In the two weeks since our return from Bolivia, even though my life and sensibilities have changed to some degree, the world sure hasn’t changed at all. People still plot assassinations, politicians still roil and rail against one another and famine and disease still reign supreme on a few continents. It would be great if we could wake up one day and see that everything had kind of evened out, people had calmed down, and greed and racism had vanished, ensuring that everyone had enough of what they needed to survive, and a peaceful community in which to live.

Perhaps my wistfulness is exacerbated by the fact that my heating and air conditioning system at my house has been determined to be completely shot, i.e. walking on its elbows since its last legs are no longer usable, and I feel the huge blow to my wallet as a result. As I stood over the service person who gave me the diagnosis and pointed out the main problems with a flashlight, I was suddenly transported to Bolivia, where we cooled ourselves with breezes through windows and warmed ourselves with an extra sweater or a campfire. “Hmm....maybe this winter won’t be all that bad,” I thought to myself. “Maybe using the fireplace and insulating myself with a couple of cats would do it.” But alas, this is Norman, Oklahoma, not Villa Sinai, so by the time of this printing, I will be the proud mother of a bouncing baby HVAC unit, all shiny and energy-efficient.

My complaints are small in the scope of the world, for sure. I am lucky to be able to finance my necessary home repair, knowing many in this very country are not right now. I live in a community where I do not fear for my life, and where I know there are reliable police, fire and other emergency services to come to my aid should I need them. I live in a situation where I spend more time worrying about how not to overeat than about whether I will eat.

We will take the opportunity on the evening of October 25th to acknowledge the lack of peace in the world, and to pray for peace. St. Stephen’s will be proud to host An Evening of Prayers for Peace, where religious leaders of many faiths will assemble to speak a variety of prayers centered around peace. Our choir will sing and I will give the brief sermon that night. I hope you will hold that Tuesday night open for this special event for our community.