Povey Prattle

The outdoors temperature has not been below 71f (22c) since midnight, and it topped out at 95f (35c) in mid afternoon. There has been a bit of a breeze which mitigated the heat, so I’ve been able to be taken for walks by Penne.  We covered a total of six miles in the five walks we took between 6:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  I also took care to do a bit of early morning gardening (before 7:30 a.m.) to “beat the heat”. Indoors it has been quite tolerable even without air conditioning.  Yes, I have “central air” but I also try to minimize my use of what is very expensive electricity.  I am “dressed down” to shorts and tee shirt, and have spent most of the day reading. Soon I’ll have to go out to attend a retirement party for the Revd. Wesley Wasdyke, and his wife Cindy.  Wes has had a long and distinguished career as both a medical doctor and a priest.  He has been a part time paid assistant priest at St. Boniface Church for four years, now he is ready to ent...

Within the last six months two men that I have know and respected have died of complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Today I learned of a third, who yet lives in that shadowy world which steals memory, and thereby steals identity. I cannot imagine how it is to live (?) (if it is living) without a sense of my identity . Yet this has happened to my friends Russ and Charles, and is happening to my colleague Ken. Russ and Charles, now departed from this life were blessed by the heart-breaking fidelity of their wives - Jean and Naoma. Ken, still amongst the living, is sustained by the faithfulness of his wife Ruth. I salute, respect and commend the fidelity of Jean, Naoma, and Ruth. “For of such is the Kingdom of heaven”. Charles left this life just a few days ago. I had a super conversation this afternoon with his wife Naoma. She related that the poem “Crossing the Bar” by Alfred Tennyson had brought her great comfort. I understand that Tennyson penned these words in...

Diatomaceous I had never heard of DIATOMACEOUS EARTH until a few days ago.  It was then that I learned that diatomaceous earth, mixed with “borax”, and with boric acid might be an efficacious antidote to the fleas which frequently plague my cool cats – Ada and Adelaide, and my darling dog – Penne. Randi, a friend from a neighbouring community, having heard of my “flea problem” gave me a recipe for mixing the three products, and for spreading the mix around my home. She assured me that this would take care of the fleas. I trust Randi.  She has a lifetime’s record of living with dogs, and training them. I followed Randi’s recipe, and dusted my home with the mix today.  I am keeping my fingers crossed in favour of success since my beasts have been cruelly afflicted by fleas. I do not expect that you will care very much about my flea problem. But I wanted to impress you with the word “diatomaceous”.  Look it up and throw it into conversation someday soon!!  I’ll...

Many of us suffer from back pain. Maybe this is because evolution prepared us to be quadrupeds, but we decided to be bipeds. Bipeds are skilled at running marathons, driving cars, and taking beloved canines for a walk. They are also well equipped to handle weapons. Bipeds are also afflicted with frequent back pain. That pain is bad enough. But it is compounded by the slew of advice as to how to deal with it from friends, neighbours, work-mates and casual acquaintances. All of a sudden these folks become experts regarding back pain. In case you are wondering ... ... my back is fine! But I am utterly jaded and cynical with regard to all manner of “experts” whose wisdom is touted in the press, on radio and T.V. and on the World Wide Web.

“Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid....” Thus begins a prayer which has been prayed at the beginning of hundreds of thousands of Anglican Eucharists since 1549. For many of us it is a prayer of re-connection.  To hear it is to remind us of who we are and what we are about to do in Church.  The very familiarity of this prayer shifts  hearts, souls and minds to the Eucharist (Holy Communion) as a place of connection with the Holy One; with the whole creation; and with each other. In 1549 it might have been possible to believe that G-d alone was the One from whom no secrets could be heard . In 2010 we know that every word we have uttered in the public forum can or will be exposed on the internet.  Those of us who write for blogs; or newspapers; or church newsletters; or Facebook etc. will be exposed, circulated, and critiqued in and by “the whole world”. To use the internet means that there are no more secret...

In his April 18th 2010 sermon at St. John’s Church, Williamstown, the Revd. Peter Elvin said this: “And I have one more thing to say about Chloe, hoping it will give you a sense of the young woman I have been coming to know, and expecting that this may help pave the way for her later in this service. I met with her on Wednesday, to walk through the rite of baptism, and when we came to a moment when the Prayer Book directs me to ask her, “Do you desire to be baptized?” I found I had an urge (I resisted it at first, but decided to trust it) to follow her affirmative answer with another question: “Why?” When I shared that fragment of fantasy with her, she pretty much replied, “Okay.” And so, at the time when announcements usually happen, Chloe will tell us why.” Chloe,who is  a 22 year old Williams College senior said this at the announcement time, in response to the questio n “Why (do you wish to be baptised)? “When you wake up one morning and are aware of divine love, and k...