A Day Like No Other

 You could have probably predicted it--but probably didn't.

The President (14 days and counting) held a rally near the Washington Monument with thousands of supporters, continuing his lies about a 'rigged' election and inviting them to go with him (he didn't go, by the way) down to the Capitol and have their voices heard.

They didn't have their voices heard, instead they mob-rushed the Capitol and took it over. Senators and member of the House and the Vice-President had to be guarded from the riot. One rioter lost her life. It took hours to restore order. As I write this (9:15 p.m.) the Congress is back in session doing their ceremonial duty to confirm Joe Biden as President.

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, called on the President to tell the rioters to go home. He did so, late and half-heartedly. 

But they are back in session.

Many questions remain.

*Has the President, as one WH official told reporters, 'lost his mind'?

*Should he be removed from office by the 25th Amendment?

*Should he be arrested for inciting a riot?

*Who were those thugs and goons who took over the capitol and how will they be made to pay for their insurrection?

*What would the police had done if people of color took over the capitol?

And more than that.

I've never lived through such a day and hope I never do again.

Republicans, withdraw your objections to the Electoral College and let us move on.

And deal with your leader.

Vice-President Pence, defying the President's plea to do something unconstitutional, and bravely calling out the rioters for what they did, has gained some respect from me.

May this day live in infamy for decades to come.

(all opinions here are mine and mine alone)

 

 

my last sermon at the Middlesex Cluster (delievered in zoom church)

 

THE LAST DANCE/DEEP IN THE OLD MAN’S PUZZLE

 

 

          In one of Robertson Davies’ novels, someone asks an aging priest how, professing to be a holy man, he could devour a whole chicken and a bottle of wine at dinner. The priest answers:

          “I am quite a wise old bird, but I am no desert hermit who can only prophesy when his guts are knotted in hunger. I am deep in the Old Man’s Puzzle, trying to link the wisdom of the body with the wisdom of the spirit until the two are one.

 

          In my time in your midst, I have feasted on Joy and Sorrow, on the Wondrous and the Mundane, trying always to link the wisdom of the body to the wisdom of the Spirit…Deep in the Old Man’s Puzzle….

                                      ****

 

          A few years ago, for our anniversary I gave Bern a drawing by an artist named Heather Handler. It has a weird looking tree on it and these words:

                   “Sit with me on hilltops, under trees and beneath the skies.

                   Then speak softly and tell me the story, once again,

                   About why we met, and how someday we’ll fly….”

          That sentiment was about our relationship—Bern’s and mine—and it also speaks to me and you and our shared ministry and our relationship in these three churches.

 

          Today—this day—is our ‘last dance’. Friday, a week from now, we will part. I will go my way and you will go your way. And both ways are full of hope and joy and not a little anxiety and unknown wonders. Both ways lead to this: they lead us deeper into the Old Man’s Puzzle and they lead us to flying….

 

          There is no doubt in my mind that “why we met” was because of the will and the heart of God. But when I came here, I could not have ever imagined staying so long. And now that I am leaving, I cannot imagine leaving so soon.

          Yet I know this—we, you and I, will soon learn how to fly.

 

          Today we sit on the hilltop, beneath the sky and speak softly.

          And then we part, you and I. The last dance always ends. And the future lies ahead, beckoning, inviting, always to be created….

 

          I cannot thank you enough. I cannot thank you completely. There are not enough words—though I am a man of many words—to give that thanks in a way that matters.

          Instead, I will bless you.

          And these are my words of blessing: VOCATUS ATQUE NON VOCATUS, DEUS ADERIT….That means this: “Bidden or unbidden, God is present….”

 

          Whether we call upon God or not—God is always there…profoundly there…totally there…here…and now….

 

          I leave you, as I found you, with God in your midst and deep in the Old Man’s Puzzle.

          You have let me be a part of that for these years. God was here when I arrived and God guided us—you and me—on our journey together…and God waits, ready and glorious, to lead you on as I leave and to lead me on as you stay here.

          And there is this: God will teach us how to fly….And puzzle us more and more.

 

          I love you. I adore you. I will miss you more than you imagine…more than you CAN imagine. And I bless you and thank you.

          Keep trying, in every way possible, to link the wisdom of the body—WHAT YOU DO—to the wisdom of the Spirit—WHO YOU ARE.

And start trying out your wings…

I don't have words to say what I feel

The lame-duck president's hour long call to Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Laffensburger, is beyond my words to comment on.

I've listened to the whole thing and to imagine a sitting President (though for only 16 days now) try to compliment and threaten another Republican into violating both federal and state election laws, is beyond my ken.

Do I think the Biden Justice Department should prosecute him when he's out of office?

Of course I do.

I don't know that they will, but I pray they will.

But after over 4 years of listening to this man, I didn't think he could do anything to surprise me.

And he did.

In spades.

Lord help us these next 16 days.

(all opinions here are mine and mine alone)

 

  

Another thing I found

Cleaning out my office has turned up a lot of gems.

One was an article from the Waterbury Republic about how I was going to be roasted after 20 years of being Rector of St. John's.

The headline was The Earthy Way to Heaven, which I enjoyed greatly.

I'd love to print the whole thing, but I won't.

Just a quote from J. A. who was a member of the Vestry.

He said:"Jim is a leftover from the 60's. If he was further left, he'd be coming out the right side. He's a hippie. He's a left-over hippie." Anthony thought for a moment. "He cleans up nicely though."

There's a long quote from me at the end. I stand by it today.

"I struggle with the idea of a clairvoyant Jesus who knows it all. I like the idea of a Jesus who's making it up as he goes along. The God I know and who knows me really doesn't think I have to have a paint-by-numbers kind of faith. The Church so often gets in the way of God. My purpose in life is not to let St. John's get in the way of God. If people want a little piece of God, who am I to say 'no'. It's my job to say, 'Here's God!'"

I stand by that today.

(All opinions here are mine and mine alone)

 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdTebleamxYfCasoyjiXB9Y40J4IesPwU  link to my youtube blog

 

  

An old picture

 While cleaning out my office I came across an old picture at, what Bern thinks, was a New Year's Eve party at the Gary Country Club.

There are 10 people--young people--sitting around a table. Five men and five women.

Three of the five men are now dead.

L. committed suicide in his late 20's.

K. died of a heart attack over a decade ago.

J. died of aids before he was 30.

The only 2 men who still live are Bern's cousin, A., and me.

I don't know about the women, but I'm rather sure they're all alive.

But a pretty somber picture.

Three of my friends no longer with us.

And I am a survivor.

Deeply, profoundly sad.

I don't make new year's resolutions

First of all, I never keep them.

Second of all, when I don't, I feel bad.

I don't need to make resolutions that will make me feel bad.

So, let me make some I will certainly keep:

*I resolve never to drink yak milk

*I resolve never to vote for a Republican

*I resolve never to visit Poland

*I resolve never to take heroine

*I resolve to eat meat and fish and fowl

*I resolve to drink white wine

Those I can keep.

(all comments here are mine and mine alone)

 

 

Being pro-choice

I am pro-choice.

I don't think the government should decide what women do with their bodies.

It's that simple.

I also regret abortion.

I simply do.

But I will not put my regret on women who make their choice.

I also object to capital punishment.

I don't think the government should decide who dies.

Some would say those two opinions are contradictory.

But to me, they aren't.

I don't want the government to decide who lives or dies.

It's that simple.

(all opinions here are mine and mine alone)