Before I preached my first Sunday at St. Thomas’ back on September 15, 2013, I had been told of an esteemed man in the parish named Henry Walters. He was the Headmaster Emeritus; he had led the school for decades before retiring and he then took up lay leadership in the church. As a first-time rector, I climbed into the pulpit, looked out to the back of the church on the Epistle side, and saw Henry and Wanda, his wife. He caught my eye and smiled one of the warmest, most encouraging and sweetest smiles I have ever received; I launched into what I am sure was a fairly underwhelming sermon. Later he commented to someone, knowing it would get back to me: “He looks like he knows what he is doing up there.” It was a blessing. I had been blessed by a man full of blessings. How often do we consider the power and fructifying nature of pure blessing? If you knew Henry Walters, the thought might have occurred to you. This past Monday, Henry Walters passed through…
