The Visitation

It's the Feast of the Visitation of St. Mary today. The basic story is that Mary, receiving her news from Gabriel, goes to stay with her older cousin, Elizabeth, who seems to have known Mary was pregnant. Elizabeth, past childbearing years, and her husband, Zechariah were also expecting the unexpected, in Elizabeth's baby, who would become John the Baptist. It is said that the infant John leapt in his mother's womb at the approach of Mary and the future Messiah. Above is a fairly traditional representation of the story as related in the Bible.





I like this one better, though:

Though it is uncomfortably in the style of illustrations from the children's Bibles of my Baptist childhood, I think the emotionalism, the sentimentality of the picture isn't off-putting. Beyond the theological implications, this is one of those stories that gives me a picture of the personal relationships of the principal figures of the New Testament. There is a great tenderness in this story, if one fills in the bare bones a bit. Mary, unmarried but betrothed, has just been told she is with child. She knows the her will is to do God's Will, but, it still must be terrifying. What if Joseph puts her aside? How will her neighbors react? She goes to this much older cousin. She must have had infinite trust in Elizabeth, the wife of a priest, no less, to go to her with this. In my mind, this picture shows that; Mary, at the foot of the steps, a hesitant, hopeful smile as her cousin sweeps down, overjoyed and open-armed, no formal greetings, but enthusiastic welcome in one, relief and happiness in another. One openly carrying an unlikely child, not only announced but sung praises by his own father, another carrying an unlikely child that must, for the time, be absolutely secret. The wisdom of age embracing the infinite possibility of youth. Open acceptance to hesitance. This open armed embrace is what will bring a worried Mary to burst forth into the glory of the Magnificat.

Frankly, there is little theology in this picture, and that's why I like it. It's about relationships, personal relationships, and I think that Jesus, because of love and acceptance in such relationships as Mary and Elizabeth's, understood the transformative, Grace-filled possibilities of the everyday interaction extending worship to the every day.

Prayer (contemporary language)

Father in heaven, by whose grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was
blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us
who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion
to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Forgive me

For being so slow in answering, lately. The combination of smoke and heat have really gotten me feeling slow and triflin' (to use one of Mom's expressions). On top of that, I've found myself considering, ruminating, slowing down in a good sense, since the closing of the Easter season. I may be away for a bit, or very sporadically, at best, but, in this diversion-hungry world, I leave you, for the time being, with something from Julian of Norwich:

God, of Your Goodness, give me Yourself. I can ask for nothing less

that is completely to Your Honor, and if I ask for less I shall still be in want.

Only in You I have All.

Amen.

Who's Really Changing Anglicanism?

One of the things I hear, and have heard repeatedly, from reasserters is the need for a more fundamentalist type of worship. I've heard this on BNet, from various reasserter blogs, etc. There is the story of the Florida church in which certain elements wanted a "Can I get a AMEN!" type preacher, getting the vestry to oust the priest and replace him with the (unordained) youth minister. There are complaints that reasserters should be able to take "their" church when they leave. On Beliefnet, one reasserter complains constantly of our rigidity in worship and implies that, because our music reflects a solemn liturgical mood, rather than a frenetic, free-form worship style, we are racist.

Why did these people join a church that is hierarchical and liturgical. Why not be Baptist, or Pentecostal, or whatever? Why not start your own congregationalist sect and dress up and play liturgy, if you find it so important, and the rest so disposable.

What makes your personal preference so important?

Clumber Made Me Think About This

At Pentecost, the idea of glossolalia, or "speaking in tongues" comes up. Some particularly fundamentalist mindsets say that Pentecost is proof of speaking in tongues as a sign of holiness.

I call bullshit, excuse the expression.

In the Deep South, here, I've had occasion to witness several instances of speaking in tongues, and it's largely meaningless gibberish "Blablabla lalalalalala" is not uncommon. It's baby noises.
At Pentecost, the Disciples were given the gift of existing languages to bring the Gospel to the international makeup of a city poised at the crossroads of a world empire. It wasn't meaningless noise, and, if it had been, it's unlikely that it would have impressed - let alone converted - anybody. That's why Paul enjoined that no one speak in tongues - even "tongues of angels" - unless there was someone to translate. Like all worship, speaking in tongues is not a sign of personal holiness, but something to build up a holy body.

Pray for Us, Please

The drought has hit the southeastern portion of Georgia hardest. The wood has become tinder, and the vast wetlands are dry enough that we've had fires going there for weeks. We're about 3 to 4 hours from the fires, and a strong east wind has our town blanketed in heavy woodsmoke. Sadly, nobody much seems to know or care where it's from, as long as it blows away.

The Okefenokee has been shrinking, the Land of the Trembling Earth drying up. My great-grandmother grew up in the Okefenokee, so it's a bit personal to me, but anyone, anywhere, should be sad to lose this

to fire, or drought, or development.

We live in a time when young people - not children, but young people - in this predominantly rural area are so clueless about their world that the drought doesn't bother them because water comes from taps, no rain means weekends in the sun, and farmland can be better used for development, anyway.

I think a future with that mindset needs prayers all around.

One of Our Famous Sons Is Visiting

Ray Stevens has come to Albany for his High School reunion and is with us, at the moment.

A really nice guy with a genuine warmth, in my dealings with him.

For those who don't know who Ray Stevens is:



For those who do, but don't care for him, well . . .

DON'T LOOK, ETHEL!!!!

Somehow, It Just Seemed Topical

Once again, I Really Have Nothing to Say

The Crazy Just Keeps On Comin'!

I'm always late on these things, so everyone will know about Bp. Robinson not being invited to Lambeth.

I think that, given what we've seen in his complete incompetence in leadership, this is Rowan's attempt to deflect conflict . . .

. . from himself.

He had hoped to inherit a position of respect without effort, and suddenly has to be a leader, which he never has been. He has not been helped by Lord Carey, who has been more active and vocal (and effective) out of Lambeth stirring trouble than he ever was preserving harmony within. Rowan deals with this through passive-aggressive techniques - punishing by NOT doing something, snubbing by committee, deflecting larger questions with tiny tempests, to ride out his tenure.

No. I don't support continuation in the Anglican Communion. I think it was a piece of theatre which has ceased entertaining and become its own end. It never meant anything, and has accomplished little. However, I do not think we should boycott. If we boycott, we allow Rowan to sidestep, again. We must have a presence to say, "Look . . . this is important, a matter of God's own justice, to us. If you simply cannot stand our contamination, say so, but stop spreading the lie of 'attempted reconciliation.' And, Your Grace, you need to actually step up. Are we in or out? We are not going to be emotionally and spiritually blackmailed any further."

Madpriest

APPEAR!!!!

Ya Know What Sucks?

Licorice.

This Pic Reminded Me

This is why I hate those schmaltzy Christmas songs:

"Tiny Tots with their eyes all aglow" means someone's gonna DIE!

Sauron's High School Pic

You see, boys and girls, the pretty ones always turn out to be trouble.

Difficult One - part the next

Do remember to pray for him.

Lord,

Welcome your servant Jerry, give him Eternal Rest and let Light Perpetual shine upon him.

Amen

Exterminate!

I've never been one of the die-hard fans of Doctor Who, but I've always liked the Daleks, who, on the show, sound like this, so, when I found this, I had to share.

You Just Can't Stay Sad

They Called Me Insane Back At the University!

But it started waaaay before that!

Difficult One

We are supposed to pray for our enemies -- we are to stop, as followers of Jesus, the cycle of violence which demands more and more retribution; a mindset which, previously, was brought to its highest good in "An eye for an eye" as improvement on Lamech's Law in Genesis 4:

23 Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.
24 If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."

Then, as man evolves, we are give the exortation, not just to forgive, but to do good to and pray for those who harm us.

I will try. Bitterness is a hard shadow to tame. Feel free, other liberal/progressive/"apostates" to add, if you like.

Dear Lord,

Please give health, prosperity and peace to those who seek to hinder and frustrate, who, by accident or design bring harm to those of us who are liberal in our seeking to please You. Open their hearts and minds to bring them back to us a friends and family, but do not let them sacrifice their deepest convictions in You to do so. Forgive them if they have acted uncharitably, and, for our sakes, do not hold it against them. Let them seek you in joy and give light to their path.

Light our path, as well, and keep us in right relation to those whose views we refuse, as we must be, in order to stay in right relation to You. Keep us, for Your Love, from hate. Remind us that, in humility, we must acknowledge ourselves groping for Truth, as well, and no more privileged to know You and Your Will than those with whom we strive. Remind us, in humility, to ever seek Your Will, Lord, and keep the Spirit as our guide and teacher of love for those who bring us pain. Keep us open to our estranged brethren, and forgive us for our lack of charity and hard-heartedness.

God, give my enemies -- give me -- strength and Wisdom as we struggle to love.

All this I ask, in the Name above all names,

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ

Conundrum

I love Jordan almonds, but hate weddings.

The Bad People Need Some Lebensraum

And Folks say they aren't Fascists!

News from the Homefront

Well, I've been sick with some stomach something-or-other for the past 2 to 3 days.

The big news is that my brother went in for hernia surgery today. I haven't had a chance to check with him, yet, as I felt that going over and exposing him to possible diarrhea and nausea would not be a gesture of kindness.

Other than that, I've been busy painting a new addition to my chapel. Finished watching Venture Bros., Season 2. Saw Sunday's installment of Bleak House (Jo, the boy crossing-sweeper died -- I admit I cried). Felt well enough to do some gardening today -- my roses are dying, my lavender, sage, catnip, parsley, thyme, bee balm, basil, dill, spearmint and rosemary, however, are thriving. I divided my ginger plant, hoping it wouldn't die, and at least one root is showing a new plant springing forth.

We have drought conditions here in south Georgia, especially the Southeast portion, where the beautiful (and I'm not being facetious) Okefenokee is located.

Church went well, Sunday. We had a quartet which did a beautiful Tallis piece, a cappella. Fr. Bullion made a rather stirring sermon. He's always been a very moderate sort of clergyman -- much more than I'd like sometime -- however, even he has been commenting very firmly on the current ugliness. One of the topics in his adult education class was to clarify how little actual authority the AC, and, particularly, any other church within the AC, has over us and how much Akinola, et al, have overstepped themselves. Overstepped, and, perhaps, overreached, I'd say. They've simply overestimated the complacency of TEC and our willingness to be a dogsbody if people like Fr. B are tired of them. But, you know, came first Sunday brunch, and no mention of conse-carnivals in Virginia, just people seeking to serve Christ and each other.

We'll go on. And all manner of things shall be well.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!

I really have nothing to say or share. Tried to find a video of Grond from Return of the King to make a comment about Petey McGrabby-hands of Nigeria. Just as well I didn't, I suppose. Would've been uncharitable.

It's important you know that I have nothing whatsoever to say or share so that you'll know I'm not ignoring you. Maybe it's the depression, maybe the heat, but I've been really slow and dull, as of late. Maybe it's just trying to wrap my head around Julian of Norwich's Showings. Could be a brain tumor (much headachery lately -- of course, I smoke heavily and am prone to sinus problems). Could just be years of drinking wiped the old braincase.

Any case, it's the beginning of the dull slog after Easter excitement for all of us. Keep hope (You're absolutely right, Mimi!) Fight the ego (it's much worse than "The Man").

So, once again, absolutely vital that I say that I have nothing to say.

In a Rare Serious Development . . .

I've been thinking that we ought to let the conservatives continue on their path without interference or mockery. We in the progressive side of Christianity need to remember that the concept that something standing or falling on merit of being of-, or not-of-God doesn't simply apply to us. Perhaps, God is expanding to make a place for those not able to keep up with us.

That doesn't mean though, that we can afford to hand over property to said conservatives. What they have never really understood, I think, is that we don't consider them merely "meanies" or "backwards" -- we progressives see them as causing active harm, often because we've been on the receiving end of that harm. The narrow conservative view -- that espoused publicly by the great talking-heads of the conservative side -- is exactly what led me, even in childhood, to regard religion as irrelevant, even harmful. Such a conservative religion would've driven me to regard God as either monster or fable, if He hadn't, by His Grace, kept me aware of His Presence and Love. It was that "orthodoxy" that drove me from religious faith, and convinced me that I could never be a Christian, and must hide from God's Love. This conservatism is poison to some souls. It was only a liberal Christianity which helped me to integrate my sexuality, exercise it responsibly, and realize my personal limitations as to misuse of sexuality. Outside of that, I had been lost. With only a conservative Christianity to turn to, I would've been lost. It is this, as well as actual physical and emotional harm we progressives cannot give assent to, cannot aid, and must fight within our own denominational ties. But we can let the conservatives go their own way without rancor.

Again, communion is not through a church's institutional structure, but through God. Juridical considerations aside, we are in communion with any other Christian who seeks to serve God. Perhaps that communion extends even beyond Christianity. I have no problem "letting go" of the "schismatics." They are well without us as we are without them, and no one is out of communion in the only important sense. Concerns about public image for "the Church" meaning "our church" are rather silly for a religion whose founder chose to be publicly condemned as a criminal -- a failed one, at that, since He was condemned.

But, I still stand on my faith. I believe that the most extreme of the conservative thought and practice in this will not survive -- it is a stagnant and bloodless thing. For us, to drag ourselves down to the level of the worst of the "orthodox" (T19, StandFirm, Virtue, etc.) is to fail in living to our calling to welcome and nurture the outcast, to pick up the pieces of those that, in this fallen world, the "orthodox" must damage. Fight the battle so that we do not aid their harm? Certainly! Then, in God's own serenity, let them go.

Dickensian, Ain't It?

I've been watching Bleak House on PBS, and it's inspired me to go back and look at some of Dickens' writing, again. It occurred to me that we could write a fair number of Dickensian indictments of institutional injustice about the current state of the AC. Some suggested titles and accompanying treatments, for any who wish to take it up:

Martyn Puzzledwits - about our brandest-newest, funkennagelneu Nigerian Bishop.

Blecch House - Any Lambeth meeting involving Rowan.

The Nitwit Papers - An in-depth study of the Communique.

All-of-her Twits - The PB's interactions with Minns, Duncan and various other high-and-mighty rea$$erter$. Includes an appearance by Tom Wright, aka "The Fitful Codger."

A Christmas Churl - The story of Akinezer Scrooge, who steals parishes from crippled children.