 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Monday, February 14 Valentine’s Day Love and LossThe Rev. Steven Wilson   It is with tears and a great sense of loss that I tell you what you may already have heard, that Father Steven Wilson, a great priest, and a great friend – died last night. He has become what he loved; and who he loved shaped what he became: a visible icon of the love of God. I did not know, yesterday, when I preached from 1 Corinthians 15, that he was so near death, but if I had known, I’d have said everything I said then, with even more passion. Every sad story is coming untrue.That’s the message of the resurrection, and the point of Paul’s observation that Jesus is the “first fruits of those who have died.” That does not mean we shouldn’t grieve – but only that we do not grieve “as those who have no hope.” The loss is to us, and it is real. I have been in tears off and on all day since I heard the news early this morning. Steve was my friend. Quirky, brilliant, witty. I loved him. Father Ted Estes commented, when he called, that Steve and I were often, in Diocesan Conventions and elsewhere, co-conspirators, co-disrupters, co-challengers of the status quo. And he was right. I miss him achingly, already. Pray for Melinda, and for Gabriel their son, for the people of Grace Church, Carthage, for Fr. Joe Pierjok who has the unenviable privilege of helping the congregation deal with the loss of their long-time pastor and friend while he grieves, too. He began his priestly ministry under the guidance of Steve, and is now thrust into a very different role from what either of them envisioned then. The service will be 2 pm, Saturday, Feb 26 at Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage. On Valentine’s Day we remember what it means to love without measure – to love all the way into death. And to love beyond it, too. Like Christmas and Easter, Valentines day has suffered from sentimentality and silliness – Fat men in red suits, selfishness, hauls of candy with no significance other than the candy itself – rabbits painting eggs. But the kind of love St. Valentine actually represents is the difficult sort – the love that is patient and kind and generous and long-suffering – that hopes without despair, and hangs on in hard times. I’m okay with chocolate and red heart and flowers – but let’s encourage ourselves and our kids to think a bit more deeply. Today. Every day. And let’s sign up for the love that passes understanding – the peace that does – the forgiveness that does – and the hope that also does.  This was Steve+ A thankful heart is never half-full or half-empty, but always overflowing with love. Wes Fesler  |
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