In my last article, I expressed, most vehemently, our most humble gratification regarding accomplishments the team here at St. John the Evangelist engendered through outreach, involvement, and to the glory of God during the Church calendar year just ended.
After creating a harmonious cohesiveness, all looked forward to a short reprieve before the resumption of the fall activities. The weather was ideal—brilliant and hot. It was turning out to be an exceptionally favourable summer. But unfortunately, these attributes do not always enhance our comfort zone.
So in this journey through life, we sometimes meet with unforeseeable rough passages that often interfere with scheduled plans—as was characterized this summer while experiencing multiple forest fires here in our province of Newfoundland. Drastic destruction ravaged entire settlements. Family homes that were nurtured for a lifetime were now being sacrificed to the flaming inferno.
This experience was a stark reminder of the fragility of earthly possessions, and how quickly they can be snatched away. We have a tendency to get so involved in catching up with our daily obligations trying to balance in a busy and anxious environment that there is little or no time spared to balance with the path less followed.
Unfortunately, but sometimes it often takes a catastrophic event like this one in our lives to realize the importance of redirecting priorities so that prayer, worship, and thanksgiving to God always take precedence.
As I write this, the province has finally been blessed with long-awaited rain, providing some comfort to the many volunteers fighting relentlessly in their pursuit of quenching what has spread across our land.
In retrospect upon the weeks just passed,
They all persevered to work, to laugh, to pray.
And with God’s help gained strength to take,
Whatever came their way.
Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed Elijah is coming first, and will restore all things.”
-Matthew 17: 11
