Another Year of Grace

Dear Friends,

As 2011 draws to a close, I look back with gratitude at God’s mercy and grace to us and those whom we love. Allow me to highlight some of the gifts he bestowed upon us:

Peregrinations (i.e., itinerations)

Within the U.S., we have traveled to Chapel Hill twice; Bermuda; and Philadelphia, mostly to attend weddings (see below).

Our biggest trip was to Asia in June. I spent a month in Taiwan, while Dori headed for East Asia before joining me in Taipei. We saw friends old and new, who encouraged us with their faithfulness to Christ and his gospel.

Frustrations

Dori arrived in Taipei with her arm in a cast, having broken her wrist by falling down while looking for a place to buy a train ticket. Recovery after surgery took several months, and involved a lot of discomfort her. Hassles with the insurance provider tested our patience, which had already been stretched a bit by my attempts to style Dori’s hair for her (just call me “Antoine”).

Though I enjoyed my time in Taiwan immensely, I returned exhausted, and still have not recovered my strength.

My book on Christianity and American society was turned down by one publisher, and the article on Matthew 7:1-12 was returned to me by the editor of the Westminster Theological Journal after more than a year.

Starting last January, I have been translating a book by the late Lit-sen Chang. His elegant literary style works well in Chinese, but reminds me daily of just how little Chinese I know. Without the help of Chinese volunteers here, I would have been utterly at a loss.

Publications

Two articles have appeared in Chinese theological journals, but my greatest satisfaction came with the issue of Christ the King in November, in paperback and Kindle formats. More than four hundred short meditations on Matthew’s Gospel took years to complete. I’m thankful for Laura Mason’s diligent and skilled proofreading, formatting, and editing.

Today I learned that American Christianity: Triumph and Tragedy has been accepted for publication by Pickwick Publications, publisher also of my Carl Henry: Theologian for All Seasons.

Presentations

Aside from monthly preaching at one of the Chinese churches in Charlottesville and helping to lead the Mandarin Sunday School class at our church, I spoke several times to the Chinese Christian Fellowship throughout the year and to a group of Chinese church leaders in April at the Christian Leaders’ Renewal Center at Lake Gaston. In Taiwan, I preached five times, gave three lectures at universities, and taught a one-week 30-hour seminary course on Ephesians.

Vacations

In September, we drove down to Atlantic Beach in North Carolina for another week of relaxation and Christian fellowship with old friends. The rainy weather deprived Dori of some time in the sun, but facilitated my reading (Peter Brown on St. Augustine, Douglas Kelly’s Systematic Theology). We are so thankful for what has become a kind of extended family.

Celebrations

We attended four weddings this fall: Aaron Han and Annie Hoyle in Chapel Hill; my Goddaughter Belle Huang and Pastor Gary Simons in Bermuda; Anjie Li and Preston Yee in Charlottesville (for whom Dori hosted an elegant bridesmaids’ luncheon and I conducted the ceremony); and Ruth Soong and James Park in Philadelphia. All were glorious reminders of God’s love for his people.

On Thanksgiving Day, we celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary at Skyland Resort in the Shenandoah National Park with our good friends John and Patty Pitts. How thankful I am for Dori, who becomes more beautiful and godly each year!

Dori has been taking good care of the students in the Chinese Christian Fellowship, a most loveable group of young people. In early December she pulled out all the stops for the annual Christmas party for them, an event they love. The next week, she sang with the church choir in a truly marvelous service of Lessons and Carols.
Relations

Celebrations attract family and friends for delightful reunions, of course. Our daughter Sarah came up from Charlotte for Dori’s birthday in July. She and her husband Brandon are to arrive today to spend Christmas with us. My older brother Peter and his wife Sally Ann plan to be here for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’ll take the week off after a pretty strenuous year; Dori will be at her culinary duties as usual, though we shall help with the dishes.

Exultation

Which brings me to the greatest of these: The journey of the eternal Word of God into the womb of Mary; his itinerations and countless presentations of the gospel of the kingdom of God; years of frustration with stubborn and uncomprehending sinners, capped by his ultimate frustration of Satan’s designs, evil, and death itself; return to God’s right hand and promise to come again; the publication of the good news to all the world; his intimate relation with us; and the marvelous celebration in which we are all now so happily engaged, one which anticipates an eternal vacation filled with love, joy, and peace.

Yours in His goodness, truth, and beauty,

Wright