Long Roads and Two-Way Streets: Part 3

It felt good to preach again, July 22nd.  That's one of things that my time away was measured by.  Preaching is so central to my calling as a priest.  Not preaching for two Sundays removed so much from my daily life.  No reading ahead, no Theolatte´,  no translation work, no context reading, no commentaries.

The mulling and reflection were easily replaced in my touring by the constantly evolving scenery.  I love the way each mile moves to another view, another center, another clime. 

It's why I wrote about the rivers last week.  Each crossing or parallel triggered questions and imaginings about those who first met and named their encounters.  Whose idea was it to name that Wyoming artery the Big Horn?  How has it developed that so many colleges in the west have initialed some nearby slope.  My favorite is Provo's "Y."  Why not?  Ask Brigham or Joseph. 

What is going on south of Idaho Falls?  The terrain is otherworldly!  Hardly a road between Interstate 15 and Atomic City south of US 20.  Everyday presented similar intrigue. 

Part of what I find out by not turning on the radio, rolling down the windows and driving mile after engaging mile across the country is how much we share by way of those regular Sunday morning homilies. At least I hope we are sharing.  I hope that what I am offering participates in that larger conversation that is the life of this parish. 

Now that I'm back and living with you my attention is caught and drawn into thinking about the little things you say as we shake hands and the often more revealing things you ask or comment after the "dust settles." 

I am always observing, always imagining, always reflecting, always wondering, always experimenting, always listening again and again to what you have shared with me.  Your sharing is my ever changing landscape now. 

My preaching is less dictation or advice -- talking to myself with the windows rolled up -- and more saying back to you from the view afforded me by a vehicle of lessons, collects, schedules, news and conversations; this is what I see and wonder, what I imagine and question, what I've experienced and learned. 

Our lives are long roads -- I'm almost halfway in my 9th year of service to this parish! -- and when we're sharing also two-way streets.  It's good to be back. 

Long Roads and Two-Way Streets: Part 2

It's good to be back.

Just so you know I drove nearly 5000 miles and almost 2000 miles my last three days from the 30% humidity at 8000 ft above sea level to our "cozy" 87% at 680 ft. in Madison.  After leaving Moab, Utah's Arches National Park and scurrying up Colorado's Mesa Verde I had one remaining "must stop."  It was the Flophouze Shipping Container Motel in Round Top, Texas.

That meant a "purposeful" 8 hours of driving via Albuquerque, Santa Rosa, Fort Sumner, and Clovis. Bedding down to push through another 8 hours through Muleshoe, Lubbock, Snyder, Sweetwater, Santa Ana, Lampassas, Georgetown to Giddings and finally to my well appointed metal can with kitchen, bath, bed and sitting room. Whew!

I woke up the next morning very aware that I had returned to lower, moister lands and closer, damper air.  Still, Round Top is 14 hours away from my "more familiars" of Sandy Creek Rd and Academy St.  My last day went well into Friday night but I was home and in my bed before 1:00AM.  Paddling up from Dyar Pasture into the Oconee current was the perfect close to a great trip. 

From Madison to Bozeman and back I crossed or followed rivers, creeks and bayous with names like the Chattahoochee, Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, Wabash, Illinois, Missouri, Redwater, Sundance, Donkey, Deadhourse, Powder,  Dry,  Negro, Clear, Rock, Prairie Dog, Pompey, Goose, Tongue, Little Bighorn, Slaughter, Bighorn, Alkali, Spring, Indian, Pryor, Yellowstone, Gallatin, Gardiner, Lava, Falls, Snake, Weber, Farmington, Jordan, Price, Green, Colorado, Dove, Animas, San Juan,  Rio Grande, Pecos, Yellow House, Deep, Cottonwood, Colorado(Texas), San Gabriel, Brazos, San Jacinto, Trinity, Din, Neches, Sabine, Houston, des Cannes, Vermillion, Teche, Atchafalaya, Mississippi, Pearl, Chunky, Tombigbee,  Black Warrior, and Coosa.

It was my intention all along but the fact that the AC on my little Prius died, confirmed my choice to drive with the windows rolled down and no radio playing.  I could smell the smells and feel the air as it changed moment to moment. 

I'm excited to visit the Four Corners part of the southwest again.  So maybe this spring I can just go out and back with none of my daughter's furniture in the "trunk."  This is a great part of the world with lots of highways and two way streets.

So thanks for the break! 

Long roads and two way streets

A short but important message while I'm still on the road.  

Thanks to Susan Kurtz for her extensive and extended care in leading the prayers of the Daughters of King, our "praying ladies."  Throughout my time in service to this parish no matter the stripes as well and more importantly throughout the many changes in her life she has helped this parish to pray for all sorts and conditions.  Close friends, friends of friends, some known and some unknown, family members, community members, specific troubles, general concerns and all kinds of celebrations has been lifted to a loving and constant God thanks to her steady hand.

Susan has claimed this time, is being intentional about her transition and will be letting go of this important role.  Our responsibility is to honor her and her love of this ministry by coming together as a community and in deep discernment to find how we can move forward with as healthy and deep a focus has we have so long enjoyed.  

That work will be first to be determined by the members of the Daughters of the King.  Certainly we all can return some of the favor we owe them by holding them in our prayers.  

Next we will move to new points of contact for the parish: myself as rector, Allison as administrator, Deacon Morehouse, Maryann Dartnell as vestry liaison, Tim Pridgen and others will have to track with each other those names and petitions that for so many years moved through Susan's ledger. 

Perhaps even a larger meeting of the hearts and minds of the parish as we learn to live this new way.  

All this and more is before us, it has been for a long time.  That's how we as a parish have lived and will live together.  

Long roads, some longer than we planned, and two way streets where we listen and share and make room for each other on this journey that is the Episcopal Church of the Advent.

My road is turning home and I'll be back late on Friday.  I'm looking forward to being with you on the river and in worship and farther on down this long road.

Thanks again Susan.  And thanks be to God for letting us in on your journey of prayer.