Memories of Life Together, by Rod Romney / Secret of Life (James Taylor)

I am indebted to both David Enroth and Rod Romney for sending me such insightful and imaginative pieces as the one below. Sometimes old clippings or copies of written materials that we saved are rediscovered and found to still speak to us in a very powerful way. David passes along such a piece by Rod Romney, along with poignant song lyrics by James Taylor. Worthwhile! -- Rick Mitchell

David Enroth (Sky) writes:
Yesterday Christians celebrated the venerable life of
Saint Francis of Assisi by bringing their animals to
churches as a sign everthing is interconnected (humans
with all creation, et cetera). On my deck
overlooking Lake Washington I have a small statue of
Saint Francis in front of my strawberry plant.
Sparrows line up morning and night for pieces of bread
I cut into small pieces. These sparrows arrive and
depart at the beginning and end of each baseball
season. Where they go now I do not know.

What are the timeless truths of time? What aspects of
your life are eternal? Twenty-five years ago Rod
Romney wrote these words in his first church directory
after arriving from Oakland to assume leadership at
Seattle First Baptist Church:

"This pictorial directory will record the name and
addresses of our members, and it will help us link
name to faces. But you and I will hold memories of our
life together at Seattle First Baptist Church that no
directory can ever contain.

Remember when we stood together before a strange
untrodden path, looking for the courage to press on
with a steadier purpose? Remember when we searched
for a greater good or fairer hope beside a hospital bed?
Remember those crushing moments of realization that
life here does not last forever as we stood at a graveside;
and then those bright moments of wonder at the new
little life God sent to our home and hearts? And don't
forget the strain of not communicating, the barriers that
sometimes grew, and then the breakthrough that came
when finally we were led to an understanding through
the unifying power of God's Spirit that made us press
on into oneness. And who can forget the worship
experiences when God pierced through our
carefully-laid agendas and made real the presence of
the Holy One; or the countless cups of coffee sipped
in Fellowship Hall as we muse over some phase of our
common experience?

This is the stuff a church year is made of, and there
are no words to record it and no pictures that can
frame it. There is just the power of memory to let it
relive in our hearts again and again, to say to us
that real goals and achievements are not the
upbuilding of an institution, but in the strengthening
of human relationships and character through
redeeming love.

Beyond the words and pictures that we see in this book
are also the devotion and work of the generations who
have preceded us, a noble company of saints long since
called home. Together we are strengthening the
foundations for the kingdom of our Lord.

No slogan ever says it as well for me as this old
rabbinic saying:

We agree to differ,
We pledge to love,
We unite to serve.

This is a bit of what these pages represent.

With love from your pastor,

RODNEY R. ROMNEY

Secret of Life by Sweet Baby James Taylor
(Zen saying: to find the meaning of your life is to
find the meaning of your everyday activity)

The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
Any fool can do it
There ain't nothing to it
Nobody knows how we got to
The top of the hill
But since we're on our way down
We might as well enjoy the ride

The secret of love is in opening up your heart
It's okay to feel afraid
But don't let that stand in your way
-- cause anyone knows that love is the only road
And since we're only here for a while
Might as well show some style
Give us a smile

Isn't it a lovely ride
Sliding down
Gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It's just a lovely ride

Now the thing about time is that time
Isn't really real
It's just your point of view
How does it feel for you
Einstein said he could never understand it all
Planets spinning through space
The smile upon your face
Welcome to the human race

Some kind of lovely ride
I'll be sliding down
I'll be gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It's just a lovely ride

Isn't it a lovely ride
Sliding down
Gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It's just a lovely ride

Now the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time

"In order that all men and women may be taught to
speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should
learn to hear
it." --Samuel Johnson

May it be so! ... Sky

[Thanks to David Enroth (Sky) and Rev. Dr. Rod
Romney for the above.]