Povey Prattle

Ben and I took a drive this afternoon down to Manasota Beach, on the Gulf of Mexico, just west of Englewood, FL. It's a 35 minute drive south of my home. Manasota Beach is one of the Gulf Coast barrier islands (known here as "Keys") The beach itself is lovely and unspoiled. The Key is a bit over-built. I took some photo's just for fun. Ghastly "Gin Palace" house on Manasota Beach Truly British traditions observed in Venice, GL What are "exotics"? Perhaps Archbishops. Maybe Dancing Girls. Whatever- Dr. Don has a medicine for them. Manasota Beach itself. (not my photo' but one pulled from the web)

The day of which I write began on Wednesday 21st October ’09 with the prayer service which I lead each week at “Resurrection House” (A day shelter for homeless people in Sarasota, FL). The little chapel at “Res House”, with its 8 chairs, was “crowded” with 14 of us. As is often the case I was moved by the prayers of the homeless folks. They are almost never prayers for themselves. They are almost always prayers for others. I do not preach at these services. Homeless people are obliged to listen to many “preachers”, as the ticket price for a meal. Instead, I choose a bit of a bible verse (e.g. “I am the light of the world”) which we repeat out loud for 4 or 5 times, and then say “in the silence of our hearts” for a couple of minutes. Then we light candles on the altar table as a sign of prayer. Some people vocalize their prayer; others light a candle in silence. There follows the “Our Father”, and the “Hail Mary”. We then stand in a circle with our hands on each others’ should...

The announcement by the Bishop of Rome ( a.k.a. The Pope) regarding the possibility of Anglican groups coming under his umbrella (or being corralled into his stockade) will be a bit of a seven day wonder in the media. It was a bit surprising to see it as front page news “above the fold” in today’s Sarasota Herald Tribune. As my good Rector Ted Copeland pointed out, there has been a steady stream of Anglican individuals going over to Rome for well over a hundred year.(We call it “swimming the Tiber”). But Benny's edict is something quite new, in that he is open to welcoming not just individuals, but so-called Anglican groups to come under his jurisdiction Rome is able to "tolerate" various alternative rites, provided that Papal Supremacy is acknowledged, and has done so with such Churches as the Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Maronite Church and the Melkite Church. So there well may be various Anglican communities which are accepted by Rome, tra la la. Let's wish t...

Being “nice” is not enough…. British Premier (from 1937 to 1940) Neville Chamberlain tried to be nice to German Chancellor Ad-lph H-tler. That niceness was not productive. Current Archbishop of Canterbury , Rowan Williams has excelled in his niceness to Benedict the 16th, Bishop of Rome. “Benny 16”, a.k.a. the Pope, has responded to this niceness by flirting with, and seducing Anglican dissidents. (Rome never changes). Our good President Barack Obama has the right instincts on many policy issues. But he is being too damn nice to those Republican Senators and Representatives who are working day and night to retard Obama’s progressive policies. It’s impossible to be nice to Palestinians without being honest with Israelis. I want to slide through many days by being nice. From time to time I have the courage to move from niceness to honesty. It is hard work. I so wish that Archbishop Rowan, and President Obama, and the near-East peace negotiators would share a desire to be more hon...

I took lunch (as they used to say) at Sarasota’s “British Pub and Restaurant”. It was my colleague Jack Chr-sman’s birthday, so we celebrated it there, together with his wife Donna. Jack and Donna have spent many a year in England. Today she opted for a good Cheese-burger. Jack had bangers and mash. I enjoyed each mouth full of steak and kidney pie . And even as my American friends go “eeew” - I solemnly warn them. On St. George’s Day (April 23rd) in heaven the only menu item will be steak and kidney pie - so please develop a taste for it now! (It truly is a heavenly dish!) My computer will be off line from now 4:00 p.m. Oct 19th, for about 24 hours. I’ll be in touch some time later tomorrow.

I sometimes get a bit maudlin and sentimental, for no immediate reason. It’s just the way I am some days. I think that it is OK! The word “maudlin” is derived from “Magdalene” . Mary Magdalene was the one who wept at the grave of Jesus, and “maudlin” means “weepy”. (Incidentally, the first names “Madeline” and “Maud” come from the same root of “Magdalene”). When I am in a maudlin frame I often go to Sigmund Romberg’s song “When I grow too old to dream”. It’s a song that makes me cry - in a good way. Sigmund Romberg , born Zsigmond Romberg (July 29, 1887 – November 9, 1951), was a Hungarian born composer who moved to America and contributed to the great American genre of musical theatre, Wikipedia has this to say about him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Romberg (Remember always to check sources for Wikipedia articles). Here is the text of “When I grow too old to dream” (written with an older meaning of the ...