."
Thank you, Artemis pilot Victor Glover, for those words, and thanks to many others pleading for peace and unity, including Pope Leo XIV. Let us hope and pray those doing the hard work of peacemaking are listening.
John Saville
Corona, CA.
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The picture above is the headline from the on-line
version of my latest letter published by LA Times this morning. Below is the
content of the letter from the print edition.
John
Pilot's words are worth repeating
Re: "Artemis II crew ends its historic lunar voyage", April 11th
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy said, "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard". In the successful Artemis II mission, we have witnessed the hard work, using America's passion and skills to begin our return to the moon in this decade.
Is it asking too much to also put our passion and skills into the hard work of pursuing peace?
One prominent person in the news currently, is fueled by an insatiable thirst for revenge and retribution against individuals and nations. His words are not worth repeating.
Another prominent person had something to say that is worth repeating: "I think as we go into Easter Sunday thinking about all the cultures all around the world---whether you celebrate it or not, whether you believe in God or not---this is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing. And that we got to get through this together."
Thank you, Artemis pilot Victor Glover, for those words, and thanks to many others pleading for peace and unity, including Pope Leo XIV. Let us hope and pray those doing the hard work of peacemaking are listening.
John Saville
Corona, CA.
Dear Friends
For many years, I joined members of St. John’s in
Corona’s community 5k race called “Run for the Crown”.
Today, instead of running for the crown, I
walked for the medal (above) in the inaugural “Corona 5000 Road Race" (same distance as a 5k).
I had mixed emotions at the starting line. I
was thankful I was healthy enough to participate and complete the course, but
sad that I was not (by choice) going to be running it. And then the official announcer and
starter, among other encouraging words for the hundreds who had gathered said, “BE AT PEACE WITH YOUR PACE”. Those words were so helpful to me at that
moment! They will stay with me for a long time, and I will try to apply them to
other parts of my life.
And then came the singing of the national
anthem. Given the current conflict, I inwardly bristled when
the line about “bombs bursting in air” was sung, saddened that we are still
wondering, as the old song put it, “when will it ever end?” I think singing "Let There be Peace on Earth" would have been better, but no one asked me to pick the hymns!
Some scriptures come to mind about peace including
Romans 12:18---“If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably
with all.” This verse is
surrounded by others, including not
repaying evil for evil.
Finally, on a brighter note,
just a half mile from the finish, two little girls (who reminded me of my two grand-girls)
were seated on the curb with signs that said, “You got this”. Along with
the words about being at peace with your pace, they were encouraging words that
will also stay with me for a long time.
John
P.S Speaking of walking, last Tuesday, our new
archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, began an 87 mile walk from St. Paul’s
Cathedral in London, to Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury where she will be
officially installed this Wednesday. She took the “Becket Camino” route, with family members and others. She is using a "cane"; I didn’t. She gets a fancy
new hat; I got a medal. 😊
Dear Friends
I can’t help thinking about how I would have used the
two illustrations above if I had been preaching somewhere last Sunday. While the
Department of Homeland Security is describing the ICE operation in Maine as
“Catch of the Day”, Jesus said in yesterday’s gospel to Peter and Andrew,
“Follow me and I will make you fish for people”.
Describing immigration enforcement in Maine as “Catch
of the Day” is neither cute nor clever. It is demeaning and disgusting. Even
the “worst of the worst” (a phrase I also detest) are human beings. And as we
know, Trump’s wide net has been catching many who are the furthest from
this description.
The use of this phrase is just another example of
where this administration’s mean mind and heart is, and it flies in the face of
everything we proclaim in our baptismal covenant.
Were Christians who are all in for Trump and were aware of
the Maine slogan, feeling any discomfort if they were sitting in church
and hearing Sunday's gospel call?
John
I can’t help thinking about how I would have used the
two illustrations above if I had been preaching somewhere yesterday. While the
Department of Homeland Security is describing the ICE operation in Maine as “Catch
of the Day”, Jesus said in yesterday’s gospel to Peter and Andrew, “Follow me
and I will make you fish for people”.
Describing immigration enforcement in Maine as “Catch
of the Day” is neither cute nor clever. It is demeaning and disgusting. Even
the “worst of the worst” (a phrase I also detest) are human beings. And as we
know, Trump’s wide net has been catching many who are the furthest from
this description.
The use of this phrase in this context is just another example of
where this administration’s mean mind and heart is, and it flies in the face of
everything we proclaim in our baptismal covenant.
Were Christians who are all in for Trump and aware of
the Maine slogan, feeling any discomfort if they were sitting in church
and hearing yesterday’s gospel?
John
I can’t help thinking about how I would have used the two illustrations above if I had been preaching somewhere yesterday. While the Department of Homeland Security is describing the ICE operation in Maine as “Catch of the Day”, Jesus said in yesterday’s gospel to Peter and Andrew, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.
Describing immigration enforcement in Maine as “Catch
of the Day” is neither cute nor clever. It is demeaning and disgusting. Even
the “worst of the worst” (a phrase I also detest) are human beings. And as we
know, Trump’s wide net has been catching many who are the furthest from
this description.
The use of this phrase is just another example of
where this administration’s mean mind and heart is, and it flies in the face of
everything we proclaim in our baptismal covenant.
Were Christians who are all in for Trump and aware of
the Maine slogan, feeling any discomfort if they were sitting in church
and hearing yesterday’s gospel?
John
Dear Friends I have been blessed to have the opportunity to have another letter to the LA Times published, expressing in words what many a...
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