Shakespeare wrote that life was a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.  I hope that the greatest dramatist in the English language was just having a bad day when he wrote that.  I believe that life has tremendous signifying power.  Our only privilege is to catch a fleeting glimpse of the beauty and wonder of the meaning of our lives.  We never see the fullness of the intricate and indestructible tapestry into which we are woven as we live.  In the immortal words of the modern bard, Robert Hunter, "Sometimes the light's all shining on me. Sometimes I can barely see.  Lately it occurs to me, what a long strange trip it's been."

I believe that our lives weave a significant tale.  There are morning dawns that outline who we are and to where our destinies are rolling.  These dawns inevitably move into harsh mid-days, where the light and heat can be overwhelming.  Dusk is my favorite time, when shadows soften the harsh light and we begin to see clearly again in the lengthening shadows of retrospect.  There are cold nights when the absence of light chills us, where the song of our life is silent, where the words of the story of our lives fall apart and break on frigid ground.  Then the dawn returns, with the call of the morning bird.  The song of life renews itself, as bright colors splash against the horizon.

As I leave St. John's I pray that we may all go singing into the future.  I pray that the music of God's amazing creation and the significance of your irreplaceable life will sound in your ears.  I pray that your song may lift the hearts of others.

May the shadow of God's presence pass close to us.  May the Light of the World shine around us.

Blessings and Peace,
David