We Remember

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place;
and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

SMILE

Thursday was a strange day. It was full of crises, crazies and just down right nonsense. I spent my day putting out fires. I welcomed 5 o'clock with such zeal you would have thought I was still working a Xerox! I went out for dinner with a friend and we wandered through the mall window shopping. I have discovered that I am getting old. I remember the return of a trend! I would have NEVER thought that the shoes from the 80's would have resurfaced, but much to my eternal dismay - they have - and I found myself saying - "I had a pair of boots like that in highschool - I should have kept them they would have been in style again."
Whoa!!!
Yes folks, those words came out of my mouth. I guess you really do become your mother at some point in time - apparently that time for me was Thursday November 9th somewhere around the 8pm mark...

We had fun. It was nice to relax and just chat about something else - anything else!

When I was driving home, I exited the 401 at the Bayview exit and rolled to a stop about 12 cars from the light. There was a homeless man (actually that is a strange term - I don't know that he is homeless - but it seems to be the generic term for people who have a sign and are looking for financial assistance.) That is one of the things that has been happening recently. People stand in the middle of intersections and walk down past cars as they wait for the light to turn green. They usually have a sign something like this:

'homeless and hungry, please help'

But this guy was different - his sign was about 4 feet wide and 2 feet tall and all it said was "SMILE"

Who knows what his situation was, but he is a born marketer. the ends of his sign actually folded in to hide the message and he started walking to each car and unfolded it for each person. I know I thought I would read something like the first sign above, and when he unfolded it with a great flourish and a HUGE grin of his own, I know I had a huge smile on my face. He did ask for change and I did give him some just as the light changed colour. It was a cold night so I went over to the local Tim Hortons and bought him a coffee got a bag with all the fixings, cream sugar, milk, stir sticks, and went to take it over to him. But in order to do that, I had to go back on the highway - the other direction, exit at Yonge St, then get back on the eastbound 401 and exit at Bayview again - cause he was talking to people as they exited the offramp! So I pull up, and he said "back for another smile?"

I said - "yours - yes! but I can't offer you another one - this one hasn't left yet!"

We both laughed, I gave him the coffee and we talked for a few minutes. When the light turned green the chorus of horns behind me forced me onwards.

What an interesting way to end a crazy day, I had someone who society tells us doesn't have much to be joyful, about tell me to SMILE. I'm glad I met him - he had a rather profound effect on me. wow.

Ministry of presence.

What an honour it is to serve parishioners. To be able to facilitate worship through prayer and song and administering the host to the congregation in the morning, to conversations at coffee hour, it is truly an amazing privilege. One friend has not been able to be at church for various health reasons, and this afternoon his wife asked me if I would bring him communion at home. We sat in their living room, talked, prayed, and with his family, we shared in the bread and wine of holy communion from the reserve sacrament. I’ve never done this by myself before, and I know I will never forget the feeling of connectedness with God and with that family. Kairos time – God time.

I have to admit, I’m still kinda speechless.

up there without one...

Welcome to my weekend. I'm up there without one...

I have two 10 page essays due monday, one for my class in Death, Dying and Grief, and the other was due last week in my Leadership in the Church class. I have an essay proposal for studies in Anglican Theology (pre-cursor for a 15 page paper) I have to write a sermon that will be delivered twice (only because I'm not writing another one for the next day... different congregation - it will be OK!) I have to write an extended version of my obituary as if I died yesterday - the globe and mail publishes a section called "Lives Lived" and we are to pattern ours after that! I also have to present a saint in Chapel to the grades 1-4's and the same saint in a different formate to the grades 5-8's in chapel.... I also promised to write the blurb for church that goes on the back of the announcement sheets... You'll love this - it's called "Things to read if the sermon is boring!" I didn't make that up - that's there EVERY week!

I really want to know where that store is... I need some of their merchandise to get me through this weekend!

Good news is that I'm feeling more human after ACPO!

ACPO and Inductions

So this past weekend found me sleeping little, pacing lots and the whole ordeal set to an absolutely stunning backdrop of carolinian forest filled with deer and rabbits and birds. Canterbury Hills is wonderful (even if the beds are glorified tumbling mats, and my room wasn't really heated...) I hear that the facility (excluding the cabins) is very comfortable. So my lack of sleep had me pretty punchy this morning - good thing the letters had already been written. If you have ever found yourself praying for patience, don't do it before an ACPO conference because it will surely be tested! (ACPO = Advisory Committe on Postulants for Ordination).

And the culmination of many hours of navel gazing and talking about myself (something I find difficult sometimes to do!) is this

This applicant is recommended at this time for postulancy.

The rest of the letter makes me blush, but is wonderfully affirming.

I think the hardest part of the day is knowing that some went away with the opposite kind of letter. One that suggested that their gifts and talents might be better used in a capacity other than priestly ministry. We then had to sit down and have lunch with each other. That was tough. Lives were changed by the simple addition of the word "NOT" in that above sentance. Peoples plans were broken, and part of their tapestry of dreams started to unravel. I keep them in my prayers - and hope that you will too.

My friend was also inducted into her first parish tonight. It was beautiful and moving and Hundreds of people came to show her our love and support for her ministry. We took a bus full of about 40 people and had a great time.

My bed is calling my name - I'm going to go to sleep! Good Night!

humor to mask the nerves...

I got home at a horrifically late time yesterday... and I was left this limerick with my mail....

There once was a man who said damn!
I am forced to concede that I amn
a creature that moves
In predestinate grooves
in fact, not a bus, but a tramn!


Tonights was just as amusing!

There once was a vicar from Ryde
Who fell down a sewer and died
Then his silly old sexton
Fell into the next one
And now they’re interred side by side


ACPO tomorrow... hence the nerves....

100th post

I thought my 100th post would be more interesting.

Apparently not.

However, here is a link that struck my funnybone.

iGod the online confessional/repentence tool.... enjoy!

Warning!!!

I got to the church first this morning. Went in the side door, started unlocking the building, turning on lights and the organ. I walked down to the back of the church to open the main doors, and as I pushed them open, I found a note taped to the outside. We have been refinishing the doors, so I thought it was just a wet paint sign or something like that... but apparently not! Instead I found a flouresant green LAMINATED notice duct taped to the door. This is not exactly what it said - only a paraphrase, but you'll get the point... Religion can make you crazy... You can't make this stuff up!!!

WARNING

to church leaders

Since you are incapable

of leading the people of this world

to the Kingdom of God,

I will have to do it.

I am taking control of the church

Remember the 7 seals?

I am the woman of Rev 5

Jesus Christ will either be your saviour

or your destroyer

Then she listed her web-site, her full personal name (and bizarre title of apocalyptic woman or some such nonsense) and her phone number. We called the number - there is voicemail - regular voicemail like it was a home... so strange!

Perhaps she fancied herself a modern day Martin Luther...

sticky notes and cue cards

Mornings in my house are lovely. I often find a little verse or poem or limerick taped to the mirror in the bathroom – a gift from my Great Uncle. I want to keep a record of these – they're good, so periodically I'll post them – some have authors, others do not, so I'll let you know what I know. He just keeps them in his head…

Abou ben Adam (may his tribe increase!)
awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight of his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
an angel, writing in a book of of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adam bold,
And to the Prescence in the room he said:
"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head,
And, with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?"said Abou, "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still, and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again, with a great awakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben adam's name led all the rest.

***************************************

A harpist must have
lots of pluck
A black silk costume
And a truck
By: Ogden Nash

***************************************

There once was a lawyer named Rex
With diminutive organs of sex
When charged with exposure
He replied with composure
"de minimis non curat lex!"

***************************************

A lady form southern Australia
Once went to a dance as a dahlia
But the petals revealed
What they should have concealed
And the dance – as a dance – was a fahlia!

***************************************

The wife of the Vicar of Tring
Who, when asked by the Bishop to sing
Replied "Ain't it odd
I can't even tell 'God
Save the weasel' from Pop goes the King'"

***************************************

Then a note from his father
Pa Mitchell on lighting a campfire

As fuel is brought to the fire,
So I purpose to bring
My life, and my strength and my heart's desire
To the fire of humankind
For I would kindle, as my fathers have kindled,
and my father's fathers since time began,
the flame that is called the love of man for God,
and the love of man for man.

The system

Bet you knew there was a system.
I didn't.

Apparently the system surrounds the racket of people who come every month into the church looking for help. Looking for money, food or subway tokens. It's their system. Not mine.

"you will always have the poor."

I was informed that a man was coming in today to get his tokens. 10 of them. It was his due. He always got 10 tokens. How dare I question that deal.

Someone else said they wanted a food voucher.

I'm a senior and I can't support myself, can I get some assistance?

All told I have spoken to 5 people looking for assistance today. All the churches in the area keep lists of names and amounts and tokens by name and date. They are the same people.

Yes, there are people who geuninely only need some assistance for a couple of months - but these are the regulars.

How did they get there? How did society fail them? What did they feel like the first time they had to come to a church to ask for help? How do they stop relying on easy money? How do they become self-sufficient?

Do they want to?

How do I reconcile that with the call of Jesus to feed the hungry, clothe the poor and not succumb to the doormat theology where people take advantage of the stewardship and gifts that the parishioners have entrusted me with?