On Saturday, I attended a dedication music workshop for an old friend who I miss very much, Bishop Peplowski. This was a holy man who invited me to come and learn about the Polish National Catholic Church. Needless to say, he had a hidden agenda in mind for me. He had just established a new Catholic country church in North Java and he was searching for a mentor “shepherd” to be the right fit for this community.
At the music concert that had gathered, 45 choir members from around the country came to celebrate their passion for music. The story was shared that Bishop Peplowski had translated many hymns and encouraged musicians in their education to enhance the music liturgies of his parishes around the globe. The concert was a celebration of his life and love for the Blessed Mother that included a hymn, Ave Marie.
Let me share a glimpse of this spiritual mentor in my faith journey. He welcomed all people no matter what religious tradition they had come from Roman, Polish or anyone searching to learn about the Lord’s compassion and love.
The best way to describe Bishop “Pep” is that he saw the potential of each person he met. His warm smile, gentle hug, and wonderful “dry” humor meant he never took himself too seriously. On the inside of each person, he saw a beautiful cathedral of crystals. In his presence, he skillfully polished every angle of a person until a beautiful diamond glittered brilliantly.
“See” before the Lord, “we are rough around the edges” but he knew the hidden beauty and the value in each person he met and so it freed us from our coat of dirt, the self-centered attitude we muck around in our daily life. In his presence, you would sparkle!
Let me share that we may feel that sometimes our life gets "coated" with worry, anxiety and fretting. What we need to do is to let the Lord free us. Our Heavenly Father can see the beauty that lies within. In fact, He said, "He has made everything beautiful in its time." (Eccl. 3:11)
Bishop knew what was inside of me, the desire to mentor a reborn Catholic community that had been closed. So the Lord certainly knows what is in you, my friend. Please don't mar your beauty or cover it up with undo anxiety. Cast your burdens on the Lord!
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who often do not feel they are "beautiful". The world has put on us a lot of guilt and shame. When we buy into this we are coating ourselves with lies and deception. Let us be freed and reflect and sparkle with the Light of the world.
