In Cheraw, SC, my twin brother and I went to a rather remarkable kindergarten.  In the community this place was referred to as “The Little Red School House.  It looked like an old time, one room school house. It was painted red.  I am not talking about red; I mean RED.  In the front of the school was a playground.  When you are that age what is just a mere patch of land seems to be acres and acres.

There was a big shoe that was hollow inside.  It made for a great place to play hide and seek or other games which were fueled by imagination.  The only requirement was that you had to tie the lace of the shoe before you could enter it.  I had the most difficult time tying that lace.  After many days of worrying about my aptitude and intelligence, it occurred to my parents and to me that the reason why I had difficulty is that I was left-handed and would make a knot like a left-handed person would make that knot..  The lace basically looked the same and it accomplished the same purpose, but it was different in a very subtle way.

You know, I believe that God calls us to approach life, approach meaning, and even approach God like we are left-handed.  You come up with the same results, it is just from a different angle.  You have the same results, it is just from another perspective.

I don’t know why those who are considered conservative are from the right.  I don’t know why those who are liberal are from the left.  What does that make someone who is left-handed and conservative?  Confused?  I hope not.

You and I are blessed because God makes all of us unique in one way or another.  Each of us sees God in different lights.  We witness God working through us and in us and with us  in so many wonderful and creative  directions.  And yet, ultimately, the goal, and the outcome remains the same.

If I could ask God for one thing.  If I could wish for God to change me in one way.  I would want God to  make me ambidextrous!  There are times that I want to see life both with my right side and with my left.

Deep down I know God will not grant this silly desire.  Because God knows we need to be with others who see God and know God in another manner.  This is where the real beauty of being in love with God as community.  We can learn how to experience God in a new light.  This is why we need the Church.

So those who are left-handed, go and draw the world with your right hand.  Those who are right-handed, try doing the same thing with your left.  We need each other.  We need the Church.  We need God in Christ Jesus.

Yours in Christ,

Father Scotty+