Breaking Bread Breaking Bread One thing I appreciate about working on the Shamrock newsletter is the chance to look back at recent doings, and appreciate them afresh. So often in life we accomplish one thing or another and then promptly move on to the next, and forget where we just were. That happens even in the church. But taking a few minutes to look over recent experiences—such as Lent and Holy Week --is really useful. I invite you therefore to join me in some reminiscing.
One highlight of Lent 2025 was our series of speakers from various charities, most of them local but an important one from abroad. Hearing from such agencies broadens our understanding of the real-life situation of our neighbors. It inspires us to grow in loving others as ourselves. The collections were generous too, as seen below:
$440 for Bigfork ACES after-school program $640 for Valley Neighbors refugee resettlement ministry $495 for the Warming Center homeless ministry $450 for the Bigfork Food Bank $400 for the Al Ahli Episcopal hospital in Gaza City Three disciplines that Jesus gave his followers are especially commended to us in Lent: prayer, charitable giving, and self-control in our personal lives. The collections just mentioned were an excellent boost to our charitable giving, and I want to say also that our Lenten book study helped me with prayer.
Several of us made our way through a little book by Henri Nouwen, about the parable of the Prodigal Son. Nouwen uses a painting by Rembrandt as an aid to thinking about the parable’s meaning. The painting is a surprisingly rich reflection on the parable. It depicts the returned younger son kneeling before his father to receive his forgiveness, while the older son looks on. One detail stands out for me: the worn sandals of the younger son, one of which dangles in dilapidation. It perfectly symbolizes the wasteful use of his inheritance. During the course of the book Nouwen invites us to identify with all the main characters, ending with the Father. Nouwen urges us to identify with the Father as our spiritual goal: an infinitely compassionate source of love.
This spiritual goal is very demanding! How can we ever hope to make the kind of progress in our lives that would be called for, to get anywhere near it? It was this question that led us to move on (in Eastertide) to read a book by and for people who must make radical changes simply to stay alive. The book is the Big Book of the Twelve Step movement, titled, “Alcoholics Anonymous.” We are reading it not as a twelve-step meeting per se, but simply as a spiritual text with a lot of wisdom for people who want to be serious about moral progress. Anyone can benefit by reading it. One point that has struck me already is the Book’s emphasis on resentment. This all-too-human sentiment is the driving energy behind many of our worst decisions. How do we get past it? By taking to heart that the people we resent are fallible and morally sick too, just like us! A little compassion goes a long way; one great lesson among many others.
Let me conclude on a personal note. In the month of June, I will mark the 40th anniversary of my ordination, and Janet and I will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our marriage. If I ask myself how I feel about these milestones—both of which seem so improbable!-- the word that comes to mind is, “humbled.” I have definitely gotten better than I deserved, in both sacraments. Getting better than we deserve is a hallmark of God’s activity, a true sign of grace. I’m grateful to everyone who has put up with all my bright ideas, and my not-so-bright ideas, for many decades now: first, of course, to Janet, but not least to our friends at St Patrick’s.
Many thanks, all best wishes, yours faithfully, Donnel+
