Rector’s Reflections

July 5, 2026

Dear People of God,  

A blessed Fourth of July weekend to all of you! And a blessed 250th anniversary of the United States of America!  May God bless America, and may we be a blessing to all others! 

As we turn the page into July, I share the following for your food for thought…Please read and pass it on… 

Advice That Will Actually Change Your Life                                                                                 

1. Stop expecting people to think like you. They won’t.
2. The first time you feel disrespected, don’t ignore it twice.
3. Fix your sleep before you try to fix your life.
4. Don’t argue with people who enjoy chaos—it’s their fuel.
5. The more you explain yourself, the more peace you lose.
6. Your habits reveal the truth about you—not your intentions.
7. If someone drains you, it’s already your answer.
8. People treat you based on what you tolerate.
9. Your future is built in your daily routine, not your big plans.
10. Not everyone deserves unlimited access to you.
11. Silence often exposes more truth than confrontation ever will.
12. If you don’t choose your priorities, life will choose them for you.
13. Comfort feels safe—but it quietly kills growth.
14. Your environment shapes you more than your motivation ever will.
15. Change hurts only until it becomes your new normal. 

Along the same lines, the following wisdom is wonderful reading and worth sharing…

1. Some people are so poor that all they have is money.
2. The mirror is the only judge you can’t bribe.
3. At the peak, you’ll realize you were the mountain.
4. When the road shakes, you don’t leave; you buckle up.
5. Most problems get smaller when you stop reacting immediately.
6. Some doors only open from the inside.
7. Fear is a tax you pay on a future that never arrives.
8. The truth doesn’t care if you ignore it.
9. The friend of an idiot is an idiot.
10. Your best teacher is your last mistake.
11. The cold water doesn’t get warmer if you jump late.
12. You can’t lose what was never yours.

Friendship is a profound gift from God. A close friend should never be taken for granted. Is there anyone in your life for whom the following reflection comes to mind? If you respond “yes,” you are richly blessed… 

Some people come into our lives for a season, but few become part of our hearts forever.

You are one of those rare people for me. No matter how busy life gets or how much time passes, I hope you never question your place in my life.

You are deeply appreciated, genuinely loved, and endlessly valued. Our friendship is not built on constant conversations or perfect moments. It’s built on trust, loyalty, memories, and a connection that continues to matter through every season of life.

You have brought so much happiness, comfort, and meaning into my world, and I will always be grateful for that. No distance, time, or circumstance could erase the importance you hold in my heart.

You are not just a friend to me. You are someone I will always cherish, support, and care about.

And no matter where life takes us, you will always have a special, lasting place in my heart that can never be replaced.   

And I close on a lighter note…

                                      Things Mom Would Never Say

                 “How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?”

                       “Yeah, I used to skip school a lot, too.”

       “Just leave all the lights on… it makes the house look more cheery.”

                       “ Let me smell that shirt — Yeah, it’s good for another week.”

“Go ahead and keep that stray dog, honey. I’ll be glad to feed and walk him every day.” 

“Well, if Timmy’s mom says it’s OK, that’s good enough for me.”

“The curfew is just a general time to shoot for. It’s not like I’m running a prison around here.”

Summer blessings, 

Fr. Greg