Open letter of thanks for everything – The Oxford Eagle

By Steve Stricker

columnist

Dear God:

I’m a mess. Thank you for a reasonably peaceful, restful night amidst the pile of life stuff that is courting me as we speak. It is Thursday afternoon, October 10, 2024, I am in my home office writing this column for the Oxford Eagle in what I call “God’s House,” because like everything else in my life, I can only be humbled by your mercy and love will have this beautiful house. Please give my regards to Papa, Gert and Sister Pat and tell me that I love them and miss them terribly.

As I reflected quietly this morning before Mass at 12:10, as I do every day, on your incarnation, your suffering and your death through the gift of the Rosary (an extremely powerful and effective prayer), I was completely inspired by you surrounded by unfathomable peace. Both patio doors were open and after a strange summer, fall is trying to beat the heat with 80 degree days and 50 degree nights, trees changing colors, birds of many species and several squirrels sharing the bird seed at my feeders and enjoy a drink from the birdbath while crows chatter in the distance.

As you know, I have not always enjoyed the fruit of your peace. Even though I grew up in a Catholic family, attended Catholic school from kindergarten through high school, and attended Mass daily with my classmates during the school year, I still didn’t have a “true faith” until my freshman year of college. Dad died two weeks before my freshman class started, and I felt miserable, lost, and hurt. One night I turned to you crying for the first time in my life, asking for help, and there you were, patiently waiting for me to call you, and my faith slowly began to mature.

In my journey of faith, you introduced me to the Blessed Virgin Mary (my heavenly mother), her husband Joseph and the Holy Spirit (a great mechanic who writes these columns), who has become my friend and the saint to me, people like people, Saint John Paul II, Mother Teresa, who humbly showed us how to live according to Your will, and so many others who voluntarily gave their lives instead of denouncing You to pray for me to intervene with you.

Your guidance, Lord, has allowed me to endure countless difficulties in my life then and now, and through it all has been your ever-present peace. Wealth, status, fame, or prestige cannot purchase this peace, for it is your gift to us. One just has to let go, be completely open and allow His will to be done in order to receive this heavenly treasure. To this day, it’s not always easy for me to completely give up control to you, especially now, and sometimes I get weak, try to do things my way, fall flat on my face, and quickly run back to you. Every time I come back you are there with absolute love and forgiveness.

O Lord, thank you for saving my life again and again, especially in Vietnam, for picking me up when I fall, for never giving up on me and for giving me everything I have, especially dear friends and earthly heroes who may know , who may or may not be you, to see me as I truly am, and give us in the United States of America the freedom to practice our faith openly (for me, by attending daily Mass and all sacraments, especially through reception in the Eucharist), all the priests and religious of all faiths whom you have called to be your apostles, all those who believe and do not believe, and for your amazing gift of peace.

Finally, please God, forgive me for how many times I have let you down. Let those I have offended know that I am truly sorry and ask them to forgive me, just as I have forgiven those who have offended me. Please grant me humility and your constant guidance. Let me be an instrument of your peace and a worthy witness for you, not a hypocrite to those who do not believe, and please, Lord, do not let me be misunderstood. Grant your peace to each of us, our troubled world; Unite broken families and give thanks, especially for my son Stephen and his family.

Your unworthy servant and son, Stephen.

Steve lives in Oxford, worked on campus and received his Ph.D. in advice from Ole Miss. JMJ