Povey Prattle

My well beloved Jessica DeLand recently posted this picture of a "Hummus Plate"  which she enjoyed at the Riverbend Café in Great Barrington, MA (in the gorgeous Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts).      Jessica's meal.     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   This inspired me to create some home-made hummus for my lunch today.                                    It included home-made Hummus (with diced red peppers) on a bed of watercress Persian Cucumber Good tomatoes Toasted Eureka Baking Co "Graniac Bread"  (good bread, available at Publix)     Yer tiz   Damn (!)  It was good. ...

Re my posting on Sunday, 30 November 2014  entitled   " Hospital calls to B and F, and deeply aware of the shortness and uncertainty of human life (again)" (Check it out on my blog, or on my Facebook timeline).   What a difference a week makes! Earlier this week I felt sure that I would be offering prayers for B, when and if  F decided to withdraw life support. I visited them this morning at Blake Hospital in Bradenton, FL.   Here is what I found today,  (I can now use their names) :     Well I never.    Bob began to show signs of unexpected but welcome progress yesterday afternoon.   He is now breathing on his own , and is clearly responsive to his surroundings, with eye movements, attempts at smiles, and facial responses to conversation.   I saw it myself this morning when I visited.  When Frank (Bob's partner) offered a kiss -  Bob puckered his lips! ...

I left the Barber-shop yesterday to head down to the day shelter for homeless people where I serve as chaplain.  I was not driving in the joy of the Lord, for the shelter's population has changed drastically, and being there can often seem like a chore rather that like Christian service. I greeted one of the other volunteers, a petite eighty something woman named Helen.  She loves my jokes so I often greet her by saying  "Helen, the face that launched a thousand quips". Helen was down.  She had counted on my being there so that I could listen to her sadness.  Her son  (in his sixties?) had died earlier in the week in Oakland, CA.  Helen is a widow, and an older son had also died, so she is very much alone.  She is not connected with any "faith community".  And it will be impossible for her to get out to California. So I was there for a reason, to listen to Helen.  Pastoral care is sometimes simply listening to a person's sad...

At the Barbershop I was there soon after 9:00 a.m.    It was good to see Bobbie (Barbara) there. Bobbie and I see each other most mornings as I stroll out with Penne,and she does her long and brisk early morning walk. Her mind is set on walking, so we usually share a hale and hearty greeting, with no time for conversation . One  morning I saw her with her husband as he, on a walker, and she took a short walk.  I have seen them a  couple of other times when Bobbie has taken him around the pond's walkway in his wheel-chair. He has a lovely smile. Bobbie and I sat together and chatted this morning.  Hubby, in his wheel-chair was getting shorn. I mentioned his gorgeous smile.  She said that even with all his physical weaknesses he is always entirely gracious, and appreciative of her loving care. I asked "for how long have you been married?"   She responded "for 55 1/2 years".  Then she told me the story. He was a ...

True generosity comes without any terms or conditions.

What are your most important relationships? For many American males the answer would be (in order of importance). 1.   My smart 'phone 2.   My gun 3.   My money 4.   My belly 5.  My family 6.   My car 7.   My sport's team 8.   My friends 9.   My Doctors 10.   My God -  but only on Friday, Sabbath or Sunday (depending on which religion I observe)

One of the prayers we use in the Episcopal Church asks God that we should become "deeply aware of the shortness and uncertainty of human life". It's a good and wise prayer.  It reminds me that we live no more than one day at a time.  Or, as the biblical book of Proverbs  says: "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring".  Proverbs 27:1 It's been a time when I've once again been reminded of the fragility of life. B and F  (I will not use their names in order to respect their privacy) have a historical connection with the Sarasota parish which I call home. They moved away from SRQ (FL)  some years ago to a town south of SRQ, but never connected with another parish. About two weeks ago B fell off a ladder at work, and landed on his head. He was taken by helicopter to the Trauma Unit at a hospital in Bradenton, FL. I was asked to visit him, and his partner F at that hospital.  Of course I've done so (twice), even t...