Top of the morning and all good wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.
Pilgrim Church is one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in the area, celebrating its 129th birthday on the Sunday nearest All Saints Day, which this year falls on Tuesday, November 1. Thankful for its past, Pilgrim Church continues a faithful mission and outreach ministry. Congratulations 'Pilgrims'.
Having received a wonderful heritage, my prayer for Pilgrim Church in the present and future is "to think outside the box", and set before you A VISION of what God wants you to be.
The importance of having a vision comes from my dear Mother. In her declining years, she went blind. At first she was frustrated, angry, and reluctant to admit her limitations. Strong and capable all of her life, her blindness forced her to seek help from family and friends.
She was a remarkable lady. She did not engage in self-pity, but soon took charge of her life and began to turn her handicap into a blessing. She had been an executive secretary at the J. I. Case Co., in Racine, Wisconsin. Still able to type, she wrote countless letters of support and encouragement to people, encouraging them to develop new ways to be useful. All of us have handicaps; some are just more visible than other.
Stevie Wonder once said, "Just because a person lacks the use of eyes doesn't mean a lack of vision."
"Be Thou my vision,
O Lord of my heart...
Though my best thought
By day or by night,
Walking or sleeping,
Thy presence my light"
With blessings and in friendship,
Richard
