09 - The Midway
As everyone around us is gearing up to celebrate their favorite July holidays, hearing the pop and flash of fireworks and the sizzle of food on the grill, the Temple celebrates the The Midway.
The Midway marks the halfway point in the year, and the high point of summer (in the northern hemisphere). We look back at all we’ve accomplished, and we look forward to all the amazing things that await us in the rest of the year. This year has certainly been a unique one for all of us, and not being able to meet and celebrate in person with all of you is a tough pill to swallow - but we will still make the best of it at our weekly sermons, and we look forward to seeing you on Saturday!
Remember that the Midway is not only a celebration of the year and our accomplishments, but Americans celebrate Independence day, and our northern neighbors celebrate Canada day! A very efficient time, the first week of July!
Being where we are, we are lucky to be able to practice our religion freely and speak and work for efficiency and equity, and share our faith with others. We should be deeply grateful for those rights and freedoms, especially in light of other places in the world where such rights are not granted to everyone. The Temple encourages everyone to celebrate during this joyous week and enjoy the time with loved ones and the community, in a safe and protected manner. Pray and give thanks for the gift of being alive, praise the Paraclete and be thankful for what we have. and our ability to worship as we please.
The Midway should not be confused or taken as a celebration of our national identity or citizenship. It is more of a celebration of our membership in the most vaunted club of all - the Temple of Paraclism, a celebration of our heavenly citizenship.
The best ways to celebrate are to get together with your small group (while maintaining appropriate social distancing) and reflect on the past 6 months; we somehow made it, and we’ve got 6 more to go. Feel free to include festivities and other celebrations in your worship - get outside, enjoy the sunshine and liberty - these are the true ways to follow the Fifth Keystone, to seek and follow your calling in life. The things that make you happy and bring you joy will inexorably lead you in that direction, do not be afraid to follow them.
While you look with gratitude to the past on this first week of July, may we also look in faith to the future, and commit it and our lives to Paraclism and the will of the Paraclete. The ancient words of believers are still true: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Paraclete” (Psalm 33:12).
