not me

wonderfulexchange8 Comments

A blissful morning of church without responsibility.

I have realised that on those rare occasions when I go to church somewhere else, what I want is in many cases the exact opposite of what I think matters as a priest.

So, I went early for quiet (a hoped for, but often unrealised goal in my various congregations).

I said a quick good-morning to the welcomer, and was impressed when he used as few words as possible to direct me to the second pew-sheet I missed.  (‘ you need… (point)’ ‘oh, thanks…’ and we both went on our way)

I said nothing to anyone after that.

The music was superb (and crucial to the experience of worship).
The sermon was tedious (which was frustrating, but didn’t matter nearly as much as I would tell myself it did if I had preached it).

As I left, the person ahead of me stopped to tell the rector about someone who had died, and I slipped past with a deliberate (simple) bow to show I wasn’t ignoring him, but no words.

I didn’t go to coffee (well, not at church) and I felt no need to linger.

Now, I know that that is not how I would behave if I lived there and were going every week.  But I was grateful for the freedom to come and go without being overwhelmed by people trying to make me welcome.

But if we in Cowal and Bute (or in our companion overseas diocese) let someone slip by so easily, would we think we had failed?

holidays

wonderfulexchange14 Comments

Four whole days without touching a computer.  That might be a first.

I’m back in New England, in the too-soon-to-be-stunning Fall.  The dogwood is trying hard to offer autumn reds, and as I drive round there is a constant flurry of tiny gold leaves.  Otherwise, it is the dull green of waiting.

So, what do you do on your holidays?  I find I do exactly what I do on a day off, but in different places.

Dad and I went to New York to see Equus.  Not the most likely father-daughter show, but I’ve always wanted to see it (after reading it in a ‘Madness in Literature’ course in high-school) and it opened last week.

The reviews are all true:  it was superb.   What I enjoyed most, unexpectedly, was the simplicity of the set.  In a world of The Lion King and Cirque de Solei, it was such a joy to have an almost bare stage with a few grey boxes which were turned and flipped to change the space.  Proper theatre this… though it took half the audience a very long time to realise this was neither a comedy nor a nice story about wizards and horses.

After the show, we sat in Bryant park drinking coffee.  It was an unexpectedly lovely moment that seemed to remind Dad of his student days.

Yesterday:  a mixed result at shopping (children’s books and dried chillies: yes.  much needed clothes: no), then an evening with Ugly Betty, Sarah Palin & Joe Biden.

Today: making chilli and baking bread.

Friends tomorrow, and the joy of church-without-strings on Sunday.

I’m going to stay away from the computer as much as possible.  Normal routine (and blogging) resumes in a week.