What's Your African Violet?

Yesterday, one of the Deacons provided the sermon.  The meaning definitely resonated with me.  Maybe because it had to do with one of my favorite hobbies, plants?  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story and the meaning too!

A doctor went to visit a patient at her home.  He was told that she was suffering from depression, and that she would benefit from a visit.  This woman happened to be a member of the same church that the doctor also attended.

When he arrived at her house, he discovered a woman who was quite down and out.  He also saw three African Violets growing on the windowsill, next to an empty pot.  He presumed that the empty pot was waiting, ready for the next African Violet.

After talking with the woman, the doctor told the woman that she was not suffering from depression, but instead suffering from a lack of Christian purpose.  The doctor stated that she had a gift - propagating African Violets, yet she did not share this gift with others.  The doctor than asked the woman, if he were to give her a prescription, would she fill it?  The woman replied, yes, she would.

So, the doctor prescribed this.  He asked the woman to propagate more African Violets.  When she had more, she should find a new mother in the parish, and take one to her and her new baby.  She should take an African Violet to a woman who recently lost her husband.  She should take an African Violet to someone who recently had surgery.

Over the course of the next 11 years, the woman did just that - and more.  One day an article on the front page of the paper, caught the eye of many.  "African Violet Queen Dies - Mourned by Thousands."  So, the question posed to us is, "What is my African Violet?"  "What is your African Violet, that you can do/give to others.  So, as Lent is about to begin - what will your African Violet be?

Morning Mass

Mr. Fixit and I start our Sunday mornings with Mass.  This Sunday morning turned out to be not the typical  Sunday morning routine.  First, Mr. Fixit did not go to Mass with me.  He is still feeling not quite like himself due to this respiratory stuff.  So, I attended Mass solo.

Today I was a volunteer helper, or minister, for Holy Communion.  I was in the sacristy, gathering the candle lighter, when the power shut off.  The entire church, well, suffice for the sunlight from the stained glass windows, was dark.  Oh, well, I thought I would light some candles anyway!  I lit all the altar candles, and took my place in the back vestibule to wait for Mass to begin.

Mass was pretty normal, at this point.  The electricity did come back on during the Our Father prayer -- along with the shrieking security alarm.  Not to worry though, this was just a brief amount of time during the prayer.

My co-minister and I headed to the altar to prep for Holy Communion distribution.  We distributed to all the parishioners, and then waited by the altar for Father to return after he finished distributing to his final parishioner.

It was at this point, that things became a bit unusual.  The last young gentleman, that Father distributed Holy Communion to, followed him onto the altar.  My co-minister and I exchanged puzzled glances, and Father was oblivious to the whole situation, as his back was to the young man.

Suddenly, the young man started taking his clothing off -- a coat, sweater and hat -- and was stuffing them into the Tabernacle!  It was at this point that I alerted Father to the situation, who promptly turned around to see what was occurring.  This was just as the young man was pulling his belt off and untucking his shirt, as if they were the next items to go!  All the while, the choir and congregation were still singing, and I did not quite know what to do.

Father talked to the young man, and as the song ended, another volunteer minister came forward to lead the confused man off the altar.  The young man was clearly not quite well, as he told everyone that he was Charles and worked for a local hotel, and that we all needed to repent.  Wow, what a way to share a message!

Needless to say, we finished Mass, prepared the church for the next Mass and processed through the situation.  Six police officers arrived, and I am certain, that the young man was taken into a medical facility for a mental health evaluation.

So that was the atypical Sunday morning Mass.  Let's hope that the rest of the week is not quite this eventful!