The Joy of Running Barefoot (almost)

Nike Free Run +2

Lately I made a major change in my life.  I switched to 'minimalist' shoes.  I had no idea something as pedestrian as shoes could inject a spiritual charge into my life.  Yet these shoes make a difference.

I learned about minimalist shoes through the advocacy of one of my favorite running experts, Matt Fitzgerald (currently a contributing editor for www.competitor.com).  Because I had learned to trust his counsel, I decided to test his thesis that minimalist shoes would minimize the risk of injury as I pursued my goals as a runner.

Why Don't #Episcopalians Do Morning Prayer Any More?

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A parishioner asked me, “When I was a child in this parish we always did Morning Prayer on Sundays.  Why don’t we still do that?  I kinda miss it.”

Here's my response:

I am glad you asked. I have been looking for folks to help in our effort to get the entire parish to rediscover the habits of the "Threefold Rule." You are absolutely right about the importance of morning prayer. But they all go together and we lose a great deal if we don’t keep them in balance - (1) we all need to do the Daily Office, (2) we all need to develop the habits of daily private devotion, and of course (3) we all need to meet each Sunday and on Feast Days for the Lord’s Supper.
In our parish, we actually do Morning Prayer every morning at 8:45 a.m. and Evening Prayer every on weekdays at 5:15 p.m. If you can’t make those times, maybe we should talk about whether you might have a call to ministry at your workplace or in other settings to lead your friends in a simplified prayerful gathering in the morning before work or perhaps during the lunch hour. That’s a wonderful way to offer your gifts to your friends and God.

Why Don't #Episcopalians Believe in the #Bible?

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A parishioner asked me, “My Presbyterian friends tell me that we Episcopalians don’t believe in the Bible.  I told them that we do.  She asked me how we interpret the Bible?  I couldn’t answer her.  How do we interpret the Bible?”

Here's my response: 

I am glad your friend think it’s important, and I am glad you told her that the Bible is the very important to us.  I like to think of the Bible as the map we use to guide us on our Christian journey.  It charts the Way for us that was passed down to us by the generations that precede us.  But we still have to walk the journey and we still have to remember to trust the map rather than people who tell us to take short cuts along the journey.

How do we interpret Scripture?

Does the American Flag Belong in Church?

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Some colleagues raised the question of the location of the American flag within the church.  Actually, the question was about whether it is ever proper to locate the American flag in a sacred space.

To some, this is a surprising question, either because they have never seen our national ensign in their church, have always seen it in their church, or have simply never thought about the implications of placing a national flag inside a church.

It is not, as one friend assumed, a matter of respecting democratic dogma regarding the separation between church and state.  Rather, the concern is to avoid blasphemy - our habit of attributing our embrace of falsehood and nothingness to God.  Theologians often cite examples of blasphemy such as the patches on the uniforms of German soldiers declaring "God is with us", the South African church's justification of apartheid, and an American president's declaration that "God is with us" as he announced that cruise missiles were en route Baghdad.

Running for Dad

I've decided that for the rest of his life, I am going to run for my Dad.
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Mom and Dad have always been my heroes, and my respect for how they have lived their lives has only deepened as Claudia and I have shared our own journey of marriage and parenthood.

Some folks are at their best when there's not much at stake and the task at hand is simply to enjoy the blessings of daily life.  Other folks are at their best when life suddenly raises up massive mountains and leads through dark valleys. My parents have always been pillars of strength.  I can't imagine anyone else I would want in my corner in a crisis more than Mom and Dad.

But now Mom and Dad have one of those mountains before them.  Dad's been diagnosed with an aggressive brand of lymphoma as well as a fairly advanced sort of melanoma.  We are told the treatment plan provides cause for hope, but the path over this mountain is challenging and complex.

L'Opera and Musee d'Orsay

From my journal entries during our recent trip to England and France:

Just ate at Angelina's Tea Salon on Rue de Rivoli.  Having read reviews, we were well aware of the historic appeal of the salon, yet still our palates were not quite prepared for the delights we encountered.  I enjoyed a quiche that caused me to exclaim, "So this is what quiche is supposed to taste like!" My ladies were in rapture, bubbling in delight at Angelina's Chocolat Africaine, which, as far as we can tell, is the closest thing to dark milk chocolate in liquid form ever poured into une tasse.  We all agreed that we had to return there once Callie rejoins us on Friday.

Paris!

From my journal entries during our recent trip to England and France:

J'aime bien Paris!

We've been in Paris now about 24 hours.  So far, Paris has captivated me.  It is the first big city in which I felt I could live.

We arrived from London at Gare du Nord late yesterday afternoon. A chilling rain and a 30 minute taxi queue welcomed us.  Eventually we stuffed our bags into a tiny Citroen taxi and bid our Algerian driver take us to our apartment in Sevres Babylone on the Rive Gauche.

Monday Morning Outlook

Technology is just a way of organizing the universe so that man won't have to experience it. 

-- architect Max Frisch

Monday Morning Outlook

I have often reflected that the causes of the successes or failures or men depend upon their manner of suiting their conduct to the times.

 -- Niccoi Machiavelli

Tisbury and Salisbury

From my journal entries during our recent trip to England and France:

Today I went alone to Tisbury to join my friend, Bishop Graham Kings and his wife, Allison.

Tisbury

Graham is a suffragan bishop responsible for Sherborne, and Sherborne House is located in a bucolic setting right out of James Herriott's novels.  Indeed, as we approached his house, Graham stopped the car, got out his walking stick, and led me on a wonderful walk down the sheep-filled hill overlooking the vale of Tisbury.  As we walked, the steeple of the parish church beckoned from below.

Buckingham Palace and the British Museum

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

From my journal entries during our recent trip to England and France:

We woke late on Sunday morning.  Despite our late start, we arrived in time to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.  While we were there, the skies opened up, and a soaking deluge poured down upon us.  We ducked as three in one under my poncho and kept some portion of our clothes dry.  That moment under my poncho may have been my favorite part of our day.

A Rainy Day in London

Westminster Abbey

We arose late on Saturday, exhausted from our travel and all our walking the day before.  That proved unfortunate, because we arrived as Westminster Abbey to find an hour long queue.  It was pouring rain and the streets were jammed with school kids, mostly from Italy, so took a few pictures and pressed on in our tour of Westminster.

The highlight of the morning was our tour of Churchill's bunker and museum.  Since Emilie just studied WWII, she was able to appreciate the historical significance of the place, and no doubt learned a lot more about the realities of the war.  I continue to ponder what it must have been like to live in London during the Battle of Britain, perseveringly rationing food and braving the bombs that threatened daily.

In London

From my journal entries during our recent trip to England and France:

Big Ben and Parliament

On board train to Tisbury to see Bishop Graham Kings and visit the old parish church of Richard Hooker, as well as Salisbury Cathedral.  Claudia and Emmie are visiting Kensington Palace.  At last some time and energy to write.

We've had a nice stay in London.  I think all three of us like the city, though we have  been mildly surprised to notice a few distinctions between norms in the US and our experiences here.

Monday Morning Outlook

...for free will doesn't mean one will, but many wills conflicting in one man. 

-- Flannery O'Conner, introduction to Wise Blood

Monday Morning Outlook

The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace. 

-- Thomas a Kempis