"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

Dear People of St. David's, 

I pray that you are well and are enjoying this once in a lifetime moment. This moment, this day that God has given us is a once in a lifetime moment. This moment, this day may look and feel like we've been here before, but that is an illusion or the trick of our minds. The truth is that each moment, each day is a once in a lifetime moment, and easy or hard, we can give thanks. We can give thanks because it is a gift of this God who created us, who loves us so and is with us, always.

There are too many days and moments in my life and I suspect in yours that seem the same. We think we've been here before. We've done that. It's really no different from yesterday or last year. Our desire to look for patterns and consistency get in the way of the incredible reality that each day is new and only comes to us once in a lifetime.

I know that when I fall into that trap, then my days go by as though they have no real meaning. I lose that sense of purpose and expectation for what might be coming next. I start going through the motions. I plod along, detached from the miraculous now. I miss the beauty and love and potential that is ours in each day God gives us. Life becomes something less than it can be and we experience life as something along the lines of Henry Ford's dark statement that history and life are just one damn thing after another.

On the other hand, when I remember that each moment and each day are a gift from God, then there's usually a sense of excitement. There's hopefulness in the moment. I find myself looking forward to whatever might be coming next. I am more fully present and feel God's presence more fully. I can give thanks at the very depth of my heart. The choice of accepting the gift of the moment and each new day is a choice we can make with confidence because the God who gave us the day is the God who is always present.

So, let me invite you to choose to give thanks for this once in a lifetime moment, this day. Remember the gift that God has given us and take a breath and live into the gift.

This coming week we have some planned once in a lifetime moments as we prepare for the Cornerstone Weekend celebrations of our 300th anniversary as a Christian community. We need your help in living fully into the weekend. First, I encourage all of you to write a letter, "Monuments of Grace", one page about your life with God and/or your experience of St. David's by Friday, May 8. We would like as many of us as possible to write a letter for the time capsule we will be burying on May 10 that will be opened in May of 2115. Second, we need you to RSVP for the celebration luncheon on the Fairgrounds. It's going to be an elegant affair and one even worthy of a Mother's Day luncheon. Check out the gourmet menu and RSVP for the luncheon!

See you at the Annual Meeting on Sunday and do enjoy today.

 Grace to you and Peace.