Symbols

This spring I was given a typical Salvadoran aumbry, handmade by someone who used to work for the Fernando Llort taller in La Palma and hand-painted by the diocesan treasurer of the Episcopal Anglican Church of El Salvador. The giver, someone who went to El Salvador with me in March intended for us to use it this coming winter when we moved worship into the parish hall. But it was not meant to be and so the aumbry came home to live for the time being on the downstairs front hall table.

Once I had moved out of the parish office, everything associated with me came home. The bottle of water from the River Jordan, the blessed oil from Church of the Holy Sepulchre, incense from right around the corner from the church, my communion kit with reserve sacrament, ashes for Ash Wednesday — all those outward signs of the mystery found in the sacraments needed a place to reside. The Salvadoran aumbry was just the spot and everything fit.

Last night I opened the door to the aumbry to look at these symbols. I wonder how long it will be before I will once again be anointing the sick, putting the oil of chrismation on the forehead of the newly baptised, adding River Jordan water to the water poured into the font, taking the Sacrament to the shut-in or ill, burning incense and using all these outward signs of what it means to be a priest in community, a relational priest.

A priest without a community is nothing. At least that is how I feel right now. I know I am a priest but I am wandering in the desert, a pilgrim moving from church to church to church but not having a place to call home right now. I am truly in between places, trying to be still to hear God's still, small voice.

So this aumbry takes on more meaning than before because not only does it serve as a reminder of a wonderful trip to El Salvador but it also is a reminder of priesthood and the hope that once again some day these oils and incense and water will not be tucked away but in an office and church to be used midst the community.