Jagged Joy

Karen Johanns, 1959-2015

The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff preaching at The Ordination of the Rev. Colleen Shiefelbein

St. Paul’s, Richmond; September 19, 2020

Yesterday was all about RBG, Colleen’s ordination, and remembering Karen Johanns.

Somedays are a real mash-up.

Jagged I headed out before dawn for Richmond, to present Colleen for ordination to the priesthood. Jagged because RBG died Friday night, and I was listening to the news with beautiful tributes recounting her remarkable career of service to the people of this country.

The bishop preached joy. Which I’m certainly feeling- it was a thrill to experience this moment with Colleen and her husband Pete, and just a few others in this time of pandemic precautions.

Head beautifully wrapped, the bishop preached joy.

I was viscerally reminded of the priestly presence of Karen Johanns, who died August 31, 2015. She looked good with her head wrapped, too. She preached through her cancer treatment as rector of All Saints in Pontiac until she became too weak. She loved her collection of colorful silk scarves and was so game about finding fashionable ways to wear them on her bald chemo head. She would have been a very faithful bishop, had she lived long enough. Smart, faithful, strong, justice minded, orderly, clear.

Karen, in the midst of incredible physical decline, told me in June before she died that she just wanted “one more Michigan summer.” And she got it. Beautiful summertime tomatoes thriving in her square foot garden right up until her death.

The Right Reverend Susan E. Goff preached joy in the midst of the ups and downs and twists and turns in life. She reminded Colleen and the rest of us that joy is not the same as happiness: Happiness comes when you get a thing you want. Lose the thing, you lose the happy. Joy is deeper, much deeper within us. Joy is a gift to us from Jesus, and we always have it down deep in our core. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone…Finally beloved, whatever ids true, whatever is homorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable… think about these things.” Philippians 4: 4-9.

RBG was Good News through and through. Her joy emanated from her very being. It’s easy to love someone who is so in touch with her inner joy.

Colleen is Good News through and through. Her joy in serving God and God’s people is palpable, and I’m so thrilled that in the midst of so many jagged moments and spaces, The Church has one more laborer in the vineyard.

Karen was good news through and through. Joy deep down that partnered with her deep faith, even when she was anxious and cynical. She knew the joy of life in Christ, and offered that joy to her congregation and friends and family.

Colleen’s youngest child, almost three years old, may not remember the day his mom was ordained a priest. He may not remember the delight in having a whole big church nearly all to himself, complete with a kid’s section with soft blocks and books. He will grow over time to absorb the great gift of joy in the depths of those around him. In the depths of his parents and older siblings, in the depths of the friends who help to guide and support him in his faith journey at church. I snapped this photo, below, to show him someday.

All this joy softened some of my jagged edges yesterdaty, and I awoke today feeling refreshed and resilient.

Happy comes and goes.

Joy sticks around.