Airport Security
 
Redeemer is a wonderful parish.  We are healthy, loving, welcoming and engaged.  We have been richly blessed and we use our God given resources to glorify God in Christ and to minister to the world in Christ's name.  We are certainly not perfect and there is always more to which we are called.  Although we have sometimes done those things which we ought not to have done and failed to do those things which we ought to have done, we are faithful, contrite and ready for renewal.  Redeemer is a wonderful parish.
 
My recent visit with grandchildren has brought to my awareness the appropriateness and value in positive affirmations.  I praised them, even when they were sometimes a bit naughty.  It seemed that many times they simply could not help themselves.  That awareness reminds me how significant it is to offer my positive affirmations for Redeemer and all who minister as members of her community.  Redeemer is a wonderful parish.  I don't ever want to take her and all her good people for granted.
 
Yesterday I took Judy and the little grands to BWI.  She was accompanying them on their flight home to Florida.  Whew, thirteen days made for an exhausting and terrific visit, and I was sorry to see them go but also a bit relieved.  Judy got me a gate pass so I could help her get the kids through security and to the gate.  As I prepared to enter the metal detector, I pulled out my pocket knife.  I knew I could not pass security with the knife.  It is a good knife and I was not willing to have it confiscated.  I asked if I could have someone in security hold it for 30 minutes and that I would return to retrieve it since I was only going to the gate and back.  Of course, they could not.  So I left security and hurriedly returned to my car.  I deposited the knife and then rushed back to security to try to catch Judy and the kids before boarding. 
 
I was in my clerical collar since I was headed to Redeemer as soon as they departed.  I approached the security desk and asked if they could expedite my security check since I had just been there.  "Remember me? I was the one with the knife."  "Sure, Father, we'll help you on through.  Do you always carry a knife in your pocket?  That must be one rough parish!"
 
I had to laugh.  Rough parish!  No way!  On the contrary, Redeemer is a wonderful parish and I know it.  I hope you know it too.
 
Peace,
 
Paul+