Endings and Beginnings(July 1 2021) ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS
I give thanks to my God every time I think of you – which is constantly, in every prayer I utter – rejoicing as I plead on your behalf, at the way you have all continually promoted the gospel from the very first day. I am sure of this much: that he who has begun the good work in you will carry it through to completion, right up to the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:3-6 
This is my 77th monthly blog and the final one in my tenure with the ONRC. Seventy seven seems like a lot of messages. Especially since, in the beginning I had no idea what I was going to write about or how long I would keep these going. It was strictly a month-to-month project. Somehow, God inspired me to keep writing, giving me inspiration even as I sat at my laptop wondering, “What will I write about?” It was truly an example of how God will provide. The passage from the Letter to the Philippians expresses very well how I feel about all the Vincentians I have engaged with during my years with the ONRC and also the last 21 years in my personal Vincentian experience. I do pray for all of you and for our Society every time I think of you, which is every day. Vincentians have filled me with hope as it was my privilege to see you working for the Good News. I know that God will continue to bless your service to the poor in so many ways. I will truly miss visiting conferences and councils across the province, attending the Ontario and National meetings and engaging with so many of you. You have taught me well. The famous verses in Ecclesiastes remind us that ‘for everything there is a season.’ As I approach my 76th birthday and my husband looks to his 80th this year, it is our season to step back just a bit. We have moved to Chatham Ontario, leaving the conference in Amherstburg where my father-in-law was a founding member in the 1950s. We are in good health so I hope that, after covid, Dick and I will be invited to join one of the Chatham conferences where we can be active locally for as many years as we are able. When I am no longer able to participate in the activities of a conference, I will still pray for our Society. Once a Vincentian, always a Vincentian! |
