In Search of the Spirit

As Christians we sometimes find ourselves in search mode. Searching for the right church, the right priest, the right job, the right home. We wake up fresh with purpose and direction and spend our days working tirelessly to find or attain what we think is missing in our lives. We hold meetings, talk among friends, family and co-workers about how to make more money, improve our relationships, creating processes to most efficiently get all we need to get done. So much of our time is spent searching we don't realize we already have everything we need to live our life as God intended.  That is until we think we've lost it.

Here we are at All Saints' Episcopal Church again in search of a Priest in Charge. Our leadership has been at work holding meetings to discern what is our mission in the community; searching for our purpose. They spend much of their time planning and executing events to bring in money and people to help us grow. Our parishioners work hard doing many of the day to day operations of the church:  polishing the pews, counting the collection, planting the flowers,  singing in the choir. And yet we still feel like we're missing something.  We feel that if we just had the right priest all our problems would be solved.

All these efforts are certainly noble and worthwhile and necessary. The right Priest in Charge will definitely be a welcome addition to our church family and improve upon what we have created here at All Saints. But the Spirit of who we are as individuals and as a community of Christians committed to serving each other has always been with us and will continue to be, no matter who is in charge. To realize this all you have to know is how it feels when someone isn't in church on a Sunday. It's then that you can feel their Spirit. It's felt in your missing them.  It's felt in your memory of what they may have done for you or said to you that made you feel so good.

So in our search for a Priest in Charge or whatever we may personally be searching for, let us remember we already have what we need in ourselves and in each other. As Christians we are blessed by knowing that the Holy Spirit is already alive in us; flowing through us and into everyone we meet.  We are never alone, never without, never at a loss. We already have it All.

A Psalm of David: Psalm 23:1-4
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I have everything I need.  
He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of calm water. 
He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths, as he has promised. 
Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, 
Lord, for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me."

May God Bless Every One of You and All of You!

Niki Sarkis, Junior Warden, All Saints Church, West Newbury, MA