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PAGE 6, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5 > 1983, WHITBY FREE PRESS The Church Sp eaks SSponsored by the WIIITBY MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION By 111E REV. IVAN R. DYER Pastor, St. Thomas' Anglican Church I recently read an autobiography called "The Sacred Journey"l by Frederick Buecimer, who be- sides being an American Presbyterian minister, is also.a well known novelist. In this short biography of 112 pages, Buecbner, honestly and searchingly, refleets upon what he sees as being the crucial events in the first twenty five years of his life. He writes about when he was a young boy his father committed suicide, and then his education at Law- 0 buildin -- renceville and Princeton. Towards the end of the book he talks about the publication of his first novel and finally his emerging cail to the ordained ministry. What makes this book s0 remarkable 15 Buech- ner's deep sensitivity to the spiritual meaning of his life and in a most remarkable way the book chal- lenges each of its readers to do the same with his or her own life. To quote the inside cover: "The Sacred Journey suggests how God speaks to us in a myriad of different ways at every monment 0f every day...At its heart, the Sacred Journey reassures us that each life is flot just a journey through trne, but a sacred journey. ' As I read this book it made me realize the sacred- ness of my own 'journey', anid that in a very real sense each one of us is part of a sacred journey. The Bible is full of examples of people on their sacred journey: Abraham, Sarah, David, Samuel, and the list of sojourners goes on and on. The book of Hebrews gives a lengthy list of these and other Bible characters of old and then says: "And what of our- selves? With ail these witnesses to faith around us like a cloud, we must throw off every encumbrance, every sin to which we dling, and run with resolution the race for which we are entered. " (Hebrews 12: 1) As 1982 draws to a close we would ail do well to take a moment and ponder our 'sacred journey', and reflect where we have been and where we see ourselves going. What kinds of thing have been im- portant to us in the past? What has my 'sacred journey' taught'me thus far? How have I been able to help others in their 'sacred journey'? Where is my present journey leacling me? What new. paths should I be considering? 1 suppose none of us is fuily content with our journey, but I believe that there 18 great comfort in knowing that each one of us has been called into an awesome journey and for each one of us it 18 sacred. Buechner writes: "Deep within history, as it gets itself 'written down in history books -and news- papers, in the letters we write and in the diaries we keep, is sacred history, 18 God's purpose.working it- self out in the apparent purposelessness of human history and of our separate histories, 18 the history, in short, of saving and losing of souls, including our own.. A child 18 born. A friend is lost or found...We must Iearn to listen to the cock-crows and ham- mering and tick-tock of our lives for the holy and Shane Dorfman of Whitby was the Free Press Carrier of the Month for December. Shane, who is 9 years old and attends West Lynde Public Sohool, has been a Free Press carrier for three months.* He enjoys hockey and basebail, and plans to spend the next while-mastering the Dukes of Hazzard pinball game he received from the Free Press. - Fre Prp..oq.-.tf~f fr 69 Baldwin St. (Hwy. 12 & 7) Brooklln 655-4584 "Whitby's only wool shop" LESSONS In Knlttlng & Crochetlng ONE PARENT MEETING One Parent Familles Association of Canada, Oshawa Chapter, meet at the Lake Vista Club House at Cedar Street on, Ererald Avenue every Tuesday at 8p.m. The next meeting 18 Jan. 11, and features guest speaker Ken Car- van, a chartered ac- countant. Anyone wanting fur- ther information, please contact Arlene at 579- 4043. ART DEPARTMENT ON PREMIISES elusive word that is spoken to us out of their dep- ths...") I have been told that when a ship is about to start on a long voyage, it is the custom 0f the Navy to put her though the process called "rounding the vessel." This consists partly in verifying the com- passes on board, that is, in testing the magnetic needle in each compass box and ascertaining whether or not it points due north. We al in a couple of days will be starting on another year of voyaging upon the unknown sea of life. Lt will do us good and not harm to consider our ways, to test our compass, and to, as Jesus said:, "Set your mind on God's king- dom and his justice before everything else, and al the rest will corne to you as well." Have a blessed New Year and may your 'sacred journey' be fruitful in 1983. IMM Winners A Whitby couple re- ceived an early Christ- mas present worth $10,000 in the Dec. 23 Wintario Draw., Andy and Brenda DeHaan, of 336 Regal Briar St. in Whitby, and their two children wil cash in their $1 ticket for $10,000. DeHaan, a data pro- cessor, says he wîlI pay off his mortgage with the winnings. 1 iquw r-iquoa QtCil 1 r-flulu 1 h 1 ~.EIIIiiI