Well - it's like this: If you take Christ seriously, living is a community of faith is a given. In fact - if you take any religion seriously, a community of faith is essential.
I used to visit the Holy Cross monastery in Pineville SC (not there any longer). The monks - all except one - lived 24 hours a day in community - in relationship with each other. The lone exception was one monk who felt called - at least for a time - to live as a hermit. The community wanted to honor his wishes, but also wanted him to be safe. They devised a number of ways for him to check in and for them to check on him. So even in his "solitude" the community shared his calling in their creative support.
The 10 commandments - if we pay attention to them- speak to this living in relationship - in community. The first several commandments speak to our relationship with God. The rest speak to how we live in relationship with one another. Far from being an abusive, tyrannical list of rules, they tell us with great precision how we might learn to live together more justly, and therefore live in relationship with God more closely. They are not a bag full of clubs to beat up errant sinners (that begs the question, "aren't all sinners errant?")
Church can be exciting, frustrating, hypocritical, loving, merciless, merciful, forgiving, judgmental and many times simply boring. Now change the word "Church" to "living."
This blog is not exclusively about religion. But it doesn't exclude the topic either. Practicing religion is about perfecting our relationships with God and with each other. If we aren't working on those two things then religion, organized or other wise, is not worth the time and travail.
Pax
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Customer Service Redux
Customer Service is not always an oxymoron (see my earlier post). Took the new car back to Southern Motors Acura because the service light was blinking - along with the tire pressure light. Mickey and Brian gave me a loaner vehicle, got everything fixed, noticed I had a screw in my tire (causing the pressure problem) and put on a new - yes new tire at no cost to me.. That's customer service. Comcast could learn more than a few things from folks like Brian and Mickey.
Latest telephone scam Alert!!! Companies now have automated messages that sound conversational, as if a real person was speaking to you live. After about 30 seconds you begin to realize it's not so, but they are pretty clever in their execution and will only get better over time. Just say no!
Latest telephone scam Alert!!! Companies now have automated messages that sound conversational, as if a real person was speaking to you live. After about 30 seconds you begin to realize it's not so, but they are pretty clever in their execution and will only get better over time. Just say no!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Church Growth
Well the title of this piece seems to be an oxymoron. Latest studies (who does these studies and why are they always late) show the mainline churches in decline over the last 10 years and even the "new" movement personified by mega churches that are big on entertainment and self actualization and pretty thin on the theology are showing some fraying around the edges.
So why might that be? Most;y, I think, because we spend a huge amount of our energy on social justice issues and precious little on the Gospel. Heresy you say! Actually not. The Episcopal Church (my brand) in particular has always been incarnational in its work in the world. Believing in the dignity of every human being, we have been leaders in social justice issues even before people called them that.
Here is the problem in my view. We have, over time, minimized the importance of making ministry come out of our understanding of theology. We should do ministry as a gospel imperative, but very often we approach ministry using a secular, social service agency approach. Here's a news flash: bad as some might be, social service agencies are much more adept and equipped to do their jobs than we are.
Passing resolutions every three years bemoaning the state of the human condition, doesn't really change the human condition. Dabbling in one ministry or another - the "ministry du jour" one might say, leads to little accountability and even less effectiveness.
That is not to say that churches, the Episcopal Church in particular - don't do good work in the world - we do. But we could do better if that work came more often out of what we believe about God and his call to us, as opposed to what simply "feels right" in any given circumstance.
Our primary mission is to know Christ and to make Christ known. Very often in the outreach we engage in, Christ doesn't make much of an appearance. This is not about conversion, it's about naming the reason and motivation for the ministries we engage in.
Ministry to the world needs to be for the long haul. "Feel Good" ministries last, mostly, until feeling good is replaced by boredom, feeling put upon or simply being ready to try the next "feel good" thing.
Ministry needs to be rooted in something more than good feelings or the current trend. Ministries need to be rooted in the Gospel. Ministries, must be accountable - to each other, to those we serve and ultimately to God in Christ. It's time to re- incarnate the incarnational Church.
So why might that be? Most;y, I think, because we spend a huge amount of our energy on social justice issues and precious little on the Gospel. Heresy you say! Actually not. The Episcopal Church (my brand) in particular has always been incarnational in its work in the world. Believing in the dignity of every human being, we have been leaders in social justice issues even before people called them that.
Here is the problem in my view. We have, over time, minimized the importance of making ministry come out of our understanding of theology. We should do ministry as a gospel imperative, but very often we approach ministry using a secular, social service agency approach. Here's a news flash: bad as some might be, social service agencies are much more adept and equipped to do their jobs than we are.
Passing resolutions every three years bemoaning the state of the human condition, doesn't really change the human condition. Dabbling in one ministry or another - the "ministry du jour" one might say, leads to little accountability and even less effectiveness.
That is not to say that churches, the Episcopal Church in particular - don't do good work in the world - we do. But we could do better if that work came more often out of what we believe about God and his call to us, as opposed to what simply "feels right" in any given circumstance.
Our primary mission is to know Christ and to make Christ known. Very often in the outreach we engage in, Christ doesn't make much of an appearance. This is not about conversion, it's about naming the reason and motivation for the ministries we engage in.
Ministry to the world needs to be for the long haul. "Feel Good" ministries last, mostly, until feeling good is replaced by boredom, feeling put upon or simply being ready to try the next "feel good" thing.
Ministry needs to be rooted in something more than good feelings or the current trend. Ministries need to be rooted in the Gospel. Ministries, must be accountable - to each other, to those we serve and ultimately to God in Christ. It's time to re- incarnate the incarnational Church.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Customer Service?
Briefly. A few weeks ago I set up the new office computer. This included hooking up the internet/phone/copy machine connections.
All went well. I did need to have Ricoh come and set up the copy machine for scanning to the computer. Called/explained/tech arrived less than an hour later/set up the scanner/ said, "have a good day. No muss no fuss and no bill.
Comcast phone service goes out. Call the 800 number and wait several minutes. After half an hour of "diagnosing" the phone tech said you need a new line splitter. I said, "fine - when can you come and install it?" I am told that once installed the splitter is "mine" thus it will cost lots of money for them to come and replace it. He suggested I go to store and buy one and put it in myself. I did. $4.00 part.
But please explain Comcast's abundance of advertising featuring their excellent customer service and satisfaction. Ricoh? Comcast? Wish Ricoh was the internet provider.
All went well. I did need to have Ricoh come and set up the copy machine for scanning to the computer. Called/explained/tech arrived less than an hour later/set up the scanner/ said, "have a good day. No muss no fuss and no bill.
Comcast phone service goes out. Call the 800 number and wait several minutes. After half an hour of "diagnosing" the phone tech said you need a new line splitter. I said, "fine - when can you come and install it?" I am told that once installed the splitter is "mine" thus it will cost lots of money for them to come and replace it. He suggested I go to store and buy one and put it in myself. I did. $4.00 part.
But please explain Comcast's abundance of advertising featuring their excellent customer service and satisfaction. Ricoh? Comcast? Wish Ricoh was the internet provider.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Pet Peeves
Not in any particular order:
- People who believe Olive Garden is quintessentially Italian
- Ditto and then some for those who like Bella's
- People who stay home from church because it is raining (and tell you)
- People who have ready suggestions/criticisms/ and complaints in any organization who refuse to be active in fixing those things - or anything else
- People who tell Italian/Ethnic/racist/sexual/ the list goes on jokes. By definition they are not funny.
- Me when I whine and complain about my health - especially when I compare it to folks who really have problems
- People with "issues" or "agendas" Yes you are pretty obvious.
- People who ask your advice and then get angry when you give it to them
- People who think 63 is old (including me when I feel it)
- Bad music of any kind
- People who tell me they are "spiritual" and don't need Church -Blechhhh!
- People who say they are Christians (Jews, Muslim, Bahai, Unitarian) but have not darkened the door of a house of worship in decades.
- The above same people when they tell pollsters how religious they are
- People who start sentences with, I have a lot of _______(you fill in the blank) friends, but.......
- More when I'm feeling like whining again
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Lions and Tigers and Bears, O My!!
Well that's kind of how I felt when the orthopedic surgeon said he needed to revise my knee replacement done back in December 2010. Technically called a revision (verson 1.0 to 1.517?), it's basically knee replacement surgery light - we hope. So that's what I have to be thankful for as I am scheduled to do this the week before Thanksgiving.
Sunday's 9/11 liturgy went well, but the discussion afterward, as folks shared their feelings then and now, was - I think - the most significant part of the day. Just as the Church is a community, so are all of us whose lives were affected (in large or small ways) by that day a community.
There are some pundits who say it's time to move on, but remembrance is an important part of who we are as a people. We don't need to get stuck in unhealthy grief, or be paralyzed by fear, but remembrance - in the ancient sense of "making present again" keeps us in community with one another - no matter how wide we are dispersed. It is, in the ancient and catrholic practice of the Holy Eucharist, how we make Christ present to us in the here and now - not the only way we make him present, but in a profound and elemental way.
As our genration passes from the scene, those who follow need to here the stories of sacrifice and bravery and compassion. We need to assure that our children and children's children understand - in the most fundamental way, that Love conquers evil every time. Anger - righteous or not eventually leaves us bitter and fallen in on ourselves. Love calls us out of our bitternesss and anger into lives of mercy and grace. As Paul tells us, "Love never ends.... Faith Hope and Love abide thse three, but the greatest of these is Love."
Sunday's 9/11 liturgy went well, but the discussion afterward, as folks shared their feelings then and now, was - I think - the most significant part of the day. Just as the Church is a community, so are all of us whose lives were affected (in large or small ways) by that day a community.
There are some pundits who say it's time to move on, but remembrance is an important part of who we are as a people. We don't need to get stuck in unhealthy grief, or be paralyzed by fear, but remembrance - in the ancient sense of "making present again" keeps us in community with one another - no matter how wide we are dispersed. It is, in the ancient and catrholic practice of the Holy Eucharist, how we make Christ present to us in the here and now - not the only way we make him present, but in a profound and elemental way.
As our genration passes from the scene, those who follow need to here the stories of sacrifice and bravery and compassion. We need to assure that our children and children's children understand - in the most fundamental way, that Love conquers evil every time. Anger - righteous or not eventually leaves us bitter and fallen in on ourselves. Love calls us out of our bitternesss and anger into lives of mercy and grace. As Paul tells us, "Love never ends.... Faith Hope and Love abide thse three, but the greatest of these is Love."
Friday, September 9, 2011
It isn't the fact that almost 3000 people died. There are more than 6,000 deaths every day just in America. It is the wanton destruction of 3000 souls in the name of a God that abhors death and suffering but is forced to watch horrible things done in his name virtually every second of every day in this broken world we live in.
Right now it is Muslim extremists in the headlines. Radicals that believe that violence is God's way of making things right, all the while making all Muslims suspect in the eyes of those who are victimized by their extremists' radical and insane behavior.
Christians and Jews have had their dark moments of craziness as well - also in the name of that same God who is crucified over and over again by humanity's unspeakable behavior.
In truth - every religion at one time or another has perpetrated unprecedented horror in the name and on behalf of their particular deities. But for Muslims, Christians and Jews the sin is greater because their God, Yaweh,, Allah is a God who in all their sacred texts calls for human beingsnot simply to be tolerant of one another but to care for and love one another. The Koran, the Jewish Scriptures and the Christian Bible all prtray God as merciful, just and forgiving. Where have we gone wrong?
I do not have an answer, except to say that it is not the fault of religion. It is the fault of human beings who wreak violence in the name of religion. It is a humanity out of control for power and place. It is a people who speak with honeyed lips, while devising schemes of terrible destruction in their hearts.
May God Bless the souls who perished 10 years ago through no fault of their own. May God Bless all who suffer and die because of terrorism, dictatorships, predjuduce and pseudo religious dogmas of violence and death. May God instill in all of us the words of the Prophet Micah: "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." May we all bless God by doing exactly that.
Right now it is Muslim extremists in the headlines. Radicals that believe that violence is God's way of making things right, all the while making all Muslims suspect in the eyes of those who are victimized by their extremists' radical and insane behavior.
Christians and Jews have had their dark moments of craziness as well - also in the name of that same God who is crucified over and over again by humanity's unspeakable behavior.
In truth - every religion at one time or another has perpetrated unprecedented horror in the name and on behalf of their particular deities. But for Muslims, Christians and Jews the sin is greater because their God, Yaweh,, Allah is a God who in all their sacred texts calls for human beingsnot simply to be tolerant of one another but to care for and love one another. The Koran, the Jewish Scriptures and the Christian Bible all prtray God as merciful, just and forgiving. Where have we gone wrong?
I do not have an answer, except to say that it is not the fault of religion. It is the fault of human beings who wreak violence in the name of religion. It is a humanity out of control for power and place. It is a people who speak with honeyed lips, while devising schemes of terrible destruction in their hearts.
May God Bless the souls who perished 10 years ago through no fault of their own. May God Bless all who suffer and die because of terrorism, dictatorships, predjuduce and pseudo religious dogmas of violence and death. May God instill in all of us the words of the Prophet Micah: "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." May we all bless God by doing exactly that.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Hello Again
It has been a while since I posted anything on my blog. No excuses except a hot and uninspiring summer. I have begun some water (pool?) therapy for my left kneem which is suddenly acting as if it was replaced yesterday as opposed to last December. The doc says he doesn't want to go back in and then think, "What am I doing here?" Which is fine by me for the time being.
Savannah seems to be fast becoming the shooting capital of the world. 10 shootings in 24 hours rivals cities a lot larger than the big S. Police tell us that if we are just the average Savannah citizens we really have nothing to worry about. I beg to differ. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can get you killed. And by wrong place, I mean wherever (mall, restaurant, home etc) the person with the gun happens to be. Being a bit of collateral damage is little comfort to me. So as the sarge used to say on Hill Street Blues, "Be careful out there."
Somebody please explain mesh book bags/backpacks for students. When packed to the hilt with everything from books to chewing gum, spotting something illegal or fattening seems pretty far-fetched. It is a tad ridiculous when the big box stores, Walmart by personal experience, have tons and tons of non-mesh book bags and backpacks in their back to school sections. Who -pray tell - is buying them? OH - and when I asked where I might find the mesh bags, I was first directed to sporting goods (more non mesh back packs) and then told by a senior customer service person that if they had any they would be in women's handbags and accesories (more non-mesh backpacks with some handbags mixed in). How anyone finds anything these days is news to me.
Finally in this grab bag of observations: I cook Italian better than the Italian restaurants in town. This is not bragging, simply a fact. Every time we try one of the "good" ones (Bella's need not apply - ever) we spend more money than we need to and always comment after the fact, that it was okay, but nothing I couldn't have prepared better. Leslie even tells the wait staff that I cook the best risooto she has ever eaten.
In Italy people expect home-cooked to be better than restauant meals, so if they go out they really investigate the "best" trattorias in their towns. Americans go out because (a) we don't feel like cooking; (b) we can't cook as well or at all; (c) special occasions. So if you want good Italian at a reasonable price try "Osteria Giacomo" (literally Jim's small restaurant) when it opens which is probably never. Or just come by the house and see what's cookin'.
Ciao (I promise to be more regular in these posts - I won't promise to be any more interesting).
Savannah seems to be fast becoming the shooting capital of the world. 10 shootings in 24 hours rivals cities a lot larger than the big S. Police tell us that if we are just the average Savannah citizens we really have nothing to worry about. I beg to differ. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can get you killed. And by wrong place, I mean wherever (mall, restaurant, home etc) the person with the gun happens to be. Being a bit of collateral damage is little comfort to me. So as the sarge used to say on Hill Street Blues, "Be careful out there."
Somebody please explain mesh book bags/backpacks for students. When packed to the hilt with everything from books to chewing gum, spotting something illegal or fattening seems pretty far-fetched. It is a tad ridiculous when the big box stores, Walmart by personal experience, have tons and tons of non-mesh book bags and backpacks in their back to school sections. Who -pray tell - is buying them? OH - and when I asked where I might find the mesh bags, I was first directed to sporting goods (more non mesh back packs) and then told by a senior customer service person that if they had any they would be in women's handbags and accesories (more non-mesh backpacks with some handbags mixed in). How anyone finds anything these days is news to me.
Finally in this grab bag of observations: I cook Italian better than the Italian restaurants in town. This is not bragging, simply a fact. Every time we try one of the "good" ones (Bella's need not apply - ever) we spend more money than we need to and always comment after the fact, that it was okay, but nothing I couldn't have prepared better. Leslie even tells the wait staff that I cook the best risooto she has ever eaten.
In Italy people expect home-cooked to be better than restauant meals, so if they go out they really investigate the "best" trattorias in their towns. Americans go out because (a) we don't feel like cooking; (b) we can't cook as well or at all; (c) special occasions. So if you want good Italian at a reasonable price try "Osteria Giacomo" (literally Jim's small restaurant) when it opens which is probably never. Or just come by the house and see what's cookin'.
Ciao (I promise to be more regular in these posts - I won't promise to be any more interesting).
Thursday, July 21, 2011
My Brother's Birthday
July 18 was my Brother's 76th Birthday. Well it would have been. He died in the late 70's from a cerebral hemmorage caused by a malformation of blood vessels in his brain. That malformation was brought about by a "mild" case of polio. His father died from polio in the 1930's.
He didn't even know he had caught the disease until he entered the Army during the Korean War. It never stopped him from serving and serve he did: in the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and finally the Army, again, where he was medically retired because of the seizures he began to have.
I didn't know my brother well because he was up and out of the house by the time I might have been influenced by him. My sister stayed around longer so we are very close (not always - but thank God now).
I remember him as brash, opinionated, sometimes argumentative. But I also remember he had an incredibly soft heart.
It nearly killed my mother to bury him. Elsie and I had to make the decision to take him off life support because she just could not do it. I don't believe my mother ever fully recovered even though she lived many many years afterward.
None of this, of course, is or should be, of any interest to those of you reading it. And I don't usually discuss things this personal, but Fred needed to be remembered - made present again.
So lift a glass to Frederick Barnard, veteran of Korea and Vietnam, but most of all my brother. May he rest in eternity and my light perpetual shine upon him.
He didn't even know he had caught the disease until he entered the Army during the Korean War. It never stopped him from serving and serve he did: in the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and finally the Army, again, where he was medically retired because of the seizures he began to have.
I didn't know my brother well because he was up and out of the house by the time I might have been influenced by him. My sister stayed around longer so we are very close (not always - but thank God now).
I remember him as brash, opinionated, sometimes argumentative. But I also remember he had an incredibly soft heart.
It nearly killed my mother to bury him. Elsie and I had to make the decision to take him off life support because she just could not do it. I don't believe my mother ever fully recovered even though she lived many many years afterward.
None of this, of course, is or should be, of any interest to those of you reading it. And I don't usually discuss things this personal, but Fred needed to be remembered - made present again.
So lift a glass to Frederick Barnard, veteran of Korea and Vietnam, but most of all my brother. May he rest in eternity and my light perpetual shine upon him.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
I'm Back
Probably could have titled this "I still have a back".
Well, per usual, nothing about me is all that simple. Appears I may be having "nerve root" irritation and so they will be treating me for that next week. Appears to be a relatively common post-op issue. Pain level is better however, which means I'm not doping myself into semi-hibernation.
Back to work - except it's not really like work in some regards. Never really understand how much I miss the liturgy until I am deprived of it. Still a bit stiff and get tired more quickly than I like but at least the four walls I'm looking at are way different than what I have been staring at for these several weeks.
Nothing profound to say at this point - just wanted folks to know I am still kicking - well- breathing might be more accurate.
Well, per usual, nothing about me is all that simple. Appears I may be having "nerve root" irritation and so they will be treating me for that next week. Appears to be a relatively common post-op issue. Pain level is better however, which means I'm not doping myself into semi-hibernation.
Back to work - except it's not really like work in some regards. Never really understand how much I miss the liturgy until I am deprived of it. Still a bit stiff and get tired more quickly than I like but at least the four walls I'm looking at are way different than what I have been staring at for these several weeks.
Nothing profound to say at this point - just wanted folks to know I am still kicking - well- breathing might be more accurate.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Corpus Christi
Below is something I posted to my parishioners today on our parish elist. As I am still recovering from surgery I thought I would still get a bit of preaching in so they won't forget me. (How could they?).
Corpus Christi
Simply put, believing is not the end game for us. We can believe a lot of things: Jesus is God, he was resurrected, he came to reconcile the world to God – those kinds of things. But simply believing these things advances the kingdom not even a little bit.
Ours is - or should be an active faith. Our doing of our faith, enlivens our belief, which in turn can call us to new heights and depths of ministry.
Corpus Christi
In many parts of the Church Catholic, the Sunday after Trinity Sunday (today) is set aside as Corpus Christi – “The Body of Christ.”
During Holy Week we commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist – the giving of this special meal to the faithful.
On Corpus Christi we commemorate the centrality of this meal to the Christian experience. The key word here is experience.
As Anglicans, in particular, heavily influenced by Benedictine monasticism, we are much more a Church of Orthopraxis (right practice/worship) than a Church of Orthodoxy (right belief). To be a bit more accurate, what we believe is acted out in our worship and by extension carried out into the world as we live our day to day lives.
Jesus spent most of his time telling us what to do – beginning with the Holy Eucharist. At supper he tells his disciples, DO this in remembrance of me. Let your doing and re-doing of this meal be the sign and symbol of what you believe. MAKE me present with you. DO unto others; Whenever you do this for the least of my brothers and sisters you do it to me; GO Forth and make disciples. Heal the sick; preach the good news; We are to be doers of the word, not simply hearers.
The centrality of the Holy Eucharist – the importance of the command to “do this in remembrance of me” calls us to be at Christ’s table as often as possible. It is not an appetizer to whet our faith upon occasion. Nor is it “comfort food,” when we need a lift. It is a call to action. A call to do, make, go, heal, preach, reconcile and love fiercely. “Be doers of the Word.” Show your belief in the king of kings, by doing those salvific acts of love, charity, and mercy that arise from taking, breaking and consuming Corpus Christi’ The Body of Christ.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Saga continues
Day 9 in the recovery phase - with slow progress and some weird side and sound effects. I am attempting to become "the patient who calls every day", but the doc's office does not answer quickly so I don't think they are biting/
Floors are done and beautiful. The folks at "All About Wood Floors" were meticulous. I love folks who take pride in their work. Sticker shock, however, from bids by others to paint a living room and a staircase. We are talking paint, not gold leaf - or even silver leaf.
I must be feeling better as my online shopping bug is getting stronger. So far am resisting, but I need to gt out of the house. New meds have me wide awake at 2 a.m. Last time I was awake post surgery and on drugs everyone almost received "Beni HanaKnife Sets" for Christmas. And now I have my credit card # memorized.
Well - you can see why I call this Meanderings.
Floors are done and beautiful. The folks at "All About Wood Floors" were meticulous. I love folks who take pride in their work. Sticker shock, however, from bids by others to paint a living room and a staircase. We are talking paint, not gold leaf - or even silver leaf.
I must be feeling better as my online shopping bug is getting stronger. So far am resisting, but I need to gt out of the house. New meds have me wide awake at 2 a.m. Last time I was awake post surgery and on drugs everyone almost received "Beni HanaKnife Sets" for Christmas. And now I have my credit card # memorized.
Well - you can see why I call this Meanderings.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Post-Op
Well - I hurt. More than I would like to or expect. Also I will be entering a photo of my back into the latest Kaleidoscopic color wheel competition.
I am not sure what I expected, but at least I'm breathing. Walk - the doctor says. Easy for him. Think I'll call him for a stroll around 2 am.
Anyway - more normal (?) stuff to come in a day or two. Prayers, incense, etc all still desired as you see fit.
Before I close this post, Blessings to Bill Emmons who passed away this past week. A unique human being. One of life's true innocents, unstained by the rampant cynicism of this world.
To say he "walked the walk" and "will be missed" is to trivialize his sojourn on this planet. Pray for him and for a dedicated and loving family with Frances at the helm. There is a hole in the universe this week.
I am not sure what I expected, but at least I'm breathing. Walk - the doctor says. Easy for him. Think I'll call him for a stroll around 2 am.
Anyway - more normal (?) stuff to come in a day or two. Prayers, incense, etc all still desired as you see fit.
Before I close this post, Blessings to Bill Emmons who passed away this past week. A unique human being. One of life's true innocents, unstained by the rampant cynicism of this world.
To say he "walked the walk" and "will be missed" is to trivialize his sojourn on this planet. Pray for him and for a dedicated and loving family with Frances at the helm. There is a hole in the universe this week.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Why not me?
Leslie and I have been talking about my back problems and upcoming surgery. And that of course brought up my several illnesses and surgeries over the years to include the scariest - prostate cancer in 2003 (I've been cancer free since my treatment, now going on 8 years).
A question many of us ask when confronted with bad things happening is, "why me." Surprisingly, I've always taken the position of, "why not me?" Why would I be so special that illnesses and challenges and sometimes just bad luck, would be deflected? Leslie, who has had her own challenges in life (including me) has the same perspective.
The Gospel writer Matthew tells us that God causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. It is not that both are equally deserving, rather where we are standing physically or morally, is not a factor on where and when it rains. Neither are any of us more deserving of good or bad things happening to us in the great scheme of things. Sometimes good people are caught in the crossfire and chaos that marks human existence. Often the truly evil pass through life unscathed by illness or bad fortune.
To ask, "why me?" implies that it really should be someone else. I never pray for hurricanes to be diverted from the town I live in, because it is really a wish that the hurricane will strike somewhere else. Why would Charleston be more deserving of destruction than Savannah?
Now, don't get me wrong. I would rather not have the back problems I have. If I could wish them away I would. If the surgery doesn't help much or at all, I will be extremely disappointed, but I don't expect to be asking, "why me." That's nothing to pat myself on the back about. It's simply the reality that I deserve no more or no less than my fellow human beings. I can be thankful however to have the life that I have - with all of it's challenges and disappointments. Life is a gift - plain and simple. If the wrapping isn't always perfect, so be it. The gift itself is what counts.
A question many of us ask when confronted with bad things happening is, "why me." Surprisingly, I've always taken the position of, "why not me?" Why would I be so special that illnesses and challenges and sometimes just bad luck, would be deflected? Leslie, who has had her own challenges in life (including me) has the same perspective.
The Gospel writer Matthew tells us that God causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. It is not that both are equally deserving, rather where we are standing physically or morally, is not a factor on where and when it rains. Neither are any of us more deserving of good or bad things happening to us in the great scheme of things. Sometimes good people are caught in the crossfire and chaos that marks human existence. Often the truly evil pass through life unscathed by illness or bad fortune.
To ask, "why me?" implies that it really should be someone else. I never pray for hurricanes to be diverted from the town I live in, because it is really a wish that the hurricane will strike somewhere else. Why would Charleston be more deserving of destruction than Savannah?
Now, don't get me wrong. I would rather not have the back problems I have. If I could wish them away I would. If the surgery doesn't help much or at all, I will be extremely disappointed, but I don't expect to be asking, "why me." That's nothing to pat myself on the back about. It's simply the reality that I deserve no more or no less than my fellow human beings. I can be thankful however to have the life that I have - with all of it's challenges and disappointments. Life is a gift - plain and simple. If the wrapping isn't always perfect, so be it. The gift itself is what counts.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Life in the Mass Lane
The title has nothing to do with this post - just needed a title.
Here I sit waiting not so anxiously about surgery next week. I have about had it with my lower back. If that hurts then every thing else is out of whack.
I cannot see how "House" got hooked on Vicodan. All it does to me is make me a drooling, drowsy, hulk sitting in a lounge chair. Could not even - charitably -call me a lounge lizard. This will be micro surgery they say. Home the same day and walking immediately. Doc says, "if you get up in the night, don't just go to the bathroom, do a lap around the house." Two stories - slick wooden stairs - aforementioned drooling drowsy hulk - yes and Oh By The Way - DARK!! Not sure I can get to the bathroom let alone "a lap around the house."
Another thing. With me convalescing there will be no one to protect my cara mia (the "my" is redundant there). from the "Invasion of the Palmetto Bug(s)". Not sure what has stirred them up this year, but they are frisky and frequent. Problem is the purveyors of roach (American Roach!!) poisons aren't really sure either. Maybe that's why they've been around since the stone age.
Well I will try to work in one more post pre-surgery. If you are of a mind to, a prayer would be great. Failing that a bit of incense offered up to the Deity would work well (Frankincense is liturgically proper don't you know).
Here I sit waiting not so anxiously about surgery next week. I have about had it with my lower back. If that hurts then every thing else is out of whack.
I cannot see how "House" got hooked on Vicodan. All it does to me is make me a drooling, drowsy, hulk sitting in a lounge chair. Could not even - charitably -call me a lounge lizard. This will be micro surgery they say. Home the same day and walking immediately. Doc says, "if you get up in the night, don't just go to the bathroom, do a lap around the house." Two stories - slick wooden stairs - aforementioned drooling drowsy hulk - yes and Oh By The Way - DARK!! Not sure I can get to the bathroom let alone "a lap around the house."
Another thing. With me convalescing there will be no one to protect my cara mia (the "my" is redundant there). from the "Invasion of the Palmetto Bug(s)". Not sure what has stirred them up this year, but they are frisky and frequent. Problem is the purveyors of roach (American Roach!!) poisons aren't really sure either. Maybe that's why they've been around since the stone age.
Well I will try to work in one more post pre-surgery. If you are of a mind to, a prayer would be great. Failing that a bit of incense offered up to the Deity would work well (Frankincense is liturgically proper don't you know).
Monday, June 6, 2011
Italian Lad says a Celtic Mass
Last evening I was invited to participate in the weekly Celtic Mass offered at Saint Paul's, Savannah. (Officially it's the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, but it will always be St. Paul's to me). Anyway - Fr Liam Collins and some dedicated lay persons are the inspiration for this offering, which blends Celtic Spirituality with the beauty of the Prayer Book Liturgy.
We had almost 40 folks, and I was told that there are usually quite a few more. it is a diverse and eclectic group, which I found refreshing. I could only imagine the stories each person brought to the gathering. Celtic spirituality focuses on seeing God in the natural world around us (not in the sense of animism, but of the pervasiveness of God's love as exhibited in all of creation). it is marked by music - from the hymnal and from other sources with an obvious Celtic (Irish, Welsh Scottish and to an extent, English) flavor - think Spiritual pub songs(just kidding). There are lots of moments of silence which in this context was not awkward at all, as silence can often be.
It was good to be at Saint Paul's. A lot of my formation took place there and I was ordained Deacon and Priest (16 years apart) there. My old friends Omelia and Marsha and Sam were there so that was an added bonus. The scent of incense used often and well, is part of the ambiance of the place. It is a Holy Space - as the Celts would call it "a thin place" where heaven and earth are separated by only the thinnest and sheerest of curtains. Hope I get asked to participate again.
If you are looking for a different experience of liturgy and spirituality give the Celtic Mass a try: 6:30 pm every Sunday at Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, 34th and Abercorn Streets. (I would of course love to see you Sunday mornings at 9:30 am, at St George's Episcopal Church, White Bluff at Willow Road in Savannah).
We had almost 40 folks, and I was told that there are usually quite a few more. it is a diverse and eclectic group, which I found refreshing. I could only imagine the stories each person brought to the gathering. Celtic spirituality focuses on seeing God in the natural world around us (not in the sense of animism, but of the pervasiveness of God's love as exhibited in all of creation). it is marked by music - from the hymnal and from other sources with an obvious Celtic (Irish, Welsh Scottish and to an extent, English) flavor - think Spiritual pub songs(just kidding). There are lots of moments of silence which in this context was not awkward at all, as silence can often be.
It was good to be at Saint Paul's. A lot of my formation took place there and I was ordained Deacon and Priest (16 years apart) there. My old friends Omelia and Marsha and Sam were there so that was an added bonus. The scent of incense used often and well, is part of the ambiance of the place. It is a Holy Space - as the Celts would call it "a thin place" where heaven and earth are separated by only the thinnest and sheerest of curtains. Hope I get asked to participate again.
If you are looking for a different experience of liturgy and spirituality give the Celtic Mass a try: 6:30 pm every Sunday at Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, 34th and Abercorn Streets. (I would of course love to see you Sunday mornings at 9:30 am, at St George's Episcopal Church, White Bluff at Willow Road in Savannah).
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Technology lol
I am sitting at my church office computer as I write this. Why - well because my high speed internet is not so high at the moment. Neither do my household phones work in any meaningful way - that is to say they are quieter than the proverbial church mouse.
Topping all that is the fact that my iphone carrier (ATT) gives me virtually no bars inside my home. Therefore I cannot accept calls on this alternate device - nor can I make calls without sitting outside (in the heat by day or amidst the Palmetto Bugs at night. Yes dear I know that whatever you call them they are still roaches. But they are "American" roaches!!).
So when can comcast (our sole provider of internet service that is fast enough to keep you from dozing between screen refreshes - when it works) come to the rescue? Monday between 11 and 2. The folks in Jacksonville (yes that is where I was routed to along with Charlotte, NC) told me they would contact my region - Savannah - to see if they could expedite it. Of course the Savannah region called my cell phone last night - but they could not hear me not hearing them. Lovely.
If the Parousia occurs this week (another fancy name for rapture - sort of) I expect I will not hear about it or be able to tell anyone else unless I am at my church computer. Not expecting that, but one never knows.
Topping all that is the fact that my iphone carrier (ATT) gives me virtually no bars inside my home. Therefore I cannot accept calls on this alternate device - nor can I make calls without sitting outside (in the heat by day or amidst the Palmetto Bugs at night. Yes dear I know that whatever you call them they are still roaches. But they are "American" roaches!!).
So when can comcast (our sole provider of internet service that is fast enough to keep you from dozing between screen refreshes - when it works) come to the rescue? Monday between 11 and 2. The folks in Jacksonville (yes that is where I was routed to along with Charlotte, NC) told me they would contact my region - Savannah - to see if they could expedite it. Of course the Savannah region called my cell phone last night - but they could not hear me not hearing them. Lovely.
If the Parousia occurs this week (another fancy name for rapture - sort of) I expect I will not hear about it or be able to tell anyone else unless I am at my church computer. Not expecting that, but one never knows.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Good the Bad and the Ugly (no apologies)
Two groups and two events - well - actually one non-event have captured my attention the past several days. There are times, I have to tell you, when it is hard to defend the faith in light of mis-directed folks like those expecting the world to end last Saturday, coupled with that,(pardon me for judging), evil body that calls itself "Westboro Baptist Church." I am relieved they didn't claim the title "Episcopal", but I feel badly for my Baptist friends in the faith.
We could say that the first group - led by a retired civil engineer turned fortune teller - is harmless. There are quasi-prophets all over the place predicting the end of the world. In this case the original prophesy was that the saved would be taken up last Saturday, while the world would rumble on for a few more months, killing off those left behind (sound familiar?). This has been modified - in light of the non-event. The prophet now claims total destruction in 5 months. Last Saturday was an invisible, spiritual rapture of the saved. Whatever.
This isn't harmless at all. A whole bunch of people gave up their jobs and spent their retirements promoting this false prophesy, and Oh by the way, lining our engineer cum prophet's pockets in the process. Additionally, many who might have considered a relationship with a true faith community are now reassessing that idea. Scripture is pretty clear: "Not even the angels in heaven know the time." That's good enough for me. Claiming to know the unknowable is putting yourself in a position above God. Last time I looked we called that pride - the original sin. With so much real hurt and need in the world we don't need people diverting spiritual and temporal energy into fruitless pursuits.
Bad as that was, the ugly was just beginning in Savannah, my fair city, Georgia. The Westboro crew came to town carrying their hateful and hate-filled signs and causing the usual stir among decent people of all religious and non-religious stripes.
The message they spew is a perversion. Individually they may simply be misled or emotionally wounded or (frankly) stupid. But as a "church", better yet, cult, they are evil and dangerous. It is a microcosm of the kind of paranoia and obsessive fear of the other that allowed Hitler and his henchmen to kill millions of Jews, religious and gypsys. It is dangerous not to take these people seriously because they are infecting souls around this country who are on the tipping point of joining in this godless movement.
"Be sober, be watchful," Saint Peter wrote, "for the devil like a prowling lion roams about seeking someone to devour." A perfect description of Westboro.
Thank God he also wrote, "Love one another, because love covers a multitude of sins." Amen to that.
We could say that the first group - led by a retired civil engineer turned fortune teller - is harmless. There are quasi-prophets all over the place predicting the end of the world. In this case the original prophesy was that the saved would be taken up last Saturday, while the world would rumble on for a few more months, killing off those left behind (sound familiar?). This has been modified - in light of the non-event. The prophet now claims total destruction in 5 months. Last Saturday was an invisible, spiritual rapture of the saved. Whatever.
This isn't harmless at all. A whole bunch of people gave up their jobs and spent their retirements promoting this false prophesy, and Oh by the way, lining our engineer cum prophet's pockets in the process. Additionally, many who might have considered a relationship with a true faith community are now reassessing that idea. Scripture is pretty clear: "Not even the angels in heaven know the time." That's good enough for me. Claiming to know the unknowable is putting yourself in a position above God. Last time I looked we called that pride - the original sin. With so much real hurt and need in the world we don't need people diverting spiritual and temporal energy into fruitless pursuits.
Bad as that was, the ugly was just beginning in Savannah, my fair city, Georgia. The Westboro crew came to town carrying their hateful and hate-filled signs and causing the usual stir among decent people of all religious and non-religious stripes.
The message they spew is a perversion. Individually they may simply be misled or emotionally wounded or (frankly) stupid. But as a "church", better yet, cult, they are evil and dangerous. It is a microcosm of the kind of paranoia and obsessive fear of the other that allowed Hitler and his henchmen to kill millions of Jews, religious and gypsys. It is dangerous not to take these people seriously because they are infecting souls around this country who are on the tipping point of joining in this godless movement.
"Be sober, be watchful," Saint Peter wrote, "for the devil like a prowling lion roams about seeking someone to devour." A perfect description of Westboro.
Thank God he also wrote, "Love one another, because love covers a multitude of sins." Amen to that.
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Joys of home ownership
I am upstairs in my office with the door shut. If Leslie were to call me from downstairs I would never hear her. Not so the floor sanding machine grinding away at the finish of our dining room floor. The living room is finished, but you would never know it because all of our downstairs furniture is residing comfortably in that space. The foyer and staircase anxiously await their time under the sandpaper, or whatever they use to scrape decades of stain and varnish away.
Not to be overtly theological - but it is my job sort of - seeing the floors stripped bare of their colorful but faded and scratched pretentiousness, makes me think that it isn't such a bad idea to clean up the accumulated worry, anxiety, sin, and spiritual scars and scratches on a periodic basis. We call it confession or reconciliation in my denomination, but however you name it, we all need, as bad "B" movies will tell you, to come clean. A teenager whose confession I heard later told a whole room of folks that her first confession made her feel clean and new. And she hadn't lived all that long. Think about the real benefits for those of us who have layered ourselves with coat after coat of cynicism and world weariness. Might do us a world of good.
Not to be overtly theological - but it is my job sort of - seeing the floors stripped bare of their colorful but faded and scratched pretentiousness, makes me think that it isn't such a bad idea to clean up the accumulated worry, anxiety, sin, and spiritual scars and scratches on a periodic basis. We call it confession or reconciliation in my denomination, but however you name it, we all need, as bad "B" movies will tell you, to come clean. A teenager whose confession I heard later told a whole room of folks that her first confession made her feel clean and new. And she hadn't lived all that long. Think about the real benefits for those of us who have layered ourselves with coat after coat of cynicism and world weariness. Might do us a world of good.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Saint Stephen, protomartyr
The Lessons for this coming Sunday include the story of Stephen, a young man chosen by the Apostles as a prototype for the later office of deacon. A convincing preacher, he crossed verbal swords with the religious authorities, and was stoned outside the walls of Jerusalem. In imitation of Jesus he prayed as he died that his attackers would be forgiven.
What bothers me is that many of us today would be throwing the stones as opposed to being the one stoned. I include myself. Even though I know better, I am too often quick to judge. I think I am not alone in this. We attack people and ideas that threaten us and do so at a very visceral level. Common sense and common decency would tell us that we might do well to set aside mindless fear of "the other" every now and then, in order that we might begin to see some common understanding replacing that fear.
We are, as it were, all in this leaky boat together. It might be nice, for a change, to trust each other enough to let someone else row while we take a nap. As it is now, most of us sleep with one eye open. Makes for a long night let me tell you.
What bothers me is that many of us today would be throwing the stones as opposed to being the one stoned. I include myself. Even though I know better, I am too often quick to judge. I think I am not alone in this. We attack people and ideas that threaten us and do so at a very visceral level. Common sense and common decency would tell us that we might do well to set aside mindless fear of "the other" every now and then, in order that we might begin to see some common understanding replacing that fear.
We are, as it were, all in this leaky boat together. It might be nice, for a change, to trust each other enough to let someone else row while we take a nap. As it is now, most of us sleep with one eye open. Makes for a long night let me tell you.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
PS
I did mean to mention an explanation of the moniker "fatherjimpa." As you might expect, the "father" part comes from my vocation as an Episcopal priest. The jimpa is what most of my grandchildren call me. So now you know - well if you're reading this you know.
There is always a first time
Well! if you had told me that I would one day have a blog of my own, I would have (1) asked, "What's a blog, and (2) said you were crazy. But here I am.
I will be an irregular poster I am sure. An Episcopal priest by trade, I have led a nomadic life in many ways so my meanderings will probably move beyond my vocation. You may have to suffer through some of my photographs, observations on being 63 before I am ready for it, the woes of home ownership (three weeks into a floor refinishing and counting) and my culinary endeavors. I will also make you sick of hearing about my Italian heritage (Mom born 6 weeks after her mom's arrival in the US).
So that's it for now
Pax
I will be an irregular poster I am sure. An Episcopal priest by trade, I have led a nomadic life in many ways so my meanderings will probably move beyond my vocation. You may have to suffer through some of my photographs, observations on being 63 before I am ready for it, the woes of home ownership (three weeks into a floor refinishing and counting) and my culinary endeavors. I will also make you sick of hearing about my Italian heritage (Mom born 6 weeks after her mom's arrival in the US).
So that's it for now
Pax
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