SCHOOL ELEVATOR UPDATE
Because of a roof leak, the elevator in the school building was damaged by water in February. It’s been shut down ever since.
I recently met with the St. Paul City Elevator Inspector, a maintenance supervisor from All City Elevator, and our insurance liaison, John Peterson. (John works for Catholic Mutual, our insurance company.)
The good news is that the emergency roof patch has held through the past few weeks of rainy, snowy weather. That gave us the confidence to proceed with the inspection meeting.
Guided by the inspector, All City Elevator folks are ordering parts. Once they arrive, the repairs can be scheduled. They think it’ll be 4-6 weeks until the elevator’s back in service.
John from Catholic Mutual said that the repairs are covered by our insurance policy, less our $1000 deductible. That’s good news, as repairs could easily run into five figures.
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES AND US
I find it useful to distinguish technical challenges from adaptive challenges. Technical challenges can be complicated—elevator repair, anyone?—and yet they’re often pretty straightforward. Find technically skilled people and put them to work.
By contrast, adaptive challenges involve learning. Answers are unclear at first. In fact, even the questions can be unclear. A lot of patience and listening are usually required.
As I listened to Fr. Steve’s recent talks on the Acts of the Apostles, I kept thinking of this distinction. Members of the early church had a lot of learning to do. What aspects of Jewish life, belief and worship should be retained? What should be changed? And what do we do with Gentile converts?
Fast forward to the early 1960s and the Second Vatican Council. That council emphasized that “People of God” refers to all of us. In other words, the Council reaffirmed what the book of Acts records: Jesus wants us to go out to the world.
I’m going to have to keep thinking about how we do that at St. Matt’s. What do you think? What might our parish do to adapt to current and probable future realities in our world?
Thank you for your support, and have a great week!
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