Todopoderoso
My Dear People,
Last
week I got word from some friends that they had just returned from a mission
trip to Guatemala,
and I was reminded of an experience I had there last summer. It was during a worship service in
Quetzaltenango (translation: the Land of the Quetzal Bird--I love it!), in an
Episcopal church there, and I was reading from the Spanish version of the Book
of Common Prayer, when I was taken with the word todopoderoso, which is Spanish
for "all-powerful, omnipotent, almighty."
When
we pray to God, when we invoke the Name of God, do we do so truly mindful of
the "almightiness" of the One whom we call upon? Over the years I have often quoted the gifted
author Annie Dillard when she puts it this way,
Shortly
after returning from Guatemala
last summer, I was reminded of Dillard's words during a mid-day Eucharist, when
someone slipped into the service wearing a bright-lipstick-red biking
helmet. Following the Peace, during the
welcome, I asked to borrow the helmet: we then set the helmet on the altar
during the Great Thanksgiving and it remained there for the rest of the
service. I then held it in my arms as I gave
the Blessing--or, to be more exact, as I asked God's blessing on us--and I held
the helmet under my arm as I greeted folks on their way out of the
service.
Needless
to say, in truth there's not a thing wrong--as I'm sure Annie Dillard would
agree--with straw or velvet hats. (I'm
usually charmed by them, as a matter of fact.)
That said, let us remember the red crash helmet as a sign of the Real
Power whom we call upon: Dios
Todopoderoso!
Who
knows what that Almighty God might do?!
And
thank God for that.
Your brother in Christ,
Wallace+
