My Mom was some special lady.  She left school, out of necessity, so she could help support her family...and by my account, she was still the brightest woman I ever met.  A world class seamstress, her first job when she came over to North America after World War II was sewing dresses at Eaton's Department Store in Toronto, Canada.  She was an amazing cook, too.  Most importantly, she was a faithful and devout follower of Christ.  It was she and my Dad who first taught me about Jesus and how much He loves me.   

     My Mom was also pretty enthusiastic when it came to her favorite TV shows.  She was quite vocal about what she was watching.  And, if there was some injustice or wrong doing taking place on her show...boy oh boy, she was right sure to speak her mind.  She'd point her finger at the TV screen, shout out what she'd do to the "bad guy" and just how virtuous and noble the "good guy" was.  And I'd remind her, saying, 'Ma, it's only a TV show, its okay.'  And she'd say she knew it was only a show, but it just was not fair how such things are allowed to happen and bad people get away with their bad actions...but worst of all, it's not fair to see good people suffer.  To see how injustice is meted out to the good and upright.  And I understood and appreciated her frustration.  And I appreciated then, as I do now, how utterly saddening and confounding it is to believe in the Truth and have it challenged, ignored and abused by a secular world that seemingly find more ways not to believe. 

     When it comes to our faith, the very things we as Church believe and hold sacred, well, it is not a movie, is it?  No.  It is very real.  It is the very fiber of who we are and constitutes the nature of our being Christian...bearers of the Truth, believers of the Gospel of Life, the Gospel of Christ. 

     Have you ever read the marvelous novel, To Kill a Mockingbird?  This book is just a treat. I strongly suggest everyone find the book, read it and digest it.  The age old battle of good versus evil, right versus wrong, how evil tries to overpower and wrestle the good...it's all in this powerful book.  And in all that darkness, how was right going to outshine the power of darkness and evil?  How was it to happen?  How would Atticus Finch use his honesty and skill and shed enlightenment upon the ignorance that blinded and imprisoned others from the truth?  The eternal conflict--the protagonists against the antagonists who stop at nothing to derail the movement of all that is good!  It's only a book (and an awfully good movie, too).  But it is the stuff life is made of...it is what the Gospel is all about...truth versus evil...good versus bad...the Light versus Darkness.

     St. Anthansius, the great bishop of Alexandria in the 4^th Century was considered by many in his time to be foolish.  You see, St. Anthansius was tenacious in his affirmation and teaching of the full divinity of Christ, along with Jesus' full humanity.  This belief was in contrast to the more popular belief and teaching of Arianism...that Jesus was only semi-divine, only part god.   Anthansius argued in response to his critics, "if the world goes against the truth, than Anthansius goes against the world."  Because of his stance, he suffered much; he was ignored, ridiculed and ultimately exiled...all the while, he never stopped confessing that Jesus is God.  

     In this ever changing and challenging 21^st century it can be painful, almost too much to adhere to the teachings of Christ, his eternal principles and then, adding insult to injury, to be ignored because of our beliefs and practices...again, it can almost be too much.  It's difficult at best to explain why there is valor to 'suffering' in this way.  Then again, we don't hear much today of suffering for our faith.  It's not part of our religious lexicon or vocabulary, at least not the same suffering St. Peter writes about. Yet, we all do, on occasion suffer or encounter obstacles that impede our way and slow us down.  As St. Peter says, "If we put up with suffering for doing what is right, this is acceptable in God's eyes."  Finding favor in God's eyes is pretty important stuff...if God finds it good certainly we all should find it good.  Standing up for what is right, what is just and what is good was never meant to be easy, but the rewards are eternal and provide us riches that are divine!   

     My Mom taught me plenty of sound lessons that have proved me well in my latter years.  But really, we've all been blessed with the teachings and examples of such people as Anthansius, Peter, Mary and Martha and other such saintly beings.  Yet, the only example we really need is Jesus, our Redeemer...we need but follow His lead, adhere to His teachings and with prayer and the Spirit, all will work out...just like our Moms and Dads taught us.  

Thanks to:

The Search Committee and Bishop's Committee for the time and energy they've shared in the  search for our new vicar.