Anniversaries are approaching

I am coming up on several anniversaries in a couple of weeks that have special meaning for me. Anniversaries, of course, are those dates that we or society set aside to commemorate a significant event, whether joyous or tragic. Usually we pause, take a breath, and ponder a bit.

On Sept. 11, we will observe one of those tragic events. I was working at home on the computer when I received a phone call from a friend who urged me to turn on the television. At first, I wasn’t comprehending what I was seeing — then the second plane hit the second tower of the World Trade Center on that dark morning five years ago.

Like millions of Americans, I sat in stunned disbelief and horror as, one after another, the towers fell and, with them, nearly 3,000 people. Before the day was over, another aircraft would crash in a Pennsylvania field and another would slam into the Pentagon.

I went to the closet and, with tears streaming down my cheeks, I placed the flag of the United States of America on my front porch. I vowed silently that I would not remove it until those who perpetuated this act of barbarism were brought to justice. The flag still flies nearly five years later, and justice still has not been served.

On a happier note, this Sept. 11 will also mark the second anniversary of The Church of the Holy Cross in Fayetteville, one of two mission congregations planted by the church I serve as pastor. Although the facilities rented by the church are small, they have managed to fill it to capacity each Sunday and they have a vibrant and vigorous ministry.

Sept. 10 will mark the 10th anniversary of my church, Christ the King. With 25 years of previous ministerial experience, this venture in 1996 would be the first time I ever attempted to pioneer a church. There were those who were certain it was a doomed effort.

When we first began the church, 19 people crammed into my living room on a week night. A few weeks later, we moved into the chapel of Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home in Peachtree City, where we met and grew for over six years.

We bought land and, five years ago, celebrated our fifth anniversary under a tent on our 11-and-a-half acres on Ga. Highway 34 in Coweta County.

Now, we occupy a sanctuary on the land and are making plans for our next building, a parish life center. Although they all don’t come every single Sunday, we have around 300 people or so who claim the church as their home.

This particular anniversary has special meaning for me for, at 5 p.m. on that day, two of our men will be ordained to the ministry by our bishop, The Most Reverend John Holloway.

One of the men is my oldest son, Jason, who once vowed there were two things he’d never do — he’d never be a cop and he’d never be a minister. He’s been a police officer around a dozen years now and serves as a lieutenant with the Peachtree City Police Department.

On the 10th of September, he will be ordained in Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Funny how that happens.

On Sept. 6, my wife, Cindy, and I will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. I was 20, she 19, when we wed against our parent’s wishes. They were sure we were making a tragic mistake, feared we’d never finish school, and were certain that the odds were against us making a go of it.

Mostly, their fears were well-founded. We were young, immature, and it was a long, rough haul for the first 10 years. We suffered for many of our mistakes. Yet, we did finish school.

I went on to get a Bachelor of Social Welfare, a Master of Arts in Biblical Literature, picked up a couple of good but unaccredited degrees, and am one requirement shy of a Doctor of Ministry from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry.

For her part, Cindy earned an Associate of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing, and a Doctor of Philosophy. During that entire time, she never made a “B.” A straight “A” student through four degrees, she’s the one with the brains. When people ask me what I got, I tell ‘em I got the looks!

She serves as an associate professor of nursing at the State University of West Georgia and is also the director of UWG’s Newnan Nursing Center.

Against all odds, we did make it — at least so far, as she reminded me recently.

A tragic mistake? To many people, it certainly looked like that in the beginning, but 35 years have produced three fine sons married to three wonderful women and God has given to us nine incredible grandchildren. Even today, I’d rather be with her than anybody else I know.

It’s been a wonderful journey and I look forward to these and other significant and meaningful events. However, I do pray that, soon — very soon — I will finally be able to go outside, take down the American flag, and return it to the closet. That, too, will be a day to celebrate.