= The South Marysburgh Mirror ~~~ 13 ¥ £2 2} ee ATT | WHAT THEY USED TO BEY others gently sleeping off the ef fects of a good lunch. Half an hour or so later we had smiles in the room; we had questions; we had dialogue...and NO, I am not saying that I performed some kind of miracle, because that would be quite untrue. What did happen that day was that a con- nection was made through the music and singing of sacred songs; through the words of A phone call this morning from our illustrious edi- tor whatisname... ...... eh... mmmmm... Max....no that does- n't sound right... mmmmm Marcille... that's it Max Mar- cille... (only kidding DES!) That phone call reminded me that my memory is not what it used to be. Strike a chord folks... .ever felt that way yourself? Well, you probably can't remember either, even if you did. But Des's phone call which I received on the deck, under the sunshade this morn- ing, in between a breakfast bite on an IGA Kaiser liberally spread with Pat's Jam's Peach and Almond preserve (If you have never tried this flavour you just don't know what you are missing.) Anyway, what was I saying....Oh, yes, I was enjoying lunch as the phone rang and Des Marcille said: "I haven't received your article for the Mirror this month and I was wondering if it had gone astray on the hyper-waves..." Des, you diplomat you... . How nice of you to blame my memory lapse on the Internet! I could have so easily have said: "WHAT! It has not arrived.... I sent it ages ago....." but that would have been to try to cover up my own short- comings, and I learned a long time ago that it is better to "fess-up," than to try to fudge-up! Anno-Domini affects us all to a greater or lesser de- gree, but it need not spoil our enjoyment of life. This past week I was privileged to lead a worship experience with the residents of one of our local Retirement Residences. When I arrived, most of those taking part were already gathered to- gether, some waiting tentatively for what was ahead, and ST. PHILIP'S ACW Coming Events - 2005 § Pork & Corn Roast Turkey Supper August 3" September 21* § Garage & Rummage Sale October 1% : Christmas Tea & Bazaar November 26% § prayer, and through our dialogue together. If I went back to that place again in two weeks time, the people would probably not remember me...and so what? My ego would only be dented if I allowed it to be, and I hope that after years on this earth it is more for- giving than that. Last evening I was watching a movie called: "The Five People You Meet in Heaven." (By Mitch Albom) I cannot say it was a great movie, but there were parts in it which struck a chord for me about our lives, and the way we relate to other people. The underlying story-line is that we are all connected, and 'strangers are just family you have yet to come to know." That my friends, is a rather profound thought, and could be life-changing if you would give it time to percolate through to your sub-conscious. Think about it: "STRANGERS ARE FAMILY YOU HAVE YET TO COME TO KNOW." As we travel on our journey through life, we interact with thousands and thousands of people; some momentarily; some briefly, and some who re- main in our lives for a determinate period of time until we or they move on. But the amazing thing is that once the con- nection is made, it is there forever, because it remains in our sub-conscious... .and, as the movie asked me to believe: "When the sense of touch and presence weakens, memory becomes your strength." In other words, when we can no longer see, feel touch, or dialogue together, then the gift of 'memory' is what remains. It is a widely held belief that before we are born, we have a direct connection with God. Later, as young innocent w children we retain a part of that connection. However, as we grow older and more worldly, the connection dims, and the # only way we can re-acquaint ourselves with the Holy is § through reading; through prayer; through community wor- # ship, and through our own attitude to the world around us and its co-inhabitants. It is this process friends, which I be- lieve, to a great degree, determines how we will face life and all of its challenges, its successes and yes, its failures. It is this process which allows me to believe as the movie sug- gested, that we are all connected; believe that my life was Continued on page 1 6