another one down

There are only a scant few more classmates to be ordained priest. I went to the latest ordination yesterday. What a great time. (Does anyone know why CDR went with the Seabury vestments instead of his parish's? I never got to ask him.) Many of my classmates were able to attend. It was so good to see everyone again. We really are a top notch class. Best of all, we're all working, and doing the things we want to do. I know I'm using all of my degrees in my current position - that in itself is rare for any field! I'm so happy for us all, and SO PROUD of my colleagues. It is an honor and a blessing to have spent those important formative years with them. Congrats to CDR. I expect great things from you.















One of the ways I keep in touch with my friends is through the sermon buddies connection we established. Back in the day, a few of us would get together just before delivering our sermons in our homiletics class to practice what we came up with. It was always good. We gave each other great feedback, as well as new ideas. Though I miss our get-togethers (which inevitably involved a bottle of wine, some snackies, and hours of good company), e-mailing sermons is a workable second. It took me all week to get this last one together. One of my sermon buddies had hers done by Monday (!). Sheesh! Mine seemed to go well, in spite of the dreary, energy-zapping weather.

It's dark here on Sunday mornings lately! I enjoy rising before the sun, but this is getting ridiculous. The sun didn't come out until the afternoon. The 8:00-ers are a low-key group as is, but I've typically got energy a-go-go... but much less so lately when it's so overcast. I hope I'm not coming down with some kind of seasonal affective disorder. I've never been bothered by that before - and I've lived in some very dreary places in my time. My low-energy levels are high for average people, I realize, but still. I don't like it. It's sunny and pleasant outside now. I'm going for a walk.

Big quirky Rapids

I love this little town. When I went to look up dentists in the local phone book, I came across a listing for "Desire of Man's Red Fire," and a cross reference to a white pages listing. When I went there I found the next clue in a stream of Jungle Book references. I followed it back and forth between yellow and white pages all the way in a circle back to "Desire of Man's Red Fire." Somebody at the phone book company either has a lot of time on his hands, or has a fabulous sense of humor - or both. I love it! Every phone book should have a wild goose chase in it. I'm told that previous editions had other themes. I think they said it was Alice in Wonderland last time.

I've discovered another quirky thing about this place. I was looking for a gift for a friend being ordained on Saturday. On my last plane trip I found an ad in SkyMall for a swanky gift box of cigars. Quality cigars would be a perfect gift for my friend. I went to the web site and found it was a clearing house for tobacco retailers. One was right here in BR! Imagine that. When I went there I asked - thinking there was no way they would have it - if they carried any Cuban cigars. They did! I was assured they were pre-embargo. I don't know from cigars. It smells like old bowling shoes to me, so it must be good. I bought two.

This place is neither big, not does it have any rapids in it anymore. I can't find a decent stationer here, but I can get Cuban cigars.

Big Quirky Rapids would make a great TV show. It could be like Eureka meets Northern Exposure... and something else. That would be so cool.

near miss

First I thought Boston drivers were bad. Then I thought Chicago drivers were worse. Now I drive in the Motor State where cars are king (and driving skills are the joker). And I always thought truck drivers were good anywhere. I have a new perspective. From this perspective I can see the side of a semi cutting across three lanes of Grand Rapids highway, nearly taking out me and five other cars, and a motorcycle! I think you can imagine the stream of obscenities I came up with... or should I call it a grand rapids of obscenities.

There's a section of highway through GR that sharply S-curves. They made the dashed lines into single solid stripes between the lanes so that people wouldn't get the idea that it was ever anywhere safe to change lanes in this curve. Ah logic and safety... it's for the spineless I guess. I've come to believe that tailgating in the Midwest is not just for stadium parking lots. Wisconsin is the worst, but western Michigan is up there. There was some (beautiful beloved child of God) behind me for miles until we got to the S-curve. Then she illegally changed lanes to get in front of me. As it turns out, it's a good thing she did. After the (beautiful beloved child of God ) trucker missed the three - that's THREE - bright yellow signs indicating the upcoming left exit, I was able to stop before colliding with that driver. I don't know if she would have given herself enough stopping distance while tailgating me. I was able to hit my hazard flashers during the event, too. I always wondered if I'd have the presence of mind to do that. The motorcycle was behind me.

It's a shocking thing to suddenly see a semi truck perpendicular on a highway. I thought he jack-knifed at first. Then I realized he was just a (beautiful beloved child of God trying to do the best he can in this world) driver. He made it to his exit, thank goodness for him. Sadly the lettering on the door was too small to read, and I couldn't see the license plate with the cars in front of me. I don't care for that tingling adrenalin feeling in my hands after things like that.

Later, as I was beginning to calm down, and regain a civil tongue, this big (beautiful beloved child of God) guy in an enormous, road-hogging, gas-guzzling, pick-up truck, ran right up and tailgaited me while I passed someone at a safe speed. People don't realize how fast 70 mph (or more) is while they're driving in a nice car or truck that has little road noise. Try pulling into the breakdown lane and step out for a few minutes and feel the traffic zipping by you, and how big the cars and trucks really are at those speeds.

I'm so glad I can walk to work.

groundhog day?

What day is it? It's Monday, right? I must be in some kind of time loop. I distinctly remember worship yesterday - Sunday. We had only one service with the annual Welcome Back Potluck. This morning I went to get the paper and it was the weekend edition. It was a reasonable hour of the morning, not a pre-dawn newspaper run. In the local shop I stop into for coffee after getting the daily paper, the proprietor commented on how good the weekend weather will be. What th'? The weekend is still far off. My neighbor across the street has his trash and recyclables out. Our trash pick-up isn't until Friday.

Did I entirely miss the week? Is it still last week? What is going on here? This town is small, but it can't be so small that time does not effect it. No town is THAT small!

How odd.

"Sisters, sisters...

... there were never such devoted sisters."

My sister Trish has joined me here in BR for the week. What a gift! For me, I get to spend time with a family member. For her, she gets a retreat from her demanding work. This morning she got to meet some members of St. College Town. They've known about her visit for about 10 days and have been anticipating her arrival almost as much as I have. She was warmly greeted by the 10:15-ers in their typically wonderful way. They're such great people. She was so impressed by the Prayer Shawl Ministry, that she has decided to make one for the parish. They will be so pleased when I tell them. She picked a really pretty yarn too. Anyhoo, I'm resisting the urge to show her everything all at once in my fair town. No, BR is not that big - in spite of its name - but it's got some neat things to see and do here. For now my week is looking very flexible, so we should be able to spend some good quality time together.

We'll have dinner at the Blue Cow Cafe', take in the local farmers market, drive through Amish country, the river walk, the art gallery, and stop at a favourite coffee shop or two. Then, it's back to quality time with good books. Good thing I got the library finished! Here's a (not-so-great) picture of it. Look closely and you'll see an artistically placed Siamese Sasha modeling how comfortable the new chair is. Trish may only have this slightly blurry image to prove his existence - big scaredy cat that he is. He won't come out of his hiding place. Ah well.






















Trish and I met yesterday in Chicago, each of us taking out respective trains to Union Station. We'll train back to Chi-town late this week and spend the day there once again before our separate trains depart. But now is not the time to think about those things. It's time for a proper tea.

I'm so happy to be able to show off my new home - especially to Trish, who is such an important supporter of my ministry call. Thanks Trish!