Loading...Dear Friends in Christ,
“It’s the good ole summer time.” One prayer of thanksgiving I bet that was heard a lot last month was “Thank God for air conditioning.” As I write this, a couple of men from The Furnace Man are here working on the heat pump in Rich House. I sit at my computer with sweat pouring down my face. I can’t help thinking about the old adage, “You don’t miss the water until the well runs dry.”
When I was a kid, we didn’t have air conditioning – anywhere…not in school, in church, in cars, or at work. I don’t remember suffering too much. We raised our windows a couple of inches in each bedroom and had a fan in another window. That kept a cool breeze flowing over us. During the day after playing a game of baseball, we went swimming. Knox Creek was really cool and refreshing. We spent a lot of time outside.
Last week I paid a visit to the Keen Mountain Correctional Center. I was invited by the Chaplain there, The Rev. Jason Crandall. I met Jason at the meal we served to visiting family members of prisoners incarcerated in our local prisons. The families came from the eastern part of the state. I was part of a Bible study class of about sixteen prisoners. They were very polite and welcoming. I was impressed with their love of our Lord. One of them led a prayer and a couple of hymns. One of the hymns was We are Standing on Holy Ground. I was surprised at first. They were prisoners, but wherever God’s children are, He is there. It is holy ground because of God’s love for them and their faith. I was touched.
I talked to them about a lot of things that I talk to my parishioners about. How God is love even when we feel like He is far away and how we are to judge each other less and love each other more. We talked about Jesus telling us that we are to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the prisoners. I have found out throughout my ministry that when I minister to those in need, I am ministered to also. I found that to be true when I was a chaplain to hospice and police. I will be going back to Keen Mountain next month. I am blessed.
May God continue to bless you.
In Christ’s Love,
Father Russ
