"target acquired"

I was invited to attended a dinner last Saturday honouring Newland, our librarian of 43 years. He's retiring this year. It wasn't until I saw the cadre of invited guests that I realized that it was more than a dinner: it was an opportunity.

I hate to use the work "schmooze" because it seems so disengenuous; and I like to think I've elevated the act to something more artistic. To the untrained eye, however, schmoozing is probably what it looked like. The first guest I went to meet was the coordinator for the CoM. She was there with her husband. I walked over during the salad course to say hello. I wouldn't want her to forget who I am, would I? She didn't, and returned my greeting. We chatted. She introduced me to said husband. We talked about my plans for the next year. My plans made her very happy. We said we'd keep in touch. I went back to my table.

My table quickly became known as mission control. The person I sat next to happily tracked the other guests while I was occupied. Everytime I came back he'd point to some important person in the diocese and say "target acquired."

The second person I wanted to meet was the canon for deployment for the dicoese. He was chatting with his neighbor. I interrupted the canon's conversation to introduce myself. He stood up. We shook hands. He recognized me from the event we both attended a couple weekends ago. I mentioned our mutual interest in Kennon Callahan's work with church development. He invited me to make an appointment to chat about deployment. I went back to mission control.

My table seemed truly impressed at my ability to strike up a conversation so quickly with strangers. They wanted to know how I do it. It's easy. You simply walk up and say

my blue heaven

I'm taking a class this quarter called "Practicum in Liturgy." We fondly call it "Play Church." In this class we put together liturgies as presiders, and our classmates pick up the assisting roles to make a complete Sunday service - or funeral, or baptism, or wedding, you get the idea. Today, during the Eucharist there were giggles along the communion line. When the chalice got to me I discovered what was so amusing. Apparantly, the juice that was bought for this assignment looked purple in the container. When it was poured into the chalice it was bright, Hi-C blue! Someone thought it was Scope. Someone else thought it was bowl cleaner. Heh, heh. As it happened, the service assignment was a funeral for a 10 year old boy who died of cancer. Some of the assisting roles were mourning family members, complete with black veils and tissues. A blue-blooded Christ puts a whole new spin on theology. We kinda lost the serious mood we were going for. But hey, the additional good news is that the eschatological banquet includes...









Oh, yeah.

seabury air show

The weather seems to finally have made it to Spring here in beautiful Ev'tn. The tulips are coming up with a vengence, and the magnolia is sprinting past blossoms and going directly to green. Insects are out too. Roz and I sat under the tree in front of the library during our lunchtime walk to watch the dragonflies. I love dragonflies. There must have been 20 or so (quite hard to count - worse than goldfish). They were big, maybe 4 inches long. I saw two kinds: iridescent blue and yellow-green, with yellow heads. Roz and I sat still and they came close. I don't remember them last year. Wish I could have gotten a picture.

what a week

Jane and I met a few days ago to talk about leadership, and how it's important to stay on top of things and people. I've been working on something the CoM directed my attention to in February: not getting so involved in projects and end up doing all the work. This is a very fine line for me to walk.

Two events that I have been a part of in the last couple weeks had serious problems because of the conflict I feel trying to walk this line.

I won't get into the details, but suffice it to say: damned if you do, damned if you don't. I tried to hold back my take-charge impulse on one project and people didn't follow through. On the other project I tried to keep on top of things, and others involved in the project still didn't follow through.

*sigh* It's been a rough week. I need a hug.

VT

This morning K’s alarm clock was tuned to a radio station. One of the DJs was going on and on about how Virginia Tech did a bad job managing yesterday’s shootings. Her opinions were broad and barbed, and she hardly took a breath between comments. Kathryn shut the radio off before I could hear what station it was tuned to. What a terrible way to start my day. It really made me angry to hear this woman’s criticisms. There will be plenty of time to critique how the authorities handled the situation, but not now. Now is not the time to issue scathing commentary. That was really bad form.

I don’t quite know how I feel about what happened. I have such fond memories of my years there. To see people on TV running, screaming, gun shots, and SWAT teams is so surreal. Blacksburg was a very friendly place. I met a guy who tipped his cowboy hat to me, nodded, and greeted me with, “…ma’am.” Perhaps most important to me, was that it was while I was at Tech that I began to move forward in my faith, exploring my call. I was received in Christ Church Blacksburg; my first Episcopal church. There were places I could walk to on campus that were meditation places for me. The campus is huge, and I’m sure there were many such places for others. Mostly I spent time in the academic quad. I liked to sit on the monument at the end of the mall overlooking the Drill Field, or on the patio between the Student Union and the Library. Lately I’ve been applying to liturgy, what I learned about scenographic transformations.

The focus on students and alumni is a key feature of Virginia Tech. It seemed like there were always alumni on campus, and they were treated like VIPs. I’ve had strangers come up to give me a Hokie greeting when I wore my VT sweatshirt. There’s such a sense of connectedness in the wider VT community that I can’t help but believe that something good will come from this terrible shooting. Can’t imagine what or when though – but I hope.

[Later]

I just heard from my former master teacher. He and the entire Theatre Arts department are okay – shaken, but unharmed. Thank God. He said the shooting took place 50 feet from his window. That’s closer than I thought. Some names of victims are surfacing, and the six degrees of separation game is taking shape. It sucks.

What kind of hell was the shooter in that made him think mowing down 33 people, including himself, was a better option?

In memoriam

I'd prefer to see my alma mater on TV under other circumstances.

32 (so far) members of the Virginia Tech comunity have been confirmed dead, gunned down this morning in two separate shootings. The gunman was killed by police.









May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through God's mercy, rest in peace.

new pix

In spite of the dreary and disappointing weather we've been having lately, the sun did manage to come out.

ho ho ho, MERRY EASTER! ho ho ho

"... And what would you like Santa Bunny to bring you for Easter, little girl?"

How 'bout sunny, warm, mid 70s.







(http://www.weather.com/newscenter/stormwatch/?from=wxcenter_news)


Big fat fluffy snowflakes. Wet and heavy. Treacherous slush. Sad daffodils. Puzzled robins.

And it's on its way to New England tomorrow. Enjoy.

turn right next 2 exits

Please check out the newest exits off the Hwy. I think you'll find some interesting sightseeing. The Hwy is a long and winding journey, and it's nice to take a rest stop from time to time. Just watch out for the locals.

Happy Easter squared

Seabury requires me to be at all of the Holy Week services -- so does St. Matthew's. Ergo, I've spent the week seeing double. It's made for interesting comparison/contrast. The two congregations are very different. I learned a few new things from each place. I got to hear some fabulous music at St. M's, and learned a new thing to do when stripping the altar. Seabury's new fire to light the Paschal candle was the best ever, and the altar of repose was inspiring. The best thing is that I get to keep these cool new ideas to use later.

things on my mind

When I logged into Blogger, I half expected to be greeted with, "Oh... you still come around here?" in dull surprise. If you're reading this I could say the same to you. But enough about my posting tardiness. Got some things on my mind these days that, in my imagination at least, seem like interesting ways of spending my time.

1) Chaplain to the Ev'tn fire/rescue. Yes I have my criticisms about them, in particular their lusty use of the siren at 5:30 in the morning when nobody is on the road. I am in the unique position to be an effective chaplain to them, having done their job for three years.

2) Continue to add clergy to my personal consulting team. Part of what I'm doing to help ensure consistent effectiveness in my ordained career is to surround myself with really strong and effective clergypeople. Heavy on the women, but inclusive of the widest possible diversity. So far I've got two; probably keep it to five.

3) Try to score more free tix to baseball games this summer. Okay, I'm prepared to purchase them if I have to, but free is so much nicer. I've got three people who want to go with me, too. Live baseball is a passtime best shared.

4) Here's a new one I just pondered a little bit ago that has to do with evangelism. I'll take Roz with me to this coffee shop I've been frequenting to purchase whole bean coffee. Roz is an effective attention-getter. Build up a rapport with the regulars (and the decaffs -- I couldn't resist that one). Then show up later, with the seminarian collar, sans dog, and see if the relationship, not built on the objective of "rounding up the unchurched," is welcoming enough to make people think, "gee I wonder what her church is like?" Still working this one out.

5) Very soon I will be earning money working in the church. I think I should have a tax person/accountant who is familiar with Church Pension Fund and the details of clergy taxes. I'm already planning my financial future, and my retirement.

6) I'm taking this course we fondly call "Play Church," in which we get to preside over different pastoral offices and Eucharists. Later this quarter I'll be presiding over a Rite I Eucharist. Got to get over the giddies now. Practiced last night. Very giddy. Practice, practice.

7) Finally (as of right now), it's time to begin planning the second annual "Downeaster Lobster Fest." You may recall last year about this time I put together a downeaster of lobsters and steamers flown in from Maine, clam chowda, blueberry pie, local brew from Maine, and of course background music by Schooner Fare. It's time for another dinner.

8) Still working on my image. Blue jeans are comfy, but I can't go around in play clothes all the time. Fashion on a seminarian's budget is all about accessories & 'tude.