Goshen landscape, March 13, 2013
This morning I awakened to ground covered by snow. It is beautiful but I must confess again that I am ready for spring to come to Indiana. It reminds me of receiving a letter from Rachel when she was a student in Lancaster Mennonite School. It was written in her first winter outside of Florida in her memory. She wrote that she was so tired of “black and white.” When I answered her letter I advised her to wait for spring. I assured her that it would be beautiful.
In the forenoon I listened to the April 15, 2012 lecture at New Perspectives on Faith by Calvin King. It was titled “My Journey from Mennonite Pastor to Non-Thiest. All lectures to the New Perspectives on Faith are routinely archived on the transcripts and audio page of its website. The curious are encouraged to explore the lectures on their own initiative.
This noon I went to the Men’s Fellowship to listen to Emmon Schmucker talk about his personal involvement in caring for orphans in Cambodia. The description of this enterprise by Schmucker and its website is encouraging. Light shines through.
After a brief meeting of the planning committee for the Men’s Fellowship I paid a visit to my best friend. She is home from a two week long visit to her only granddaughter and only great granddaughter who both live in Argentina. So we talk alot about Argentina.
Peace dove
So on the way home you may imagine my surprise to hear on the radio that the new pope was an Argentinian who had chosen to be called Pope Francis I. He is thought to be conservative on social issues, yet his choice of name encourages me.
I have a favorite key chain with the prayer of St. Francis engraved on it. The prayer begins, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Francis of Assisi is not only beloved by Catholics. Protestants love him also. The pope’s choice of name encourages me.
