Sometime within the last few hours, someone decided to use a small car as a means by which to relocate our power transformer in the back yard of the church. Thankfully, no memorial gardens were harmed during the attempted relocation. The power was out at the church for a few hours so luckily all foodstuffs are still within eating parameters. As for the perpetrator of this ingenious plot, their whereabouts and whoabouts are still unknown. Our cameras will be fitted with backup batteries in the very near future to ensure we can keep them rolling in case of further attempts on immovable objects at the church.
Having said all of this, it strikes me how quickly OG+E responded and replaced the issue. For a few hours, the church was without power; we were in the dark and facing potential cancelations of ministries for the day as well as work. But these people, just three guys, came in fast and hard to provide light to a darkened situation. Now, because of their response, the lights are on, the food is flowing, and we can continue on.
This got me thinking about how the church operates in the world. We live in some dark moments. People everywhere experience struggles and have no light being shed on their plight. People are hungry. People are sad. People are angry. Their world stops while the outside just keeps humming along. They’re powerless. In many ways, these three wise men of OG+E are an image of what the church does in these situations. We’re able to shed light in dark times, give messages of hope. We can empower the powerless just by showing up and doing what it is we said we'd do in our baptismal vows. Sure, sometimes people misinterpret those messages, and we unintentionally do harm, but even that can be fixed quickly by being active and alert—by showing up and offering to make amends to the situation.
The church is powered by a transformer in OKC.
The world is transformed through the power of Christ, and we are the transformer in His name.
Don’t let the darkness take you down roads of despair. If you’re feeling powerless, the church community you belong to will lift you into the light. If you’re feeling hurt, your community will be a balm to those wounds. If your priest misspeaks and you feel displaced, know that he’s a pretty loving guy that always wants the chance to make amends and show you love.
We were without power in the church for a few hours. We are never without power in the name of Jesus Christ. No matter how dark it gets out there, the light is ever burning in our hearts and we are the lamps to shed that light for others. That’s our job and our response to these hurts must be quick and must be vigilant.
Thanks be to God for the power to shed light to those in the darkness; thanks be to this community for being that conduit that can transform lives.
Faithfully,
Fr. Sean+