The Way We Looked at Things. When the sudden storm hit the Oktoberfest site last Friday, hundreds of man-hours of preparation were suddenly reduced to mangled tents, soaked exhibits, ripped table covers, and a rejected or dampened spirit. But it did not stay that long - there was an immediate consensus that we can still salvage another day. Although tired, the positive spirit was there, the joyful disposition slowly came back, we can still do this… we just need to come back earlier (6:30am) the following day, get organized and set all things up again. In the prayer we did last Friday after the storm, we ended it by saying: “God is good, all the time.”
Who says miracles do not happen? Well, we had one this Oktoberfest. For the many volunteers who came to set it all up again, and the positive attitude of the point persons and leaders, it was a double blessing, a test of character and resiliency – more importantly, it was a real example of heart for service and mission.
As the spiritual leader of the parish, I am very proud of the positive spirit of our volunteers, at the same time humbled by their dedicated service. Because of the positive way we looked at Friday afternoon’s setback, we accomplished something greater than the financial success of the Oktoberfest, the living out of the St. Rose Mission Statement: “A welcoming and joyful community committed to making disciples by igniting and strengthening faith in Christ, and the celebration of God’s gift/grace.” This was so apparent with the Oktoberfest volunteers… each celebrating their gifts in the form of service, manning the different booths, taking care of all the logistical demands (food, auction, fun games, entertainment and even the sanitation and trash), and committee heads or those in-charge providing leadership, all in one celebration of God’s gift in action.
In the Gospel this Sunday, Bartimaeus was given a NEW SIGHT. When things happen differently as planned, we just need to have a new sight. In an ever changing world, we as a people of God have great need for “new sights every so often, for a listening that understands, for creating structures that facilitates, for ministries that really serve without a tag, and a leadership that enables.” (Fr. Basil C.) The blind Bartimaeus reminds us that every seeing can always be: a new way of seeing things. One way of looking can make a big difference. Like a dog spelled backward is GOD, evil spelled backward is LIVE, and devil spelled backward is LIVED.
So let us pray using the words of St. Richard: “Day by day, O dear Lord, three things I pray… to see thee more clearly… to love thee more clearly… and to follow thee more closely. Day by day…”
Be in God
Fr. Bing