THURSDAY THOUGHT 8/27/09

August 27, 2009 on 11:33 am | By | In Faith & Forgiveness | No Comments
Simple Faith
 
The first time I met the Rt. Rev. Russell E. Jacobus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac, I liked him.  Maybe it was because when I asked how I should address him, he shrugged and replied, “Bishop … or Russ.”  Since then, I’ve not only grown to like the Bishop, but to admire him, mostly for his simplicity, evidenced to me in two of what I call “snapshot moments.”
 
The first time I met with the Bishop, I was blown away by his office.  Ornate?  Pompous?  Just the opposite!  I had trouble finding it, around the back of a modest four-plex office building.  He and his staff of two were shoe-horned into a suite not much bigger than a living room.  (And when we headed out to lunch, he scooped up a two-for-one coupon from his desk.) 
 
But several weeks ago, while he celebrated mass at our small church in Sturgeon Bay, I saw more of why I admire him.  While distributing Communion, he knelt down to eye level with the young children as he blessed them.  Not that he’s old and decrepit, but (how can I say this, Russ, without getting excommunicated?) he is a “mature” man.  Still, he knelt before perhaps half a dozen children that morning, looked them in the eyes, and gently blessed them. 
 
My point:  I tend to believe that any connection between faith and religion is almost coincidental.  However, with the Right Reverend Russell E. Jacobus, it is a comfortable and faith-affirming reality.  He gently talks the talk and softly walks the walk.  Many of us, especially me, could learn a few lessons from this man.- jri
 
“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve
and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he
must be the very last, and the servant of
all.’
“He took a little child and had him stand
among them.  Taking him in his arms, he
said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of
these little children in my name welcomes
me; and whoever welcomes me does not
welcome me but the one who sent me.’”
 
        –    Mark 9: 35-37
 
Take a few minutes today to remember those special people in your life who guided you, protected you, loved you, instructed you and inspired you.  If they are still among the living, contact them; if they are not, say a special prayer for them.  God bless.
John Ingrisano
DailyConnections
204 Lakeview Drive
Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 559-3722

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