Letter from the Rector – July 17, 2026

Dear Good People of St. Paul’s,

It’s always tempting when life is hard to go back to a time when we remember it was easier. Sometimes, what we remember actually didn’t exist. At times we only remember the good, or the ease, when life is difficult.

In this week’s excerpt from the Romans, the discussion veers toward talking about being enslaved to the flesh, a way of living contrary to God, and the invitation to living a life with God, called life in the Spirit. And at times, living a life with God is hard. It’s tempting to go back to when life was seemingly easier, even if perhaps it wasn’t.

Take the Israelites in the desert. God had just literally rescued them from being enslaved to the Egyptians. And they were wandering around in the desert. They were scared, in the desert, worried about food. They began to complain, wanting the life of being enslaved rather than being free in the desert. They were remembering the food they ate while selectively forgetting being treated poorly and the insecurity of their life in Egypt.

We do the same thing. We make a change in our life, following an invitation from the Spirit. Sticking to it becomes difficult, the environment is unfriendly, all of sudden we are wanting to just go back to how life was before the change, when life was easier.

In Romans, we are reminded that we have a new identity as God’s children and have been given the Spirit who gives us courage and strength.

May we have the courage and strength to continue in this life God calls us to live and remember we are loved as dearly loved children.

In Faith, Love, and Service,

holly+