New Retirement Job

Dear Friends

I know it sounds like an oxymoron (“retirement job”) but I am happy and excited to share that I signed a 7 month contract this past Thursday, to be the part-time interim priest for St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Carmel Valley (just a six hour drive north of Corona). 

The time they will need me could be a bit shorter or longer depending on when a new rector is called and can start, but at this point I will start on All Saints Day, November 1^st , and my last Sunday might be May 31^st, the Day of Pentecost. We will be back once in a while for a quick visit, including some time after Christmas and Easter. (They said I had to work those two holidays!)

As we are surrounded by vineyards, please stop by for a glass of grape juice if you are ever in the area, or, for an alcoholic alternative, a glass of wine. In either case, no stomping will be required!

We can’t believe how blessed we've been. This will be the seventh ministry opportunity since I have retired. Thank God for Kathleen who has promised to nudge me to step back when I start “losing it”, and in the meantime, for her support and gifts which have contributed so much to each of the seven wonderful experiences we have had. I wouldn't have said yes to any of these opportunities without her.

Thank you for your love and prayers as we begin this new adventure. We will stay in touch.

John

P.S. St. Dunstan’s is an inclusive parish.......they just hired a devout Dodger fan into San Francisco Giant country!

A terrible feeling

Dear Friends (and especially Dodger fans)

Even when we are speechless, it still helps to try to express our feelings in some way. I don't think that slogan from ABC's Wide World of Sports many of us grew up with  ("the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" ) is an accurate description of this picture of Clayton Kershaw. It is deeper and more personal. He described it after the game as a "terrible feeling. It really is."

It is a huge disappointment right now, but against the backdrop of eternity, of course, it is not even a blip on the screen. 

From all I've heard and read, Clayton Kershaw, more important than being a great baseball player, is a good man of faith who loves God and his family. He will get through this. I don't know what scripture has or will come to his mind, but the one that comes to my mind (taken out of its theological context) is Paul saying "Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13,14)

I wonder many players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame without a World Series ring? I hope Clayton is wearing one someday, but if not, he will still get the recognition he deserves. And of course God recognizes and loves all of us, even if we tried out and didn't even make the team.

Thank you Dodgers for a great season, filled with many magical moments which provided a happy distraction and temporary escape from other current events!

One bad pitch, one bad inning, doesn't define a season. And any one of our "bad days" does not replace all the good we still do and share with others. Of course sports uses the terms "wins" and "losses", "winner" and "loser". But in God's kingdom, those terms don't exist; we are all beloved children.  

And in the end, that's all that matters.

John

Junk Mail Revisited

Dear Friends

Are you feeling neglected?  Feeling unimportant?  Feeling blue?

Then just go away for three months, come back, and open your mail. This is what I found, and boy, am I feeling good!

+Several offers to buy my house “as is” for cash! One included an actual picture of my house from “a public online website”. Thank you Cassie and Robin and ………

+An “expert” will be in my neighborhood on October 18th, and is willing to talk to me about how to get out of my timeshare contract! (I don't want to, actually).

+An appeal to renew a membership included a real nickel! Should I feel guilty about keeping it, even if I don’t renew?

+Another appeal to re-instate a lapsed membership said they would send me an insulated trunk organizer free, for just $12!!! Sounds like a priest I knew who used to give free spiritual advice for a dollar. What should I do?

+Several people invited me to a “complimentary dining event” at fancy local restaurants which included, to quote one invitation, “an educational discussion.”

+Several notices were “time sensitive”. One said “please open immediately”.  Another said “Limited Time Offer. Act Now”. The problem is that these arrived several weeks ago. At least I was warned.

+One piece of mail did not make me feel good. It made me feel guilty. It was about a contest I hadn’t even entered, but I might be receiving the “winning number” in two days! Indeed, another large brown envelope from the same address said “WARNING, claim your number or it will be forfeited.” But that’s not all. The scolding continued “John, our records show that you have IGNORED PRIOR NOTICES and are at risk of not responding. Please understand that you cannot win unless you act immediately.”

I’m sorry. I was out of town. I understand.

Except for this last example, I must question the term “junk mail”?  How about “feel good mail”. I never knew so many people liked me! I mean, a perfect stranger sent me a nickel! Others wanted to buy my house, as is, for cash!

What’s that? Oh, the mail truck just pulled up. Time to end this blog and go get the mail. I hope I’m not too late.

John

P.S One last example for those who want extra credit for reading this blog to the end. I received a nice card which said “Thinking of You”. I opened it up and two VIP tickets fell out ($149 value each) for an “Exclusive Live Free Dinner Event”. The message was “Do you suffer from the 7 most common nephropathy symptoms?”  This free gourmet dinner is exclusively for me if I have numbness, sharp electric pain, cramping, burning pain, aching, prickling/tingling feeling, difficulty sleeping. And here is the clincher: “Seating is limited”. If I am experiencing these symptoms, do I want to attend anything where seating is limited?