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December 23rd.
2009
'TIS BEEN A GIFT... AND A BLESSING
‘Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.
I am not certain where I learned "Simple Gifts" which was written by
Elder Joseph while he was at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine in
1848. My guess it was in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School or maybe
even at Camp Cross.
What I do know is that from time to time the melody gets stuck in my
head especially when I am feeling an incredible sense of blessing. It’s
not when I have purchased a winning lottery ticket, won a basketball
game or even when I have accomplished a goal.
Rather, this happens when I am aware of the “little things”, the “simple
things”, the too often “assumed things” in my life that in are in fact
truly a blessing.
If I were to add my own verses this is what I would write:
‘Tis a gift to have been able to build a phenomenal faith community
with you –
‘Tis a gift that you have shared your lives with me – both the tragedies
and the joys –
‘Tis a gift that you have so freely shared your gifts for ministry –
both at ECOR and beyond -
‘Tis a gift to have grown in love and faith with you –
‘Tis a gift to have served with you at the Episcopal Church of the
Resurrection –
From the bottom of my heart thank you for being both a gift and a
blessing!
Blessings,
The Rev. Brian N. Prior, Rector
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