cathedral times The Weekly Newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip, Serving Atlanta and the World
July 9, 2017
TRANSFORMATION: YET AGAIN
By the Rev. Carolynne Williams Canon Associate for Pastoral and Elder Care
Summer is here in its full splendor and agitation. The agitation comes in my life with the sight of red ant hills. I won’t go so far as to say that I love summer yet. I will commit, however, to recognizing, accepting, and embracing the reality of change during the summer, yet again! During previous summers, changes during these hot weeks and days, tempered through rain showers, are usually very energizing. Summer announces newness of life. This summer is different, though. I am experiencing changes in my life that I was not quite prepared for. I have new neighbors next door, after forty years of living next to the same couple. If I will not change, or if I hesitate to welcome our new neighbors, I will miss the opportunity to grow and continue to thrive in my own community. Celebrations have taken place in my life and in the life of my family. The same may be true of yours, as loved ones graduate this summer. Graduations and preparation for board exams represent moving forward and yet, if we are honest with ourselves, we may recognize that we want to linger in the past rather than savoring these moments of moving forward. When we as members of a beloved community make intentional, enduring, forward-moving efforts and live out actions within our community and far beyond, we will be transformed. We will grow with the call upon all of our lives. We will find ourselves continuing to seek the face of newness through and with God, who is ever-present. When this happens in the midst of constant change, letting go of the old to bring in the new, not discarding any of the “goodie” from the richness and legacy of the old and bringing that energy into the transformation into the new, we will find ourselves filled with a spirit of gratitude, deep gratitude in the midst of the transformations occurring in all of our lives. When we are honest with ourselves, there is no way around this change in our lives.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
From this week’s lectionary Matthew 11:28
Heat, especially during the summer, gets our attention. I recall being in record-setting heat in Salt Lake City several years ago. The presiding officers of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church were clear; they saw the church as ready for change. On June 24, 2015, during the opening remarks of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, I was transformed by her words: “What no longer brings life must be laid down to fertilize future growth. We will not all agree about precisely what that includes, but we need to be fearless in examining what will come before us.” In anticipating growth this summer within myself, I will keep my head and heart focused on God, and I will be truly transformed, yet again.