Povey Prattle

The right wing  myth of hard work and wealth.           Photo via Mabel M-P.

The Prayer of St. Columba   (thanks to K.H. who posted this on Facebook) Be a bright flame before me, O God a guiding star above me. ... Be a smooth path below me, a kindly shepherd behind me today, tonight, and for ever. Alone with none but you, my God I journey on my way; what need I fear when you are near, O Lord of night and day? More secure am I within your hand than if a multitude did round me stand. Amen.

After reading the fabulous autobiography  of Jacques Lusseyran's short (1924-1971) life: "And There Was Light" (Lusseyran was the young and blind Frenchman who became a hero of the Resistance) I turned my attention to the much ignored (and downplayed) role of women in the French Resistance. I did so by reading "Sisters in the Resistance -  How Women Fought to Free France 1940-1945 " by Margaret Collins Weitz  -  John Wiley and Sons Inc., 1995). When history is told and re-told it is almost as though women were invisible; as if they did not exist. Weitz's book is a healthy corrective to this male myopia.  She recounts (with excellent research) the account of the many women whose love for France led them to resist . These women faced many impediments to their patriotism (matriotism?) and their action. 1.  French culture was unbelievably patriarchal - wives and daughters were under strict obedience to their fathers, and to the Catholic Church...

It's been so hot in this part of S.W. Florida, with day time temps in the high 90's. Hot days call for cold food. So I frequently cook (shelled and frozen) Edamame beans, with (frozen) Corn. After cooking I let the beans and corn chill in the fridge.  Once they are chilled I mix in some sweet pickle relish to add a bit of zest.  This makes for a nice side dish alongside other cold foods such as the cooked and chilled "Trader Joe" brand Chicken and Apple sausages which I had today.

Hi Friends   Even though I no longer live in Massachusetts, Tom Shaw, (The Episcopal Church Bishop based in Boston) is still my Bishop.  ( I am licensed to serve in the Diocese of South West Florida, but in terms of Church law I am still a Priest of the Diocese of Massachusetts).   Tom is a great Bishop, I admire him greatly).   (This comes after the death last week of Bishop Andrew Wissemann of Western Massachusetts, who was my predecessor as the Rector of St. Stephen's, Pittsfield, MA, and my Bishop from 1983 - 1992)     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   My Sisters and Brothers,   As my date of retirement nears, I want to be in touch with all of you and to thank you for your continued expressions of care and concern.  We have known since the beginning, when I was diagnosed with brain cancer in May of last year, that we are dealing with a di...

This afternoon I visited George M (a St. Boniface Parishioner) who is in a nursing home as he recovers from major surgery. I was there to share Holy Communion with him. I chatted on a bit (now that surprises you!), not paying sufficient attention to George's tiredness. George said  "Please do the Church service so that I can go to sleep". George is the son, grandson, and brother of Episcopal Priests -  so he knows the truth he unwittingly spoke.