I’m back again this week for the final NOT The Rector’s Ramblings. Fr. Tom will be back to rambling next week. Becky+

Several of you have asked if I got THAT ROOM – the office - cleaned up. YES I DID! I will admit that the clean-up took far longer than the three thirty minute sessions I had estimated. It was more like two days, but the office hasn’t looked this good in years.

As I was sorting through all that paper and stuff, I realized that not only could I now work in the office, I had room to set up an area to work on my icons at home. (I am one of the people who took the icon class last August and found this to be a meaningful spiritual practice.) A call to a fellow icon writer provided a drawing table and another friend was getting rid of a stool. An on-line order to the art supply store for paint and a trip into Brunswick for brushes and I was set up and ready to go, all for less than $75. I was amazed at how, in a matter of only a few hours, I had everything I needed. I had wanted to work on my icons at home, but was convinced I had nowhere to work and that it would be very expensive to get what I needed. My assumptions were wrong, all of them.

As I began my work at home, I found myself thinking of how many times, in so many instances I’ve had what I needed all along. My assumptions kept me from seeing it. I certainly never thought I would write an icon (icons are the gospel written with paint). And yet, it has become a way for me and others in our icon writing group at church to be closer to God as we work in our group and some of us work alone at home.

As I worked on the icon of St. Simon in the quiet at home, I wondered what else I was not seeing. Assumptions about what I can’t do have probably kept me from doing lots of things God wants me to do. Many times, my assumptions about others have prevented me from seeing their potential. Think of the apostles, when presented with 5,000 people to fed, told Jesus it was impossible to feed that many people because they didn’t have enough money and it was getting dark. Yet, there was this kid with some fish and a few loaves who offered what he had and it was more than enough. Who would have asked a kid with a sack lunch to help feed 5,00 people? And more importantly, who would have ever thought a young, itinerant rabbi who owed nothing and cam preaching peace would be God incarnate? May we have eyes to see the abundance of gifts in ourselves and others. May our assumptions go the way of all that paper and junk in my office to make room for God.

O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of gifts and talents granted to all in this world. Enrich our lives by showing us how those talents may be used to the glory of your Name. May your Spirit of wisdom save us from false choices and negative assumptions that separate and limit us so that we may grow ever closer to one another and to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP)