Povey Prattle

From the religion page of our local paper today. Majestic Ministries of Christ 2800 Ashton Road, Sarasota hosts bingo at 6 p.m. Fridays Doors open at 5:00 p.m.     The idea that " Majestic Ministries " include Bingo seems to me to be incongruent, and funny.       

Yesterday's blog was entitled "Evening Peregrination".  One of the readers posted that my blog was extending her vocabulary. That's terrific. Peregrinate has long been one of my favourite words. When I was the Rector at St. Stephen's in Pittsfield, MA I would often say to one of our lay ministers  - (the late Phil Desch) - "I am about to peregrinate -  it's now legal for consenting adults".  Phil understood my humour -  i.e.  the subliminal  idea that peregrinate sounds a bit like a dirty word. The word is rooted in Latin  from "per" (through)  and "ager" (field):  hence referring to one who is a foreigner ( e.g. she/he who  travels (wanders)  through the fields,  rather than on the Roman Roads). Thus the English language word "peregrinate"  emerged.  It means  journeying from place to place, or wandering, or traveling. It's not hard to see that the English language word "pi...

'Twas nicely cool by 6:45 p.m.  so I decided to take Penne for a peregrination (or promenade) around the neighbourhood. The world and her husband had the same idea. This was nice for Penne, she was able to receive lavish attention from some of her friends. First there was Aldo. He lives in a neighbouring community, where he also serves as their handyman. He was out and about in his golf cart plus trailer. Family members Martyn and Sam will remember that Aldo's wife Enid baked a wonderful carrot cake for our 2011 party. Aldo likes Penne and Penne loves Aldo. Next it was near neighbours Howard and Shirley . They are snow birds, so I have not seen them all summer.  They too are fond of my dog.  Howard and Shirley have been married since 1946 (in which year I was two years old). Then we encountered Margaret Ford from Oldham, Lancashire. She has not been out and about in while. Margaret was without her beloved Westie "Sophie". I discovered that Sophie had died...

NO YES

Hi Pals:   Most of what I read and hear   (in newspapers, on the internet, on the radio and T.V. etc.)  about life, politics, and current affairs is little more than propaganda  from the right wing and from what passes for a left wing. In a like manner, many of the sermons I hear in various Churches are also rooted in dreary and deadly propaganda ( rather than in  life giving "good news").  BUT THANK GOODNESS I can encounter truth from sources apart from the popular media and the compromised Church. Here for instance is the wisdom of a nineteen years old man.   I knew him and his family when I was a Rector in Cambridge, MA.  Since those days (2000 - 2006) his family has lived through deep grief and trials; and has been blessed with wonderful wisdom and joy. Here is some of his wisdom as expressed yesterday. "It can be hard to stay motivated and positive in life, but I'll be damned if I...

14th October 2013. A Public Holiday.     No mail/post today.   The banks are closed. It  is holiday for school children.   Yet   The stores and shops are open.   Trade and commerce has continued as ever.       What goes?   It's Columbus Day of course. A day on which we are supposed to celebrate the Western European conquest of the NEW WORLD. It was a lovely, sweet and gentle conquest (cynical and wry smile) unless you were Aztec, Mayan, Inca, or " any Original Inhabitant" of  "The Americas.". In which case it was a day of disaster,  from which European arrogance trumped your traditions, ways of  life,  and beliefs. WHY, OH WHY, do we of western European heritage negate and dismiss the ancient heritages  of  the peoples which we "conquer"?             

John Hill, one of the News Anchors  for our local T.V. station SNN (Sarasota Network News?) commented on a syndicated story from Alabama,  about a man whose home garage was demolished when a passing tractor-trailer overturned. Hill reported  that the man had an "unexpected surprise". Say what!   I  may have missed something, but I have never had an "expected surprise"!!