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Connections&
June 23, 2002--12th Sunday of the Year
"Not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:26-33
Relocation Officer
A career army officer was in charge of taking care of the needs of enlisted personnel and their families in overseas posts. It was a thankless, routine job of fighting administration bureaucrats and listening to people's problems and complaints. But one horrible day his perspective changed forever.
Twelve years before he and his wife divorced. They had an eight-year-old son Steven. It was a nasty divorce; his ex-wife then moved away, taking Steven with her. Father and son lost contact for the next ten years. Lost years.
Then the father got a phone call. It was Steve. He was 18 and had tracked his dad down. The ten years immediately evaporated. They got together and spent two weeks catching up. They discovered a mutual love of motorcycles and had a great time together riding their bikes everywhere.
The next year Steve decided to join the army like his dad. His dad did nothing to persuade him--it was Steve's decision. But his dad was very proud. While they didn't see much of each other, they talked often on the phone. Dad helped Steve out as much as he could.
Then cam the day that Dad got the telephone call every parent dreads. Steve had been killed in a motorcycle accident. He had lost his son again--this time forever.
But it gave him a new perspective on his job. These men and women he was taking care of in their relocation needs, he realized, were someone's sons and daughters. His job became more important. He found himself to be more patient, more helpful, more caring.
[From The Story Factor by Annette Simmons.]
CONNECTION: In the Gospels, Christ reveals a God who loves us and cares for us and every element of creation. In baptism, we become co-workers with God in the work of creation and co-workers with Christ in the work of re-creation. Often we are called to be the vehicles of God's love to those desperate for that presence in their lives; we find ourselves with opportunities to be agents of forgiveness and compassion to the lost, the troubled, the estranged. May we welcome the chance and be grateful for the opportunities--however small and seemingly insignificant--to be used by God to bring his life and love into the lives of every son and daughter of God. u
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