Vicar's message from June, 2006

Dear Friends,

A week ago, when I was in Mississippi with other volunteers working on dry wall in a house being restored after hurricane Katrina, I met the owners of the house, an elderly couple. Upon learning who I was and what I was doing, and hearing my stories, the lady said, "So you are one of us." For the rest of that day I kept hearing in my mind the song, "We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord." We humans are all children of God, no matter how different we are in skin color, social-economic background or educational level.
    This past Sunday we read in church from the gospel of Mark, and we heard the story of Jesus' calming the stormy sea. When the storm came, and the sea water was flooding the boat, the disciples were frightened and struggling, but Jesus was sound asleep (Could it be that he was pretending to be sleeping?). They awakened him, and he calmed the sea by simply shouting, "Peace! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. The disciples were then relieved of the fear of the storm; yet they had another overwhelming fear – perhaps it was the fear of the dead calm. They could not fathom the presence of God omnipotent in the same boat with them -- in such presence there was a silence that they could not bear.
    While in Mississippi I had a chance to visit Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church in Long Beach, the beautiful church that once stood facing the Gulf of Mexico. The church was completely destroyed; only its foundation remained. A big cross erected at the site was the only sign for us to find the church. Standing at the ruins of the church and looking at the beach, I found the peaceful scenery illusory. The suffering of those who once lived and worshiped in the area was immense. The wind of Katrina had ceased some nine months before, yet the dead calm where I stood reminded me of vulnerability; and it reminded me also of the words that the lady who spoke to me earlier in our conversation, "So you are one of us."
    Difference matters when we keep focusing on the challenges of our daily lives, trying to have control over things, such as in a competition or a power struggle. Difference also matters when we try to convince ourselves of our perceived decency and holiness. Yet in suffering of great losses we may discover that difference does not matter but sameness does. We human are all alike in vulnerability; and we all suffer in one way or another. We are all in the same boat.
    In the story that Mark told, after the storm, Jesus said to the disciples, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" Jesus did not mean to rebuke them. The questions can be understood as a statement, "Be not so fearful, for I am with you." It is all right to be fearful of danger, but it is important for us to trust that God is in the same boat with us. The awareness of vulnerability and suffering may humble us and invite us to ponder about sameness among humanity. Trusting in God's presence may strengthen us as we face the storms of life.
    On the last day of our mission trip, Sunday, June 18, we worshiped with Saint Patrick's, Long Beach. The congregation met in the gym where we volunteers stayed, at "Camp Coast Care." They were not a big crowd, but they were a group of friendly people, just like us here at Saint Patrick's in Falls Church, Virginia. I met Lisa, Junior Warden; and I met Douglas, who used to attend Fairfax High School in Virginia. I also spoke with the lady who led the Altar Guild, while she was busy with other people moving chairs and tables and the makeshift altar in preparation for the service. At the exchange of the Peace, people there went all over the place to shake hands. I found them to be just like us – friendly, loving and caring. I hope that a group of our church people will be able to go to Mississippi in the near future, and, if that happens, I would like to go with them.
    On Sunday, September 17, 2006, our church will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. The service on that day will be held in the afternoon, and Bishop Lee will be the celebrant. I am so very thankful to be part of Saint Patrick's. Ours is the community that once said to me, when I first came, "You are one of us." Since then, I have learned to speak the same to other people who came,"You are one of us." I look forward to seeing all of you on that day.
    Have a great summer!
Tinh+