05-15-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
May 15, 2025
So I’m on the beach the other day, and I see a guy flying a kite. It is a pretty spectacular kite, and lots of people were enjoying his kite flying. On two occasions, he sat down on his beach chair, tied the kite string to his chair, and took a nap. The kite continued to fly to the delight of many. Later, when he was bringing in the kite, someone asked why he continued to fly it while taking a nap. His first answer was, “Because I can.” But then he said, “I love kites, but it’s clear that when I fly them, others enjoy them just as much as I do.” Now not all of us have a skill that others enjoy that we could do while taking a nap. If your skill is riding a unicycle while juggling, I’m guessing it probably cannot be done while napping. I would not recommend trying. But what a marvelous thing it must be to have a gift that brings joy to you and to others, yet you can continue to spread the joy even during a nap. For most of us, maybe we need to start with something that brings joy to ourselves and to others, while continuing to remain fully awake and engaged.

Thank you, Generous and Merciful God, for the multitude of gifts you provide us, and for the ways those gifts, when we choose to be generous, can produce a blessing of delight within others. Amen.