In 2006, after 13 years in retirement, I went back into the Army under the Voluntary Retiree Recall program. To this day my wife Linda denies she said I am the only person she knows who got fired from retirement.
Initially, there was a lot going on, to keep my mind and body busy. First I went to one military installation on the east coast to in-process into the Army, complete a military medical exam (I am pretty sure they want to make sure that we old folks still have a pulse before they start paying us), get on the active duty payroll, etc. Next, I went to another military post to undergo some fundamental military training and to draw my issue of military equipment.
From my first moments in Germany I suffered from information overload caused by the differences in language, culture, my new job, the mission of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and even the ordinary logistical functions of getting to work from nearby Ramstein Air Force Base. Of course I was awed by Europe and took advantage of many tours to experience places I had previously only read about in books, but something was missing.
On Sunday, I went to the chapel for services. There were two Christian services in different formats and all I wanted was some quiet time for religious reflection. My first try was the early service, but I only lasted a few minutes because it was so very, very loud. Instead of quiet contemplation, it appeared the congregation was convinced they had to wake God up before he would pay attention. I sat in the back and was, thankfully, able to slip out without being noticed. The later service was more demure in tone, so I stayed.
As I sat there, I started thinking of you, my congregation at St. Thomas the Apostle in Dallas. As we sang the hymns, I reflected on the singing voice of St. Thomas and the highlighted tones of the choir. Looking around me I thought of the members of the parish I worshipped with each week in Dallas and the socializing after the service. Reflections scurried through my mind of the personal homilies at St. Thomas, the enthusiastic signs of peace we share each week, and the acceptance in our church.
Each Sunday I went to chapel in Europe, I got to see and visit with you. It was more intimate than an internet chat with a video camera because you were not just on a screen, you were in my mind and my heart. On weekends I was able to take advantage of many tours in western Europe. I always wore a St. Thomas t-shirt, so you journeyed with me to Bern and Lucern, Switzerland; the Czech Republic; Poland; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Luxembourg; Paris and Metz, France; and many places in Germany including Trier, Berg Eltz, Cologne, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Mannheim, and Metlach. I certainly appreciated your visits with me in Europe each week. You came to Germany and traveled with me through Europe, you sang and worshipped with me, you shared the sign of peace with me. Your visits with me were an important part of my sanity or reasonable facsimile thereof.
Here is a picture of me in Bern, Switzerland with my St. Thomas t-shirt.
St. Thomas the Apostle Church is not bricks and mortar, it is you. It is likely that you will never know the positive impact you have had on others. This congregation has knit items for Scottish Rite Hospital to sell to benefit the children, has supported K. B. Polk elementary school, given generously to support AIDS research through the Life Walk, helped the homeless at Austin Street Shelter, provided food bank donations, and done many more wonderful things to help those less fortunate.
The question you should ask yourself is how you can best make sure the positive impact St. Thomas the Apostle has is continued. Sharing of time, talent, and money is needed to maintain the bricks and mortar as well as providing support for the garden to provide food for the less fortunate, programs supporting homeless and myriad other organizations serving women, children, seniors, medical issues and inequities.
You can't do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do is a paraphrase from a Jana Stanfield song. Think about it and decide what you should do.
You have taken St. Thomas the Apostle Church to Germany and western Europe. Where will your stewardship take the St. Thomas the Apostle Church next?
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