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Circumstances can suddenly change our lives and this morning is one of those times. “Tsunami” is its name for us and the 2 AM call from our daughter in law ended our sleep and launched our activity to evacuate our coastal home. Fortunately, we are prepared and are ready to load our car and leave for higher ground. (Higher ground reminds me of a gospel song, “Lord, lift me up, and let me stand….”)

The people of Haiti, and now Chile, remind us of how small we and at risk we are in this very seismically alive planet. We have fifteen hours of warning. They had none.

Sr. Sue Moore reminded me in an email on Thursday that my letter for the Font was due and could I please get it to her by the weekend. I was going to write it after Sunday worship and pastoral work at Parker UMC where I am acting as supply for three months while Br. Gilbert Stones is on renewal leave. I am dashing this off because I don’t know when I will be able to connect to the internet again! I am anticipating being cut off for an indeterminate period.

By the time you get the Font it will all be history, but we are living this side of immediate history! As Christians we live this side of history in the confidence that whatever the proximate history will be we are already embraced within the ultimate story of grace, redemption and consummation. As the liturgy of Lent, Holy Week and Easter remind us we live in all circumstances into the Paschal mystery.

It is easy to grow complacent when one day blends into the next in more or less routine patterns. But then…the heart attack, the screech of brakes, the tsunami, the drunk driver, the pink slip…and we are awakened to hold on to the strong cord of apostolic hope.

I commend you to God and to the Word of God’s grace which is able to give you a Paschal inheritance with all the saints.

For the life of the world,

Br. Abbot Daniel+