I have a confession to make. I love baptisms. All I have to do is smell the chrism oil and I'm instantly taken back to my own baptism. To the promises I made, standing in front of the congregation dripping wet, anointed with the chrism oil in the sign of the cross holding a candle with a smile so big that my cheeks hurt. Walking through the congregation with the words 'receive the light of Christ to show that you have passed from darkness into light.' ringing in my ears. I cannot help but smile - to see this sacrament - this outward visible sign of an inward invisible grace - I find myself amazed every time I am privileged to be a part of one.
Yesterday there was a baptism, and I have often been a part of baptismal liturgies, helping with asperges (processing around the church holding the baptismal waters as the priest sprinkles them on the congregation), acting as a sponsor for one of our youth group who was baptized, serving chalice, but yesterday was different. I read the prayers for the little one to be baptized, and I lit the candle and spoke the words that rang in my ears 4 years ago "Receive the light of Christ to show that you have passed from darkness into light." as I handed the baptismal candle to the baby's mum. I felt a profound sense of awe in that moment. To be part of welcoming that peaceful little baby into the body of Christ, knowing that throughout his life he will always be welcomed by any church he enters. He will have the extended family of the Church who will be there to watch him grow up, learn new things, love, laugh, fall, pick himself back up and continue living. One of the newest little members of the body of Christ.
Welcome little one. Enjoy the ride.
Monday, July 31, 2006
a whole lotta life....
From Sat July 29th 6pm (ish)
I just spent one of the most enjoyable hours by myself that I have in ages. I sat outside Robarts Library after trying for the better part of 4 hours to get a good handle on my essay (with varying degrees of success may I add). But instead, I succumbed to the smell of street meat and bought myself a hot dog. I then found myself having a fantastic time entertaining a host of little sparrows, perhaps a dozen or so. It was difficult to keep track since they fluttered around so quickly. Some of the nervy little beggars even came right up to my hand to take a little piece of the bun from me. I must have spent an hour of my time and half of my hotdog bun entertaining myself and feeding the birds. I find it incredibly amusing that the first 4 hours were spent trying to find connections between religion and ecology, between creation and creation spirituality, when I have a difficulty separating them in the first place. I guess I just needed to step outside into creation to understand again and gain a little perspective.
And now I'm sitting in the courtyard of Trinity College, watching students play football, frisbee, as a chorus of emergency vehicles pass by I find myself straining to listen to one of the most painfully beautiful soprano voices I've heard, from the wedding inside the chapel. What a wonderful and bizarre combination of visual and auditory stimuli. Life, sickness, marriage, joy, sorrow, happiness. A celebration of what it is to be alive in a few small moments.
The rousing round of applause must mean two people in the chapel behind me are the newest married couple on the face of the earth. May they have a lifetime to love and care for each other.
I just spent one of the most enjoyable hours by myself that I have in ages. I sat outside Robarts Library after trying for the better part of 4 hours to get a good handle on my essay (with varying degrees of success may I add). But instead, I succumbed to the smell of street meat and bought myself a hot dog. I then found myself having a fantastic time entertaining a host of little sparrows, perhaps a dozen or so. It was difficult to keep track since they fluttered around so quickly. Some of the nervy little beggars even came right up to my hand to take a little piece of the bun from me. I must have spent an hour of my time and half of my hotdog bun entertaining myself and feeding the birds. I find it incredibly amusing that the first 4 hours were spent trying to find connections between religion and ecology, between creation and creation spirituality, when I have a difficulty separating them in the first place. I guess I just needed to step outside into creation to understand again and gain a little perspective.
And now I'm sitting in the courtyard of Trinity College, watching students play football, frisbee, as a chorus of emergency vehicles pass by I find myself straining to listen to one of the most painfully beautiful soprano voices I've heard, from the wedding inside the chapel. What a wonderful and bizarre combination of visual and auditory stimuli. Life, sickness, marriage, joy, sorrow, happiness. A celebration of what it is to be alive in a few small moments.
The rousing round of applause must mean two people in the chapel behind me are the newest married couple on the face of the earth. May they have a lifetime to love and care for each other.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Coexist
I saw this as a bumper sticker about a year ago and loved it.
My sister had it embroidered onto the back of a t-shirt for me
.
Coexist
It doesn't sound like much of a stretch, does it
I was in the hospital 2 years ago as someone I loved lay dying. We happened to walk past the chaplain's office. Outside her door was a giant poster that listed several different religions and their version of the Golden Rule. In light of the recent fighting and killing and death and destruction in the various names of God, this needs to be said.
.
Christianity “In everything, do to others, as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the Prophets.”
Islam “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.”
Judaism “Whatever is hateful to you, do not do it to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary."
Sikhism “I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all.”
Taoism “Regard you neighbour’s gain as your gain, and your neighbour’s loss as your own loss.”
Confucianism “One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct; is loving kindness. Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.”
Baha’i Faith “Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself”
Jainism “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.”
Native Spirituality “We are all as much alive as we keep the earth.”
Buddhism “Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”
Hinduism “This is the sum of duty; do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.”
.
The word Coexist is a verb.
It requires action.
.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Irish Ghost Story
a little humour for a day that is seriously lacking in it... enjoy!
A man was driving from Ballinasloe to Kilreekill and decides not to take the new A road, as he wants to see the scenery. The inevitable happens and when he reaches the outskirts his car breaks down - he's stranded miles from anywhere. Having no choice he starts walking on the side of the road, hoping to get a lift to the nearest human habitation. It's dark and raining and pretty soon he's wet and shivering. The night rolls on and no car goes by, the rains are so strong he can barely see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly in the distance he sees the headlights of a car coming towards him and it slows and then stops next to him - without thinking the guy opens the car's door and jumps in. Seated in the back, he leans forward to thank the person who had saved him when he realises there is nobody behind the wheel!!! Even though there's no one in the front seat and no sound of any engine, the car starts moving slowly. The guy looks at the road ahead and sees a curve coming (remember, this is in the hills and there is a steep, steep drop beyond the curve). Scared almost to death he starts to pray, begging the Lord for his life. He hasn't come out of shock, when just before he hits the curve, a hand appears through the window and moves the wheel! The car makes the curve safely and continues on the road to the next bend. The guy, now paralysed in terror, watches how the hand appears every time before a curve and moves the steering wheel just enough to get the car around each bend. Finally, the guy sees lights ahead. Gathering his courage he wrenches open the door of the silent, slow moving car, scrambles out and runs as hard and fast as he can towards the lights. It's a small town. Wet and in shock goes to a roadside bar, which is open, and asks for a drink. They find some Whisky and give him a shot. And he starts telling whoever will listen about the horrible experience he's just been through. A silence envelops everybody when they realise the guy isn't drunk, and Is really frightened - he's crying and shaking. So they give him more booze and talk about what they should do, whether to call the police or find a priest, or what. But just then two strangers walked into the bar. And one says to the other, "Look, that's the fecking eejit that got in the car when we were pushing it."
A man was driving from Ballinasloe to Kilreekill and decides not to take the new A road, as he wants to see the scenery. The inevitable happens and when he reaches the outskirts his car breaks down - he's stranded miles from anywhere. Having no choice he starts walking on the side of the road, hoping to get a lift to the nearest human habitation. It's dark and raining and pretty soon he's wet and shivering. The night rolls on and no car goes by, the rains are so strong he can barely see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly in the distance he sees the headlights of a car coming towards him and it slows and then stops next to him - without thinking the guy opens the car's door and jumps in. Seated in the back, he leans forward to thank the person who had saved him when he realises there is nobody behind the wheel!!! Even though there's no one in the front seat and no sound of any engine, the car starts moving slowly. The guy looks at the road ahead and sees a curve coming (remember, this is in the hills and there is a steep, steep drop beyond the curve). Scared almost to death he starts to pray, begging the Lord for his life. He hasn't come out of shock, when just before he hits the curve, a hand appears through the window and moves the wheel! The car makes the curve safely and continues on the road to the next bend. The guy, now paralysed in terror, watches how the hand appears every time before a curve and moves the steering wheel just enough to get the car around each bend. Finally, the guy sees lights ahead. Gathering his courage he wrenches open the door of the silent, slow moving car, scrambles out and runs as hard and fast as he can towards the lights. It's a small town. Wet and in shock goes to a roadside bar, which is open, and asks for a drink. They find some Whisky and give him a shot. And he starts telling whoever will listen about the horrible experience he's just been through. A silence envelops everybody when they realise the guy isn't drunk, and Is really frightened - he's crying and shaking. So they give him more booze and talk about what they should do, whether to call the police or find a priest, or what. But just then two strangers walked into the bar. And one says to the other, "Look, that's the fecking eejit that got in the car when we were pushing it."
Monday, July 24, 2006
It's OFFICIAL!!!
Well, It's official.
I'm off to ACPO in May 2007 with the Diocese of Huron. What better way to end a year of internship/ministry work than to talk about it with many people in what may be one of the most stressful weekends of my little life.
Yes - I did say a year of ministry. In January I hope to do my internship, but starting now, I am the Lay Pastoral Assistant at my parish. Essentially, I am the fill-in person until they can find a new Priest to take on the Associate Role. I'll be working with the Rector teaching 200 kids Chapel twice a week, doing a Bible Study on Wednesdays, serving at the Eucharist on Wed night, making pastoral visits, taking communion to people who cannot make it out on Sunday, and anything else that may come my way.
And the job has already begun...
I'm off to ACPO in May 2007 with the Diocese of Huron. What better way to end a year of internship/ministry work than to talk about it with many people in what may be one of the most stressful weekends of my little life.
Yes - I did say a year of ministry. In January I hope to do my internship, but starting now, I am the Lay Pastoral Assistant at my parish. Essentially, I am the fill-in person until they can find a new Priest to take on the Associate Role. I'll be working with the Rector teaching 200 kids Chapel twice a week, doing a Bible Study on Wednesdays, serving at the Eucharist on Wed night, making pastoral visits, taking communion to people who cannot make it out on Sunday, and anything else that may come my way.
And the job has already begun...
Friday, July 21, 2006
Update: 10:50 pm
but i'm not sad that I have lost that sense of control. In fact all of a sudden this feels like a fantastic adventure again. It feels like it did when I bought my condo. I gues now I can truly say that I've "been there and done that" I've had the high paying corporate job, the home, the "stuff" that society looks at when it evaluates what it is to be successful. I've had the "success" so to speak, and I know what I had, is not my definition of success. My definition now involves being able to say that someone didn't have to go through a cancer scare alone. That someone didn't have to wait in hospital for their loved one to die, alone. That I could listen, and care for another human being. That I could re-assure someone that they are loved and cared for. That I could take time to stop to simply watch the sunrise and truly marvel at the wonders of creation. That to me would be success.
it is finished
done.
I'm now officially no longer a home owner. Condo is closed. I don't live there anymore.
I went yesterday to finish cleaning up, and when everything was said and done, I sat, by myself in the middle of my livingroom and sobbed. My home represented a security. In a way it represented my life. It was a warm, comfortable place, where everyone was welcome, and when I saw it completely empty, void of all the photos, and friends and lacking every kind of life, it felt like someone had stripped me naked and abandoned me. People say that it is just 4 walls, but to me, living in a city where I don't know many people, a place where I moved because of work, my home was my sanctuary. Now I no longer have the job, I no longer have the home, I no longer have a sense of place, a sense of belonging. Home was my place of rest, in a world that I don't often understand. It was my place where things made sense. I've been going on and on about selling for one very good reason. The sale of my condo represents a drastic change in my life - not simply where I live, but how I live. I quit my job, sold my house, moved in with family so that I can follow where my heart is leading me. I'm not used to relying on other people, I'm very self-sufficient and very organized. Things in my life are ordered - they make sense.
Today is the day that I have lost that sense of control.
I'm now officially no longer a home owner. Condo is closed. I don't live there anymore.
I went yesterday to finish cleaning up, and when everything was said and done, I sat, by myself in the middle of my livingroom and sobbed. My home represented a security. In a way it represented my life. It was a warm, comfortable place, where everyone was welcome, and when I saw it completely empty, void of all the photos, and friends and lacking every kind of life, it felt like someone had stripped me naked and abandoned me. People say that it is just 4 walls, but to me, living in a city where I don't know many people, a place where I moved because of work, my home was my sanctuary. Now I no longer have the job, I no longer have the home, I no longer have a sense of place, a sense of belonging. Home was my place of rest, in a world that I don't often understand. It was my place where things made sense. I've been going on and on about selling for one very good reason. The sale of my condo represents a drastic change in my life - not simply where I live, but how I live. I quit my job, sold my house, moved in with family so that I can follow where my heart is leading me. I'm not used to relying on other people, I'm very self-sufficient and very organized. Things in my life are ordered - they make sense.
Today is the day that I have lost that sense of control.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
dirt
Ever have dirt... not the nice black stuff of the garden thats good to grow seeds in. I mean DIRT. Personal gossip of the good kind. Something that changes you.
Well I have DIRT.
I've actually had dirt for about 2 weeks now and have resisted the enormous temptation to spill it. My problem is, that I can't say anything about it.... yet! I've been asked not to say anything until it is official. I'm very good at keeping the secrets of others, but things like this - I really want to spill it!!!!!
quick update sans dirt :-(
- Condo closes tomorrow
- 42 days left at work
- my move was successful
- 23 pages of essays due on Friday
- (I think I'm taking my last vacation day on friday to sort that out!)
- Our associate priest is leaving on September 10th to head her own parish and I'm just tickled to bits for her - what a wonderful opportunity!
Well I have DIRT.
I've actually had dirt for about 2 weeks now and have resisted the enormous temptation to spill it. My problem is, that I can't say anything about it.... yet! I've been asked not to say anything until it is official. I'm very good at keeping the secrets of others, but things like this - I really want to spill it!!!!!
quick update sans dirt :-(
- Condo closes tomorrow
- 42 days left at work
- my move was successful
- 23 pages of essays due on Friday
- (I think I'm taking my last vacation day on friday to sort that out!)
- Our associate priest is leaving on September 10th to head her own parish and I'm just tickled to bits for her - what a wonderful opportunity!
Friday, July 14, 2006
Moving Day
July 15th is 6 minutes from now. Moving day for me.
I'm sitting in my home. The very first piece of property that I have ever owned. The comfort and security that comes with owning property was amazing. It has been an amazing ride.
48 days until I leave my corporate career.
7 days until I close and my home is officially someone elses.
9 hours until the movers arrive.
2 minutes until midnight.
Never waste a moment.
I'm sitting in my home. The very first piece of property that I have ever owned. The comfort and security that comes with owning property was amazing. It has been an amazing ride.
48 days until I leave my corporate career.
7 days until I close and my home is officially someone elses.
9 hours until the movers arrive.
2 minutes until midnight.
Never waste a moment.
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