Search the ArchivesNavigation Contact InformationThe Citizen Newspapers For Advertising Information Email us your news! For technical difficulties |
Purple water fever A few weeks ago, a phenomenon occurred at our church that demanded notice. I was in Chicago at the time but word came to me that the water at the church was purple. I should explain that, in our communion, bishops are authorized to wear a clerical shirt that is a “red-purple” color. Some would call it magenta. The color is, apparently, sought after by many. In fact, a priest who has an insatiable desire to be a bishop is said to have “purple shirt fever.” In November of 2007, I was consecrated a bishop and thus permitted to wear the purple, although I mostly have stayed with the black clergy shirts, especially in my own church. Nevertheless the purple is occasionally present. So, a few weeks ago, when the water at the church turned red purple — the same color as the bishop’s clerical shirts – it made me wonder, could this be some sort of miracle? After all, the likeness of the Virgin Mary has been known to appear on a cinnamon bun, and some churches have reported that, during revival services, gold dust has fallen from the ceiling. Some have even reported angel feathers being left behind in their services. I have always wondered, “If gold dust was coming down in abundance, why did they continue to receive an offering?” And if angels lose their feathers, can they fly or do they have to walk back to the celestial throne? But there we were — purple water in the fountains, in the toilets, and from the faucets. The ice in the ice maker was even the color of a bishop’s shirt! A bishop’s cathedral with purple water everywhere! Was it a supernatural occurrence? If it was, would it mean that other bishops would develop “purple water fever” in a mad desire to have the same occurrence at their cathedrals? Should we take photographs of the water in the toilets and send them in to the newspapers or to some Christian magazines? Would I be the next celebrity to be featured on Christian television programs? Should I write a book? Could we sell the purple ice cubes? Should we bottle the purple water and offer it to people who would send in a donation to the ministry? Could we develop a course about turning the clear water into purple water? The possibilities were endless. With all of the claims of the supernatural out there making the rounds, surely it wasn’t so unreasonable. We could even book pilgrimages to our church where pilgrims could splash themselves with “bishop’s water.” Had such an event ever occurred in all of church history? Or human history, for that matter? But, alas, there was a simpler explanation. It seems that the pump that brought the water from an aquifer had malfunctioned, but the device that put purifying chemicals into the water continued to do so. The purple water, I was told, was simply water that was colored by potassium. As soon as the problem was fixed, the water turned clear again. So, there was no miracle, no supernatural event, and there would be no “purple water fever,” TV appearances, books, or fame. However, it did pose another important question. If the potassium turned the water purple, then why is it that bananas are yellow? [David Epps is the pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King, 4881 Hwy. 34 E., Sharpsburg, GA 30277, between Peachtree City and Newnan. Services are held Sundays at 8:30 and 10 a.m.(www.ctkcec.org). He is the bishop of the Mid-South Diocese (www.midsouthdiocese.org) and is the mission pastor of Christ the King Fellowship in Champaign, IL. He may be contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org.] login to post comments | Father David Epps's blog
|
Copyright 2010 - Fayette Publishing, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use Policy
Server 4
