Rev. Russell Levenson on faith, family, friends— and writing books
‘Nomatter howhard this is, we will come through it’
Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a season for everything: birth, death, laughter and weeping, embracing or social distancing. What is ancient is also right now. We’re living in a hard season. The Rev. Russell J. Levenson Jr., 58, rector at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, which reopened for inperson services on Sept. 12, has authored four books (“Finding Shelter,” “Preparing Room,” “A Path to Wholeness” and “Bits of Heaven”) that challenge readers to imagine what they might become during this time, while also offering his own experience as steppingstones.
Each book is designed as a seasonal companion: Autumn, Advent, Lent and Summer. While the format might seem familiar to readers of devotionals — each chapter has a Scripture reference, a short story, an action box and a prayer — the intimacy of the meditations will feel fresh. In opening up himself, Levenson dares readers to open themselves to what is possible with God.
He shared his thoughts on becoming an author, how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected him and what it means to be a friend.
Q: What influenced you to write this series of books?
A: I like to write. People learn in different ways. Reading is one, and so, when I write, I pray that what reaches people is God’s word, not my own.
For the record, I tell my members, if they are bored during the service, don’t go to sleep. (For one thing, I can see you!) Instead, read the Bible, read the Prayer Book, read the hymns, look up into the stained-glass windows of St. Martin’s. There are 133,000 separate pieces of glass in them, and in each window there is a sermon without words.
Q: You reach out to people far and wide with these books, but you don’t use any socialmedia. Are you still using a Rolodex?
A: No, but I have tons of business cards, and I still keep a paper calendar. Despite the encouragement of others, I don’t do Facebook, Twitter or any social media. I think, for me, the temptation to want to be “liked” could turn my eyes and heart away from what really strengthens me — God’s love.
Q: How has the pandemic impacted you personally?
A: It has made me more grateful for the core blessings I do have — my family and friends, my faith.
There have also been days when I have been overcome with angst and frustration with the unknown. I am Type A and a compulsive planner, so it’s sometimes hard to live day to day when so much is unpredictable. I am also an extrovert, so enforced seclusion and solitude have been like rough sandpaper to my personality. But, you know, it has made me have longer, better, deeper conversations.
I miss going to nursing homes, hospitals, to homes. I miss worshiping together. I miss sharing the wine and bread with my brothers and sisters. So I pray — a lot — that this will all come to an end.
At one point in the last several months, three of my four adult children were laid off of work. Two are back in the workforce, but it brought home the reality of how this tangibly impacts people beyond the virus.
Q: Youmentioned friends. You are close to the entire Bush family. Since President George (H.W.) and first lady Barbara Bush have both passed on, have you been able to remove their contact info from your phone, or do you still have it saved?
A: Yup. Still have it saved. I actually have kept the last text Barbara sent to me. One day, when she had just gotten a new phone and I had come in for one of our regular visits, she said, “The letters are too small, how can I make them larger?” I said, “Bar, that’s a setting.” She handed it to me and said, “You do it!” I said, “Bar, I don’t think your priest should be fiddling with the first lady’s phone!” She smiled and said, “Do it!” So I did. Later that night, I sent her a text to see if it was still working, and she sent me this in return: “p.” As you know, that is someone sticking out their tongue! That was just a few months before her death. I think it is fair to say, in our 12-year relationship, Barbara Bush deeply influenced me in all kinds of ways.
I have saved things from other friends as well, among them some of the last voicemail messages I got from (astronaut) Gene Cernan. I just can’t erase them. He became a good friend. I was with him when he died, and he asked me to officiate at his funeral. I also keep the birthday voicemail messages from my wife (Laura) and children.
Q: So it comes down to faith, family and friends. What should be the takeaway from all this?
A: I think the most important thing is that, no matter how hard this is, we will come through it. Right now, that may be hard to see. There are so many unanswered questions and lots of battered plans, but I believe in the love of God, His love of His children. And when we get to the other side of all of this, we will likely see that not only was He with us all along, but we’ll see His fingerprints everywhere. So, stand by: That story is coming.