What do you see?
Via my friend Barbara F-C. Thanks!
Posts
Seasonal Beauty
Christmas Ship sailing just off of the Oregon Coast at Garibaldi (via my Face Book friend Arthur L)
A business sign which always warms my heart.
It's on Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota, Florida. Why does it warm my heart? Let me tell you. It's about a woman whose first name was Barbara. Barbara was a member of St. Stephen's Parish in Pittsfield, MA where I served as Rector 1984-200 Her memory is a treasure. She was a mother by birth, adoption and fostering to scores of children, many of who would have otherwise never known fierce love. She was a tireless worker for civil rights in the face of racism. S he was feisty. She was funny. She was fearless. Barbara had a will of steel and a heart of gold. She knew how to tell me ( in no uncertain terms! ) when I stepped out of line (every Rector/Vicar/Pastor needs a parishioner who has the spiritual gift of ass-kicking!). She inspired me. Her memory is a blessing. And that business sign? Barbara's "married name" was Barbara Hanger . Her "birth name" was Barbara Frye . What a splendid coincidence. I smile and bles...
** Praise in the common things of life.
** (From the hymn "Oh for a heart to praise my God") Just ordinary activities today. There can be splendor in the ordinary. Laundry/washing of course. After all, it's Monday! Two walks with Zion in the neighbourhood, and two at our favoured Arlington Park. Zion to the Vet for his annual check up and some shots. He is * mostly in good health. A Veterinary technician took him off to draw blood. She came back and said "he is so good. I usually need someone to hold dogs and cats when I draw blood, but not with Zion. He did not fuss a bit. I will note on his chart that he is a good dog". (We all know that!). * Mostly, but the Veterinarian noted that he needs to lose about four pounds in weight and gave me instructions as to how to achieve this. We also talked about his scratching "issues" and hope that as I move him away from beef or chicken based kibbles and treats it will ameliorate. To Discovery Village ...
I am a well meaning male white liberal....
....and it doesn't help. I've been there and done that with the best of intentions. But it's scarcely made a thimbleful full of difference to a stinking ocean of bigotry. Yesterday I browsed the pages of the local Episcopalian Diocesan magazine/newsletter. The back page of the magazine bears a photo' of the Diocesan Clerics, some one hundred of them, clad in their fine array for a group photo'. Apart from the instantly recognisable Presiding Bishop, the Most Revd. Michael Curry finding back or brown face in their serried ranks is more difficult than finding that proverbial needle in ten hay stacks. There are maybe less than a handful of black or brown skinned clerics in this Diocese, none amongst the movers and shakers. It reminded of the words of C.O. a Jamaica born woman who was a member of the Vestry at St. James's in Cambridge., the only black skinned person in a Vestry of white skinned people. "Of course" she said "I know tha...