Atlantic District Publications

Letters from the President - Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart

November 2, 2009 at 12:50 PM

Tuesday, October 20, 2009, dawned a clear day in New York City, with an absolutely spectacular sunrise.  I drove into our Witness in the Public Square event early on the Long Island Expressway through Queens.  There’s a point at which you pop up to the top of an overpass and there - whoosh! - the city skyline magically appears as if it’s been thrust up through the ground toward the heavens.  On Tuesday the sun sparkled roses on the skyscrapers.   Pink, red, orange and yellow dappled up through the windows all the way to the spires on the Empire State and Chrysler landmarks.  At the same moment my eyes caught those tones, my ears were tuned in to a beautiful Gospel version of the Agnus Dei.  “Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.”  Thinking of the day ahead, I was moved, touched and convinced as I am every new morning that the blessing of the Lord would be shining on me, on us.  And blessed we were. And are.

That’s the way we live, isn’t it? We begin with the benediction!  Blessing beams on every day, because “The Son of Righteousness rises with healing on his wings.”  

I want to thank every one of the 200 who attended this year’s Witness in the Public Square for blessing me, for blessing us with your presence, interest and commitment to engaging the world with the Gospel of hope in word and deed.    Special thanks to our outstanding award recipients Howard Crumb, Jon Coyne, Terry Kieschnick and Col. Michael Meese.  They inspired and focused us on the never-ending task of being unique personal witnesses to the Hope who lives within us – our Lord Jesus Christ.  Their presenters, their families, their friends and colleagues assisted us in understanding the deep context of their lives of service and devotion.  Those of you who have not been to this extraordinary event should set aside October 19, 2010 right now, because we’ll be back at the New York Athletic Club for our 8th annual Witness in the Public Square Luncheon.

As the sun set on this powerful day, sixty of us journeyed to Fraunces’ Tavern in lower Manhattan.  It was there that Gen. George Washington bid farewell to the troops, signifying the end of the Revolutionary War.   A very moving plaque with an eyewitness account of that event is in the upstairs museum – Washington is rowed off shore and in the sunset of that day is waving fond farewell to his courageous comrades in arms.   The museum also holds at this time one of four original manuscripts of the Magna Carta, which is quite a sight – going on 800 years old – to see.  The rule of law – God – country – family – these are at the center of our public lives as citizens.  We offer thanksgiving for God’s tender mercies received in that public arena daily and especially at our time of national Thanksgiving.  However, as citizens of heaven, our commonwealth is rooted and anchored in the tender mercy of God received in the person of Jesus.  On All Saints’ Day we join the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven as we approach the altar for a foretaste of the feast which is to come, to receive Christ’s Precious Body and Blood.  May His blessing shine down on you in rich measure this autumn in New York!  Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart!