Notes From Patmos July 24, 2024

This past Thursday, I made my way to Jackson and the events surrounding the consecration of our new diocesan bishop, which was a lovely and meaningful occasion that also stands as a new chapter in the life of the Diocese of Mississippi, and hopefully one that will see positive things. Several have asked when she will be with us, but the schedule of visitation hasn’t been made public, but when it is, I will let everyone know.  Please keep our new bishop, Dorothy Wells, in your prayers as she begins her work in our diocese.
As I was making my way to Jackson, I had some pastoral business just north of Meridian, and when I had finished, I tried to chart a course to Jackson going down roads I had never traveled. There were thunderstorms popping up all over, and when I crossed over into Newton County, the sky turned this awful green color, and the wind kicked up and started pushing my car around… it looked pretty grim and green light reminded me of tornadoes and damaging winds and all the destruction our area has seen in the past few years- it was kind of scary being ‘lost’ and having such a powerful storm right over head… but as I was creeping along a small country road, a large patch of orange flowers were brightly glowing in the otherwise dark, green, sickly light.  I pulled over and took some photos of them… they were so lovely and regal and bright- they were showing out with bravado and the whole of the landscape gave way to their luminance.  The bottom dropped out while I was photographing them, and I watched the wind and the rain batter them from the car, as the car was being pushed and pulled in the wind. 
The flowers (photos above) are Yellow Fringed Orchids (Platanthera ciliaris), which are somewhat rare, and only live in sandy, acidic soils at the edges of bog seeps. Sitting in the car, watching the rare orchids get pushed and pulled by the wind, with the rain trying its best to beat and pound them into oblivion, my mind turned to our lives of faith. The world we live in is bent and broken… we live among dangers and threats and there are many forces that work to destroy us. Ernest Hemmingway wrote in A Farewell to Arms that “The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.” I do not think he was wrong. But the most powerful thing in all of this is how these orchids shown so brightly again the world that was bent on destroying them and pounding them into the ground. Not only did they stand up to the torrent of abuse, but they stood tall, giving courage and even in the midst of a horrid storm, reminding the world that beauty and grace can thrive in these conditions (poor soil, the threats from the skies, the mowers that keep the ditches in check, etc).
We are like the orchids in a ditch… we inhabit a world that has many dangers and threats, we live amoung things that seek to destroy and break us.  But if we give ourselves to prayer and virtue, if we keep our eyes focused on Jesus and the things of heaven, once we are broken in the heavenly since of the word (dying to self and living to Christ), we too will shine like the orchids.  We too will show forth and be a beacon of light and love in the midst of death and destruction.  We too will be beautiful and radiant with the grace of God, giving to the world hope and beauty.  But unlike the orchids, we must make the choice to do so… we also have within us the choice and power to be a part of the storm and destruction, doing harm and darkening the world and emanating the sickly green light that strikes fear into the hearts of others… even destroying beauty… or you may like Hemmongway wrote, ‘do nothing’ and the world will roll you and break you even then. 
Enjoy the photographs of the orchids… choose the things of God… cling to the light and beauty and mercy of God, and shine brightly and stand tall, give others hope and encouragement… point others to the source of that light… use your life to point others to Jesus. 
See you around the parish,
Jeff+