Seattle Angler

Human beings are lovely creatures.  Humans love to create.  One of the greatest pains of dying must be the perception that one’s days of creating are over.  Each one has a set number of days, which can be counted on their hands, and they will live no longer than that.  For Mark Giles that number is infinitely greater than he might have imagined a few years ago.  Mark, pillar of the All Saints Church community, was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma in 2004.

Since then he has founded and maintained a men’s group which meets every Tuesday morning, at Fisherman’s Terminal, at 6:30 in the morning.  This is Mark’s ministry, to walk beside the men of his community in order to build the Body into a stronger, more impactful representation of Christ.  Mark’s illness transformed his life for the better.  I have heard him say on more than one occasion that he wouldn’t trade the experience of his Cancer for anything.  This morning I sat with Mark and his group for breakfast.  Tuesday morning breakfast, like Compline on Sundays at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, is one of the ways in which God holds me lovingly in His arms while I am in Seattle.

Mark has honored me since we first met with friendship and encouragement.  One of the things that Mark has helped to build in his lifetime is me.  Mark was the first person to suggest to me that I get involved as a volunteer at All Saints.  He told me “you should join the greeting team.”  And although I did not see in myself what he must have seen at that time, I joined the team.  Mark’s impact is far reaching and beautiful.  He truly is a lovely man.

I took a walk in the rain after the conclusion of our breakfast this morning.  The gray over our city is forecast to remain for many days.  I did not expect to miss the Albanian sun as much as I do.  Next week I will be in El Salvador with friends including Mark and my father Joe.  God provides light either from the sky or from good, gentle men; men like Mark Giles.

“I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17)