You never know how what you say will affect the lives of others. I have now had two people take me aside privately and tell me very personal stories about how what I said affected their lives. Not just simple things - profound, ground shaking, perspective altering change - all rooted in living out the Gospel. The first was from a woman whom I met a few years ago and had lost contact with, she was angry, hurt and distressed after a very messy divorce. She went on a retreat and I saw here there. She went on another, and I happened to be there too. We talked, we laughed, we cried and she feels able to get on with living - and finding ways to give back to others who find themselves in the same situation she did.
The second happened at a sushi restaraunt over lunch today with a collegue here. I just got back to my desk, the tears just poured out (yes... I'm a crier!), and I had to write it down.
I remember vividly when I announced at a meeting that I would be leaving Xerox to persue my masters. Everyone congratulated me and asked if I would be coming back when my MBA was done... I had to explain it wasn't an MBA, but an MDiv. The room went pretty quiet, except for this one, usually very quiet man, who practally jumped out of his seat with a joy that this announcement had not been greeted with before.
Today he took me for lunch.
He told me his story of joys, sorrows, love and laughter. He is very involved in his church (screening committee, choir, parish council), in fact his whole family is very involved. Today he told me that he admires me and my decision. He said it truly made him glad that someone as young as me, with such a promising future at this company could see past the physical luxuries and trappings of western society, drop everything to follow the call of God. He said that breif conversation and announcement a meeting 3 months ago ignited a spark in him that he had been trying for years to put out. But now he didn't want to put it out - he wanted to embrace it. He may now retire early so that he can persue his gift of thereputic touch - in working with people who are in Hospice care and who are dying to grant them some measure comfort in the knowledge that they are not alone. To be with people as they heal, and to help people have a good death. To help members of his congregation who are suffering and to pray with them and to love them.
He thanked me for my courage.
That was his word.
Courage.
I have never used that word to describe myself before.
God doesn't work in mysterious ways. God uses you, and me to affect change now.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
baby steps
5 more days at Xerox – but apparently I’ll be a “Xeroid” for life… something about toner in the blood. 7 years is a long time to work somewhere. It has its moments. I’ve been lucky – I’ve had 4 jobs there – 3 promotions, all kinds of awards and recognition for my work. I’m technically taking an educational leave of absence – that’s the practical part of me. I never burn a bridge. I guess this job that I’ve taken will either let me know if I’m cut out for ministry, or if I should high-tail it back to Xerox and plead for my old job back. I REALLY doubt that will be the outcome – but never say never!
But onto the new job - OK – so perhaps you folks don’t know this, but let me tell you a little secret. I’m very scared, nervous and excited to start my new job. I’ll have to transition in while the associate leaves – our office will be one for a few weeks. I have so much to learn, so much to experience, and there is so much that I don’t know that I know, I have to keep it all straight. Apparently I’ll be preaching sometime in September… Yikes! I’ve only ever preached once – in the Trinity College Chapel (well twice if you count the class that was video taped!) I’ve been transitioning into the role on Sundays as well. I am always to stand behind the altar when the priest celebrates – in the Deacon spot. (what an amazing perspective!) I am to always serve, and always to read the Psalm. That is a bit of a leap. There are a dozen acolytes and anywhere from 3 to 12 can show up to serve on any given Sunday. So we usually divvy up the roles just before the service, so that everyone can have experience in each role. Our associate always does the roles that I’m now doing, so everyone keeps calling me her replacement – but I could never replace her! I’m trying to change that replace thought, to one of successor – someone who came after her, to continue the works she has begun and to add to them. Maybe that way they won’t expect me to be her – and they’ll let me be ME.
I was given some great advise today from a parishioner. She told me how wonderful it was that I was taking on this role. But she wanted to tell me what a 90 year old fellow teacher told her, when she first started teaching. “The hardest thing to learn is that you can’t do everything. Learn to say “no” but be easy on yourself because the first time is always the hardest.” Good advise.
She made me promise to take time for myself, and to remember the big picture – remember that I am also there to study, and I need to make sure my studies come first. Its all about perspective. This parish is supporting me in my discernment process with the diocese; they are hoping that I’ll be able to give back to the church as a minister, but if I neglect my studies – that won’t happen.
It’s a balancing act – and I’m a klutz.
But onto the new job - OK – so perhaps you folks don’t know this, but let me tell you a little secret. I’m very scared, nervous and excited to start my new job. I’ll have to transition in while the associate leaves – our office will be one for a few weeks. I have so much to learn, so much to experience, and there is so much that I don’t know that I know, I have to keep it all straight. Apparently I’ll be preaching sometime in September… Yikes! I’ve only ever preached once – in the Trinity College Chapel (well twice if you count the class that was video taped!) I’ve been transitioning into the role on Sundays as well. I am always to stand behind the altar when the priest celebrates – in the Deacon spot. (what an amazing perspective!) I am to always serve, and always to read the Psalm. That is a bit of a leap. There are a dozen acolytes and anywhere from 3 to 12 can show up to serve on any given Sunday. So we usually divvy up the roles just before the service, so that everyone can have experience in each role. Our associate always does the roles that I’m now doing, so everyone keeps calling me her replacement – but I could never replace her! I’m trying to change that replace thought, to one of successor – someone who came after her, to continue the works she has begun and to add to them. Maybe that way they won’t expect me to be her – and they’ll let me be ME.
I was given some great advise today from a parishioner. She told me how wonderful it was that I was taking on this role. But she wanted to tell me what a 90 year old fellow teacher told her, when she first started teaching. “The hardest thing to learn is that you can’t do everything. Learn to say “no” but be easy on yourself because the first time is always the hardest.” Good advise.
She made me promise to take time for myself, and to remember the big picture – remember that I am also there to study, and I need to make sure my studies come first. Its all about perspective. This parish is supporting me in my discernment process with the diocese; they are hoping that I’ll be able to give back to the church as a minister, but if I neglect my studies – that won’t happen.
It’s a balancing act – and I’m a klutz.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Happy Birthday Nana
My Nana turned 89 today.
Remarkable lady, my Nana. At 87 she had to teach herself to walk again after having both of her legs amputated below the knee - she now wears two prostetics. She had to move into a nursing home to recover, but this summer she moved OUT of the nursing home and back into her own apartment.
All I have to say - amazing woman.
I hope to live with her passion and determination.
Happy Birthday Nana - God Bless!
Remarkable lady, my Nana. At 87 she had to teach herself to walk again after having both of her legs amputated below the knee - she now wears two prostetics. She had to move into a nursing home to recover, but this summer she moved OUT of the nursing home and back into her own apartment.
All I have to say - amazing woman.
I hope to live with her passion and determination.
Happy Birthday Nana - God Bless!
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Books, books and more Books!
Apparently I’ve been tagged by Aaron for these…. Who was tagged by Fr. Jake, who was tagged by … well you get the picture… round the world with favourite books!
I tag Laura, Aurora, and Matthew ...
1. Two books that changed your life.
In Quest of Jesus, by W. Barnes Tatum. Now I don’t particularly advocate reading this one – it is average in style and it has been a while since I read it, so I can’t remember the scholarship, but this book prompted me to ask questions – and that is why it changed my life. It was the textbook for an undergraduate course called “the Historical Jesus and the Christ of Faith.” It brought out a passion in discussions that I had never known in myself before. It nudged me into action, into living a faith that I had relegated as irrelevant.
The second book is Listening for the Heartbeat of God, by J. Philip Newell. He was a former Warden on the Isle of Iona, and this book was part of the reason I went to volunteer on Iona for six weeks. I came back with a very different perspective on life, and without that experience, I don’t know if I’d be in seminary right now.
2. Two books that you have read more than once.
Harry Potter. The whole set. Yes. And they are all lovely! I guess that qualifies for more than two books, but since it’s a set, I figure you’ll forgive me!
3. Two books you'd want on a desert island.
Not to sound repetitive, but either the BCP or the BAS, to quell my daily office fix.
And the Bible, NRSV, please.
4. One book that made you laugh.
Dave Cooks the Turkey – Stuart McLean – of the Vinyl Café more stories about Dave, Morley, Stephanie and Sam – A true Canadian treasure!
5. One book that made me cry.
Charlotte’s Web, by EB White. Ode to friendship!
6. One book that you wish had been written.
Why is perception reality?
7. Two books that you wish had not been written.
Chicken soup for the Soul (or the teenager, or the scrapbooker, or the cat lover…) They have become a marketers dream – I can maybe see the first couple – but now (I’m not kidding) there are now 22 volumes… perhaps I just don’t get the trend….
8. Two books that you're currently reading.
Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John by Jean Vanier. Wonderfully written book, from the caring perspective of one of the founders of L’Arche.
For All God’s Worth – N.T. Wright. An interesting reflection on the need for worship.
9. One book you've been meaning to read.
I’ve picked it up more times than I can count. On Christian Theology, by Rowan Williams has been sitting on my shelf for 2 years, and I can’t do much more than crack it, read 2 or 3 pages and quietly slide it back in its place in the bookshelf.
I tag Laura, Aurora, and Matthew ...
1. Two books that changed your life.
In Quest of Jesus, by W. Barnes Tatum. Now I don’t particularly advocate reading this one – it is average in style and it has been a while since I read it, so I can’t remember the scholarship, but this book prompted me to ask questions – and that is why it changed my life. It was the textbook for an undergraduate course called “the Historical Jesus and the Christ of Faith.” It brought out a passion in discussions that I had never known in myself before. It nudged me into action, into living a faith that I had relegated as irrelevant.
The second book is Listening for the Heartbeat of God, by J. Philip Newell. He was a former Warden on the Isle of Iona, and this book was part of the reason I went to volunteer on Iona for six weeks. I came back with a very different perspective on life, and without that experience, I don’t know if I’d be in seminary right now.
2. Two books that you have read more than once.
Harry Potter. The whole set. Yes. And they are all lovely! I guess that qualifies for more than two books, but since it’s a set, I figure you’ll forgive me!
3. Two books you'd want on a desert island.
Not to sound repetitive, but either the BCP or the BAS, to quell my daily office fix.
And the Bible, NRSV, please.
4. One book that made you laugh.
Dave Cooks the Turkey – Stuart McLean – of the Vinyl Café more stories about Dave, Morley, Stephanie and Sam – A true Canadian treasure!
5. One book that made me cry.
Charlotte’s Web, by EB White. Ode to friendship!
6. One book that you wish had been written.
Why is perception reality?
7. Two books that you wish had not been written.
Chicken soup for the Soul (or the teenager, or the scrapbooker, or the cat lover…) They have become a marketers dream – I can maybe see the first couple – but now (I’m not kidding) there are now 22 volumes… perhaps I just don’t get the trend….
8. Two books that you're currently reading.
Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John by Jean Vanier. Wonderfully written book, from the caring perspective of one of the founders of L’Arche.
For All God’s Worth – N.T. Wright. An interesting reflection on the need for worship.
9. One book you've been meaning to read.
I’ve picked it up more times than I can count. On Christian Theology, by Rowan Williams has been sitting on my shelf for 2 years, and I can’t do much more than crack it, read 2 or 3 pages and quietly slide it back in its place in the bookshelf.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
I never did write about Maine... did I ?!?
Well - here goes...
I'm no real stranger to sleeping in the Church! Not in the pews... or at least not often in the pews! When I've slept it's been for overnights with the junior youth group and the senior youth group, so I thought I was prepared. When some of the youth group wanted to talk to me about a project that they wanted to do, I thought "no problem! I bet its another fun event, possibly ending with a sleep over in the church... I wonder what they have planned" If truth be told, nothing could have truly prepared me to hear these words as I walked into the St. Hilda's room "So, we have been doing a lot of research and are pretty sure we want to take the DARE group on a YouthWorks Mission trip for 10 days to coastal Maine - Calais to be specific, and we need another adult to go...." Isn't it amazing what kids can come up with? The hopeful looks on their faces could only elicit one answer "You've got yourself another leader!" And then the whirlwind of planning sprung into action (by this I mean the youth group leader - wow is he organized!) and we left on Saturday July 1st. 4:30am comes early - the sun hasn't even risen - did you know that???
This was all new ground for me, literally because I've never been east of Montreal, and mentally, because I've never been on a mission trip before and I had no idea what to expect. Calais is a picturesque little rural town where the average kid starts drinking at 14 and probably comes from a family who lives below the poverty line (of $19,500). But beneath the flaking paint on the houses, and the families scraping to make ends meet (or rather meat...) exists a community really uncertain of its future. We were granted the opportunity of spending time getting to know this community, and in the end, falling in love with it. We laughed with their kids at "Kids Club", sang hymns with their seniors at nursing homes, scraped and painted the house of an amazing family and cried with a woman whose father died the morning we arrived to paint. We worked alongside youth and adults from Newark NJ, Upstate NY, Toronto (Islington United Church!), and each other. We were from different denominations, different social backgrounds, different ages and we all came together to help the struggling community of Calais; we came to love our neighbours as ourselves. I'm not going to tell you any more, but I wish you could tlak to these kids. I wish you could ask the them what happened. See the light on their faces when they tell you about the car trips, kids, piano's, ladders, conquering fears and daring themselves to do something that they never thought they could. These teenagers impressed me, and I am so proud of them.
And I did end up sleeping in a Church, just not ours. I'm grateful to the United Methodist Church in Calais for hosting YouthWorks, giving us that floor to sleep on and allowing us the time to watch stereotypes shatter.
I'm no real stranger to sleeping in the Church! Not in the pews... or at least not often in the pews! When I've slept it's been for overnights with the junior youth group and the senior youth group, so I thought I was prepared. When some of the youth group wanted to talk to me about a project that they wanted to do, I thought "no problem! I bet its another fun event, possibly ending with a sleep over in the church... I wonder what they have planned" If truth be told, nothing could have truly prepared me to hear these words as I walked into the St. Hilda's room "So, we have been doing a lot of research and are pretty sure we want to take the DARE group on a YouthWorks Mission trip for 10 days to coastal Maine - Calais to be specific, and we need another adult to go...." Isn't it amazing what kids can come up with? The hopeful looks on their faces could only elicit one answer "You've got yourself another leader!" And then the whirlwind of planning sprung into action (by this I mean the youth group leader - wow is he organized!) and we left on Saturday July 1st. 4:30am comes early - the sun hasn't even risen - did you know that???
This was all new ground for me, literally because I've never been east of Montreal, and mentally, because I've never been on a mission trip before and I had no idea what to expect. Calais is a picturesque little rural town where the average kid starts drinking at 14 and probably comes from a family who lives below the poverty line (of $19,500). But beneath the flaking paint on the houses, and the families scraping to make ends meet (or rather meat...) exists a community really uncertain of its future. We were granted the opportunity of spending time getting to know this community, and in the end, falling in love with it. We laughed with their kids at "Kids Club", sang hymns with their seniors at nursing homes, scraped and painted the house of an amazing family and cried with a woman whose father died the morning we arrived to paint. We worked alongside youth and adults from Newark NJ, Upstate NY, Toronto (Islington United Church!), and each other. We were from different denominations, different social backgrounds, different ages and we all came together to help the struggling community of Calais; we came to love our neighbours as ourselves. I'm not going to tell you any more, but I wish you could tlak to these kids. I wish you could ask the them what happened. See the light on their faces when they tell you about the car trips, kids, piano's, ladders, conquering fears and daring themselves to do something that they never thought they could. These teenagers impressed me, and I am so proud of them.
And I did end up sleeping in a Church, just not ours. I'm grateful to the United Methodist Church in Calais for hosting YouthWorks, giving us that floor to sleep on and allowing us the time to watch stereotypes shatter.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Half a movie... a horror one at that!
Only one wedding and a Funeral…
A funeral and a wedding happened this weekend. Interesting way to bookmark the weekend. It truly was a celebration of life at the funeral, and it almost became a celebration of death at the wedding, when I came very close to strangling a photographer! Not literally, I hope you understand, but I can have a very forceful ‘don’t mess with me’ look! The photographer AND the videographer BOTH decided to get a different shot of the bride and groom, from the altar side of the sanctuary. Wanna know how they got there? They stepped on the cushions and swung their leg over the communion rail and started to walk in front of the altar. I kid you not. I came really close to losing it, but instead asked them politely to step back over the rail. So what did she do??? Walk over to the other side of the altar!!! I was communicating the chalice… I couldn’t follow her. I was angry and horrified. This is a sacrament, a holy moment of the joining of two lives. Pictures, video have perfect places – when the music is playing – when the bride walks down the aisle, when they are signing the register. Not when I’m reading from 1 Corinthians 13, not when the couple is being prayed for and certainly not when the Eucharist is being celebrated!
I'm rather speachless... all I can say is ... Oi !!!!
A funeral and a wedding happened this weekend. Interesting way to bookmark the weekend. It truly was a celebration of life at the funeral, and it almost became a celebration of death at the wedding, when I came very close to strangling a photographer! Not literally, I hope you understand, but I can have a very forceful ‘don’t mess with me’ look! The photographer AND the videographer BOTH decided to get a different shot of the bride and groom, from the altar side of the sanctuary. Wanna know how they got there? They stepped on the cushions and swung their leg over the communion rail and started to walk in front of the altar. I kid you not. I came really close to losing it, but instead asked them politely to step back over the rail. So what did she do??? Walk over to the other side of the altar!!! I was communicating the chalice… I couldn’t follow her. I was angry and horrified. This is a sacrament, a holy moment of the joining of two lives. Pictures, video have perfect places – when the music is playing – when the bride walks down the aisle, when they are signing the register. Not when I’m reading from 1 Corinthians 13, not when the couple is being prayed for and certainly not when the Eucharist is being celebrated!
I'm rather speachless... all I can say is ... Oi !!!!
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Cannibalism and Sherlock Holmes
Tomorrow’s gospel reading is a favourite of mine. It is one of those readings that have caused non-Christians throughout history, reason to be very suspicious of Christians. John 6:51-58.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."
No, I’m not going to talk about transubstantiation, or transignification for that matter. In celebrating the Eucharist, Christians through history have not been physically nibbling away at the physical body of Christ - This is also not the place where we can decide what happened to the physical body of Jesus at the empty tomb or at the assention – or is it? What does it really mean when the priest hands us the bread and says “This is the body of Christ, broken and given for you” and the same with the wine, “This is the blood of Christ shed for you.”
No bloody wonder (pardon the pun) that outsiders may upon first glance think we’re a bunch of nutters - or worse... cannibals! This is one of those questions that my non-Christian friends have been mystified by. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked, “so what really is the bread and the wine?”, or “Is it really flesh and blood that you eat and drink at church?” Talk about loaded questions! Physically, bread and wine is just that, bread and wine, local customs may differ, they may be wafers, or fresh bread, wine or grape juice, but the initial physical substance is not what is important. It’s not going to be the best burgundy you’ve ever tasted, nor is it to be gulped down like the kid on a Welch’s commercial. The Bread and Wine of Holy Communion are transformed by the community gathered, by the priest present and by the prayers and worship of the liturgy – by your life and by mine. It is transformed from stale pieces of bread and bad tasting wine into the most life changing substance on earth. It becomes Christ. It becomes our host at the table of life. As the response to one BAS fraction sentence says “God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.”
I can honestly say that I don’t understand it. I don’t know the intricacies of what happens between people and God when they receive this bread of life. I know some of the emotions that I have felt. I know some of the worries and concerns and hurts and fears that I have left at the communion rail. I know that I have felt the power of a change of perspective in this sacrament. But I can’t tell you what it means… and personally, I think that you should wonder about anyone who can claim to give you the answer as to what the Eucharist means. It is a mystery – not something that can be solved by great detective work (or Sherlock Holmes), but something that transcends both time and space. I’ve read books about what others think, I’ve talked to priests, and parishioners, but do I “know”? Nope. Do I understand? Maybe. Does it change me? Absolutely.
There now - not something you typically think about as a conversation at the photocopier, but that’s where I’ve had some of the most interesting ones!
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."
No, I’m not going to talk about transubstantiation, or transignification for that matter. In celebrating the Eucharist, Christians through history have not been physically nibbling away at the physical body of Christ - This is also not the place where we can decide what happened to the physical body of Jesus at the empty tomb or at the assention – or is it? What does it really mean when the priest hands us the bread and says “This is the body of Christ, broken and given for you” and the same with the wine, “This is the blood of Christ shed for you.”
No bloody wonder (pardon the pun) that outsiders may upon first glance think we’re a bunch of nutters - or worse... cannibals! This is one of those questions that my non-Christian friends have been mystified by. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked, “so what really is the bread and the wine?”, or “Is it really flesh and blood that you eat and drink at church?” Talk about loaded questions! Physically, bread and wine is just that, bread and wine, local customs may differ, they may be wafers, or fresh bread, wine or grape juice, but the initial physical substance is not what is important. It’s not going to be the best burgundy you’ve ever tasted, nor is it to be gulped down like the kid on a Welch’s commercial. The Bread and Wine of Holy Communion are transformed by the community gathered, by the priest present and by the prayers and worship of the liturgy – by your life and by mine. It is transformed from stale pieces of bread and bad tasting wine into the most life changing substance on earth. It becomes Christ. It becomes our host at the table of life. As the response to one BAS fraction sentence says “God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.”
I can honestly say that I don’t understand it. I don’t know the intricacies of what happens between people and God when they receive this bread of life. I know some of the emotions that I have felt. I know some of the worries and concerns and hurts and fears that I have left at the communion rail. I know that I have felt the power of a change of perspective in this sacrament. But I can’t tell you what it means… and personally, I think that you should wonder about anyone who can claim to give you the answer as to what the Eucharist means. It is a mystery – not something that can be solved by great detective work (or Sherlock Holmes), but something that transcends both time and space. I’ve read books about what others think, I’ve talked to priests, and parishioners, but do I “know”? Nope. Do I understand? Maybe. Does it change me? Absolutely.
There now - not something you typically think about as a conversation at the photocopier, but that’s where I’ve had some of the most interesting ones!
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
belief in action
My great uncle is a woodworker. He helped my cousin and his girlfriend craft a cherry table complete with leaves that slide under the top for storage. It was absolutely stunning. But technically he is a toymaker. He makes toys for lots of different groups of kids, recently he has made 150 wooden car toys for a group of kids whose parents who gather annually to celebrate the fact that their children, who were born very early, survived. These are the extreme cases where they are only weighed a 2 pounds or so at birth. He also makes educational toys for a local blind school, and rolling stools for parents with autistic kids. He is truly a craftsman.
His latest project is to re-furbish a processional cross from a local catholic primary school chapel. Jesus was hanging on by one nail and tied to the cross with a ribbon... (theologically.... well.!?!?!) Here is a picture of a cross similar to the one he is fixing (likeness of Jesus is fully attached in this photo). I'll post a picture of the finished product.
His latest project is to re-furbish a processional cross from a local catholic primary school chapel. Jesus was hanging on by one nail and tied to the cross with a ribbon... (theologically.... well.!?!?!) Here is a picture of a cross similar to the one he is fixing (likeness of Jesus is fully attached in this photo). I'll post a picture of the finished product.
His dad (my great-grandfather) was an Anglican priest - and they grew up partly in the Diocese of Huron and partly in ste. Agathe in Quebec. He can sing all the old hymns, but doesn't believe in God. He knows all the BCP (book of Common Prayer) words to morning prayer, evensong and the Eucharist, but doesn't believe there is a God. He finds great comfort in the tradition of liturgy, but he doesn't believe in God. (He brought a Qu'ran to my baptism... did I mention he has a sense of humour?!?!) he came, though he doesn't believe in God. He loves and acts and shows true compassion in everything he does. He lives the core of the Christian values that he was raised with. That you should love your neighbour as yourself, and he doesn't just pay lip service to this notion. He lives it everyday. His favourite poem by an unknown author describes why:
I shall pass through this world but once
if therefore there be any kindness I can show
or any good thing I can do
let me do it now
for I shall not pass this way again
But he doesn't believe in God.
He does believe in people.
He does believe we are to do what we can to ease the life of others
If someone was hungry, he'd give them food. If someone was thirsty, he'd give them something to drink, if someone was lonely, scared, sick, he'd comfort them. Interesting... Wasn't it Jesus who said that when you help the least of your brothers and sisters you do it for me. Isn't it all about compassion and living into the words of St. Paul - to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice? He says he doesn't believe in God, but he show God exists, by his every action.
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