As an untrained preacher, stepping into the pulpit following a career in LA Law, my congregation has probably heard The Word presented in ways that, perhaps, other congregations have not experienced. For example, last Sunday, Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans played a featured role in my sermon, and it will again this coming Sunday. My guess is that, even among the congregations in and around New Orleans, what amounts to "free advertising" for this restaurant from the pulpit is most unusual.
Not that the venerable Antoine's needs any help from me. Since being established in 1840 [not a typo], it has survived slavery, the US Civil War, two world wars, segregation, de-segregation, fires, floods, hurricanes, and pandemics, to name just a few of the challenges it has seen in the last 185 years. It is an amazing place that has borne witness to so much history, and is, itself, a significant part of the history of New Orleans and Louisiana. If you have not had a meal there, you simply must. Of course, there's no need to rush. Antoine's will, most likely, be there whenever you are ready.
Why bring all this up now? Let me try to tie this all together. I am typing on August 5, 2025. For many years, the first week of August was a special time of celebration in our home. Renee and I were married 42 years ago on August 6, 1983. We had the joyful privilege of sharing that wedding date with my brother, Mack, and his wife, Judy, who were married exactly one year before us.
And then, seven years after our wedding, we added another reason to celebrate during the first week of August when our son surprised us by arriving on August 1, 1990, 10 weeks earlier than scheduled.
And so, I am in the middle of what for nearly 40 years was a week of celebration and fun - until Renee left, followed closely by Mack. Now, it's just a week of sad memory. My sister-in-law and I still remember our shared wedding date, and maybe we'll even talk on the phone, or text each other tomorrow. But we won't be celebrating, not really. I think we're both still in "remembering mode", or "trying to remember mode".
Yes, we both know how blessed we are to have shared what appears to have been a long time with our extraordinary spouses, and maybe someday, we will actually see tomorrow as a day that should be celebrated with joy. And yes, though I'm an "untrained preacher", even I know we're supposed to "rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances" [1 Thessalonians 5:16;18], But just, wow. "Always"? "In ALL circumstances"? For real? Doesn't God get what "all" of this has been like for me? Doesn't it feel like sometimes God expects a little too much from us?
"But what about" Antoine's?" - you say. Oh yes - thanks for the reminder. On one of our anniversaries [and I cannot remember the exact one - perhaps number 25 or 30? - strange how that part has faded away], Renee and I celebrated with lunch at Antoines. And it was marvelous! Spectacular even! We were even given a tour of the entire building which is practically a museum of Mardi Gras royalty - from the private dining rooms and ballroom of the upper floors, to the wine cellar. What an anniversary that was! Maybe the best of all 38 of them!
And I think it has suddenly occurred to me what the point of this article is really about. Yes, as you can tell, I'm still struggling with all of the loss, and when I started typing, I figured that would, once again, be the "takeaway" from this article. But I'm seeing something else now. As this admittedly "unusual" preacher has been thinking about how to work references to Antoine's into his sermons "coincidentally" on the two Sundays before and after another lonely anniversary, I am now realizing that this has given me an unexpected opportunity to recall with great joy a special anniversary moment in my far too short marriage, and to give thanks to The One who guided and orchestrated everything leading up to the timing of and the subjects of these two sermons so that I would remember that special day. And I believe He also did this so that I could have a glimpse of clarity about the verses I cited above. No, God doesn't expect too much from us. He is simply and gently calling His children to look for joy, and to be grateful, even in difficult circumstances, because of His presence with us.
So, Happy Anniversary, my dear. I'm going to try to be joyful tomorrow. I'm really going to try.
Ambrose Ramsey | Pastor and Shepherd
