I miss Jim. He died in February, just before his birthday, and not a day goes by that I’m not reminded of something he said, did, believed in, or felt passionate about. Jim was a renegade priest. I didn’t make that up, that’s what he called himself, and what he titled his book, Souvenirs: From the Life of a Renegade Priest.
His definition of renegade: 1. An individual who rejects conventional behavior. 2. Unconventional.
That describes so eloquently who he was to everyone who knew him and loved him.
During the publishing process of his book, my husband said he could tell when I was working on Jim’s book, because I’d either be laughing so hard I threatened to fall out of my chair, or I’d be reaching for tissues. Jim had that effect on people.
He has a beautiful wife, Nancylee, whom I dearly love, and two sons that he was very proud of. But, as much as he loved his family, he loved Jesus more. The commands, “Do Justice,” and “Love Mercy,” summed up, for Jim, the essence of Jesus’ value system, and fueled his passion for what he was about for most of his life. If someone asked (it happens more often than you can believe in the Bible belt) Jim if he was a Christian, he would say, “No. I’m a follower of Jesus.” Unconventional.
He also was the best pray-er of anyone I’d ever known. The first time I heard him pray, I went up to him later and asked if he would be willing to share some of his prayers with me. Several years later, I got my wish when he e-mailed me seven pages containing some of his favorite prayers. We were to pick out a few for his book, but I held on to the e-mail, and pulled it out today to mail to Nancylee to share with her sons. It gave me the idea to share them with you, too.
The following are a few of my favorites from his list. I’ll share more later.
I love you Jim.
“Almighty God, who hast created us in thine own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” From the Book of Common Pray, #21, Prayer for Social Justice. (This was his favorite prayer.)
“Dear God, May what we like about each other overcome what we don’t like, lest we miss your beautiful face in their eyes. May we see each other the way you see us. Amen.”
“O Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change; and where we are right, make us easier to live with.” He didn’t know who first said this, but he really liked it.
“Come, divine spirit, we pray; rattle our cages, break into our locked houses, water our parched lands, undo our bends and twistedness, awaken our hearts, help us to overflow with kindness, and give us unending joy. Amen.” Another unknown author
