I love the scene from Peanuts in which Linus is marveling to Lucy that two holidays fall on the same day – Independence Day and the Fourth of July – Imagine that!

We are all beside ourselves these days.  Political partisanship and cultural polarization are normative in our times.  So many are outraged, soaked through and through with self-righteousness and indignation, yet we are all so selective. 

I believe in devotion.  My God has been devoted to me.  He has been devoted to my church – “Devoted” as in “faithful to a fault.” 

Sometimes a development in life comes with stunning effect. One such recent development did for me.

Most of you will be familiar with the old adage that “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.”  It is common coinage to note that the beginning of March is naturally cold and windy, laced with at least the threat of storminess, while its end bears witness to the dawn of spring, replete with April showers that are a necessary prelude to May flowers.  I suggest to you that, at least for this year, we are experiencing a reversal of the established order.

“Now is the winter of our discontent

Made glorious summer by this sun of York;

And all the clouds that lour’d upon our house

My lovely little Baptist church recently held its Annual Christmas Prayer Dinner.  We received amongst us some very special guests – Ten seminarians who are in training for the priesthood, accompanied by their priestly mentor, Father Chris Cook, and who live in the old convent at St. Matthew’s.  It proved to be a heavenly admixture!