I received an email today. It speaks for itself.

Father Kevin,

Not sure how others feel about it, but I personally enjoyed your recent change in establishing a third communion station.

• Not necessarily because it's more effective or efficient
• Not because it may have brought some people out of their comfort zones
• Not because it added a little extra excitement to ushering and controlling the traffic flow
• Not because of how anyone in the parish may or may not have felt about it

Not because of any of these things, because none of that really matters, as I have become to realize. Rather, it had to do with an evenmore special moment of witness, that probably wouldn't have occurred otherwise.

As I reflect on your Wednesday night teachings, and especially about "what is" and "what isn't" the Kingdom of God, I was one of the lucky ones that had the opportunity of witnessing something very special that I now categorize as the Kingdom of God alive in your son Jonathan during Holy Communion on Sunday.

As you were standing in the back of the church, serving the host to one of our parishioners, I saw Jonathan in the Narthex running towards his father with the biggest smile on his face, which made me smile -- I must tell you that I knew what was coming next.

He grabbed onto you with the greatest amount of love that a child can only have for his dad (or mom) and uttered something like "Hey Daddy!" and I saw you smile with joy, NOT embarrassment, and it made me smile even more because I think at that moment, I "got it."

I think that is what your sermon was all about on Sunday; that there should be no barriers to allowing people, including 4 year old people, to experience God's love.

While the altar may be a sacred place, the love of God witnessed through your son showing his love for his father, and you showing your love back to your son, is what I think you have been trying to teach us about the Kingdom of God being the life of God alive in us.

By the way, I look forward to the day that Jonathan runs up on the altar to love his father, and his Father in Heaven!

Sincerely,

John Knox