Dear People of St. David’s,
The days are getting shorter, but the days and nights are a bit cooler and feel like blessings in a summer when humankind has been so grievously affected by extreme heat, wildfires, and storm disasters. A short piece on NPR’s Morning Edition caught my attention recently as an advance hint of our upcoming program year’s theme: “A Community of Love.”
It seems that coral scientists in Miami have been working for some time to preserve the diversity of coral on a neighboring reef. They have had success in getting corals to breed in a laboratory. That achievement has proved vital, as bleaching is killing the coral due to rising ocean temperatures. Florida is not alone. This coral bleaching has been observed in seven other countries, so the rescue of samples has become even more important.
The NPR interview took place in a lab, with music playing in the background. The scientists were watching for spawn, and it just wasn’t happening. So, they changed the playlist! They cranked up “Your Precious Love,” sung by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. All of a sudden, the coral responded, and the scientists cheered as spawning began. As the audio piece ended, the text was “Oh, heaven must have sent your precious love. Oh, and now I’ve got a song to sing telling the world about the joy you bring.”
Well, I know Marvin and Tammi were probably not singing about God, but it is not a big leap to remember that all creatures flourish as recipients of God’s precious love. Even the coral responded to the swinging rhythm, and soulful singing about love! None of us, from the tiniest coral spawn to human beings, have done anything to deserve or earn this love. It is free gift to us all. An important part of the mission of the church, and surely St. David’s, is to “Tell the world about the joy you bring.” We demonstrate love by not insisting on our own way, but by trying not to be irritable, and rejoicing in the good and not the bad. Furthermore, we bear, believe, hope, and endure. The good news is when we fail, we try again, because God’s love never ends.
The beginning of September is a busy time for everyone as schools open their doors and program year activities kick up into high gear. It’s a good time to remember God’s precious love, which enfolds us all. A little patient love goes a long way to lower anxieties and ease us back into the groove after summertime. Surely, we can all show a little more love, but what does a Community of Love look like? What does it mean to be a gathered, loving community of worshippers and servants of the Most High God? Stay tuned as we all learn more and remember, surely “heaven must have sent your precious love.” How blessed we are!
Faithfully,
Liz
The Rev. Elizabeth W. Colton
Associate Rector