June is a time of change.

2010-05-10T01:40:00.000-07:00

Atop my desk sit three calendars. I use each of them to help me determine the schedule and orchestration of activities each month of the year, each week of the month, each day of the week and finally, the organization of the hours entrusted to me on a daily basis. One calendar records the “world’s” celebrations. It was created by The National Children’s Cancer Society, and each month it depicts “backyard birds” from around the country. The graphics are outstanding; the snippets of stories from people’s lives that are living with cancer share a small portion their journeys which need to be told; and the dates list what is happening regularly. For June – Flag Day, Father’s Day, and the First Day of Summer are noted in bold type. The month of June also sees Graduations of many kinds, most commonly from Grammar School, Middle School, and High School. The majority of colleges have graduated their students in May so they may enter the work force as early as possible.

June brings with it a definite sense of “vacation” – or at least the hope that everyone can “get away” for awhile – a change of pace and routine of life; a change in the weather – warmer, brighter, longer days; a change in the opportunities we enjoy – BBQing, getting to the movies more frequently, ice cream, picnics in the park.

The second calendar on my desk is a liturgical, church calendar. It gives me different information about my sphere of life. It tells me which church Season we’re in; what Saint or Apostle, or Celebration is current in the month; what color is appropriate; what marks the progress of understanding God’s presence in the world and learning how to live the fullest possible life of faith. Over the more than six decades of my life I have learned that ‘living’ is a liturgical activity – no matter what calendar we choose to follow regularly. For Christians, the month of June opens the Season after Pentecost. It’s the longest Season of the church year, and encompasses 26 weeks – generally from mid-May to late-November, and each week focuses on a particular aspect of Jesus’ teaching and ministry – which sets the example for each of us.

The third calendar I carry with me where ever I go. It’s my personal, daily log of life. I record, hour by hour, the tasks I need to do each day, the people with whom I come in contact, the activities, meetings, events at which I am expected. It is my journal and my friend; without it I’m lost – or at least what I think is the productive, accomplishment oriented facet of who I am. It helps me record the people in my life - their anniversaries; our contacts; our time together; the stories we share; the things we create together; and the potential of that which we commonly build. I’m not of a mind to use the newest palm pilot, or cyber/electronic tools. I still cling to the heftier, totable type of calendar. I need something to hold on to.

Perhaps this is the ground upon which I have my being – something to hold on to. For me, it is knowing God in the fullest sense possible, which makes hope possible. It is God who brought all things into being; who knows us and calls us his own. Our lives’ journeys, marked daily in this world, are a recording of the points which connect us to things larger, more wonderful, glorious, and mysterious than we can ever imagine – and yet is so intimate, caring and compassionate, that each moment gives witness to the delight of being alive.

“Jabez” is only mentioned once in the Bible, in the Hebrew Scriptures (I Chronicles 4:10). He is a man of faith, and his prayer has been recorded for eternity. I have never found him “celebrated” on a calendar; but he is one of my daily companions. He asked of God: “Oh that you would bless me, and enlarge my territory, and that your hand would be with me, and keep me from all harm!” God granted what he asked.

May God grant you a peaceful June, a time of refreshment this summer and sense of wonder and delight in all of life.

Vicar St. John & Martin

June is a time of change.