Blast From The Past

I do a lot of writing in my professional life. I write one of these things pretty much every week, write sermons pretty much weekly, write reports for annual reports and the like, write newsletter articles, write announcements, and write an infinite number of emails. I write a lot for work, so it is rare that I remember the content of something I wrote after the first few weeks of it coming into existence. This makes the rare occasions on which I actually remember my words important, though I don’t know if I can articulate why one piece sticks while others fall away.

Sometimes, I only half-remember something I wrote. This is most often the case when I am writing a sermon. I’ll be writing and something will come out that I know I read elsewhere. I go to find the source of the quote only to realize that I wrote pretty much the exact thing verbatim seven years ago. We’ve been exploring sacramental items in worship, those things that help us to see the holy in everyday items and occurrences. I had this weird feeling that I wrote about this in the past (though without realizing I was writing about it). I dug through the archives (backed up files) and found this piece that I wrote from 2018. I’ve lightly edited it to remove contextual things that have no material impact on the writing. It isn’t as directly related as I recall it being, but I still feel glad sharing it.

On my bookshelf is a black, three-ringed notebook. It's a little old, and a little beat up, but I count it as an important possession. It is a notebook that my grandfather (my mother's father) kept through his adulthood. Not a diary, mind you, but a notebook. In this notebook are pages and pages of poems and quotations that my grandfather would, for some reason, want to hold on to. He would put a small piece of lined paper into his typewriter and would insert the poem or quote that he liked. I don't know why he would do this, I never had the chance to ask as I had never gotten the chance to meet him. However, I've always held this notebook in high esteem, as an artifact of inherited wisdom from a man that I was told would really have loved me a lot.

And since I've had it, I've always felt comforted by it, knowing that it's there for my perusal if I ever were in need of inspiration. The problem is, that I have never felt the occasion to use it. That's not the fault of the book, but rather my fault. I have this unique and beautiful heirloom and I let it slip into symbolism, when in fact it is a living and useful item. I am this way often. I'll buy a special cheese and tell myself to wait for a special occasion, and the next thing I know I'm throwing out a moldy hunk of beautiful cheese. Sometimes you need to use the opportunities that are in front of you, don't let them pass for a rainy day or a special occasion, because the next thing you know you won't have that chance anymore.

I want all of you to take advantage of today. Make tonight a special occasion, because you are alive and you have friends, neighbors and family. This day is a gift to you from God. Every day is a special occasion.

In looking through my grandfather's notebook I came across a poem that struck me in the moment. I decided that I should use it in this Connections email, for no other reason than I found it beautiful and thought that this email is a special occasion to share it with you. It's called "Pronouns" written by Karle Wilson Baker.

Blessings on this important and special day. May you use it to the fullest!

Peace,

Rev. Jeff Fox-Kline

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If you’re looking for a place to explore these moments of meaning alongside others, we’d love to welcome you at Twelve Corners Presbyterian Church. Come be part of our community this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for a meaningful time of worship and togetherness. All are welcome to join. We’re saving a seat for you.