dual personalities

Category: Spirituality

April 19, 2018

Into the wild blue yonder

by chuckofish

Daughter #2 is flying home today on Southwest Airlines. Following the news that a passenger had been killed on a Southwest flight when an engine blew, I was heartened to read about the pilot who had saved the day and landed the plane.

Tammie Jo Shults, with her flyover name and bumped up pony-tail, is my kind of gal.

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She is a true pioneer in the aviation field–a woman who broke real barriers to pursue her goals and was among the first female fighter pilots for the U.S. Navy. She did not just talk the talk, as so many feminists do. She walked the walk. I mean, a fighter pilot! She flew F-18s!

The Wall Street Journal attributes her incredible calm in the face of this emergency to her military training and this is doubtless true. However, at the end of the article, she is quoted as saying to her former track coach, that sitting in the captain’s chair gives her “the opportunity to witness for Christ on almost every flight.”

This suggests another reason for her calm. Tammie Jo Shults trusts in the Lord. There is no calm like that of the true believer.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

I can say from experience that the more I have turned things over to God in my life and the more I trust in Him, the calmer I become and the more impervious to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

Well, Tammie Jo, we’ll toast you tonight. God really is your co-pilot! And as I said, you’re my kind of gal.

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April 16, 2018

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God”*

by chuckofish

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On Friday I forgot to wish daughter #2 a happy birthday–which was on Saturday. She is coming home on Thursday to celebrate both our birthdays next weekend, so I am focused on that, and so I forgot! Mea culpa. Love you a lot.

Screen Shot 2018-04-15 at 7.48.33 PM.pngMy weekend was a good one, full of good friends, good estate sales and good old movies, including the politically incorrect, but hilarious, Gunga Din (1939)–continuing my Cary Grant thread.

Screen Shot 2018-04-15 at 2.57.15 PM.pngI read the first lesson at church, a great section from Acts, ending with Peter’s exhortation to “Repent therefore, and turn to God“–I mean how many times a day do you get to say that? (Not nearly enough, although I frequently wish I could.)

On the other hand, the second reader got every other word wrong and stumbled through the entire thing. Carla and I promised to tell each other, when the time comes, that we need to stop reading. Sigh.

The OM and I dined at Steak ‘N Shake on Saturday and hosted the wee babes and their parents on Sunday night. The babes ate spaghetti and peanut butter and jelly and were happy campers.

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Oh, hi, Aunt Susie, Uncle Nate. How’s it going?

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I was sorry to hear about Barbara Bush, who is my mother’s age. I’m with Nikki Haley.

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A classy lady.

*I John 3:1

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April 6, 2018

Floating downstream

by chuckofish

Screen Shot 2018-04-05 at 10.32.34 AM.pngI am looking forward to a relatively quiet weekend with not much on the radar. I hope to catch up with some “desk work” and puttering, which I have been too busy to do lately. If it is cold and snowy, all the better.

I am going to continue to peruse my New Yorker magazines from 1947-48…

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…and I’m going to read/listen to some more sermons by the Rev. Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC.

“The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.”

He is really good. Listen to his sermons here.

The wee babes are coming over on Sunday for dinner, God willing and the creek don’t rise.

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In the meantime, here’s another 1947 vintage cartoon that made me smile.

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Have a great weekend!

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April 4, 2018

A day of remembrance

by chuckofish

Lord…
We thank you for your church, founded upon your Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray,
but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon you.
Help us to realize that humanity was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity.
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace.
Help us to walk together,
pray together,
sing together,
and live together
until that day when all God’s children
– Black, White, Red, Brown and Yellow –
will rejoice in one common band of humanity
in the reign of our Lord and of our God, we pray. Amen.
– The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today we remember the tragic event that happened 50 years ago, the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee. Bells will toll at places of worship, college campuses and institutions 39 times across the nation “to honor the number of years Dr. King dwelled on this earth and to pay homage to his legacy.” Oddly, I see no mention of this on our cathedral’s website–only a link to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

I do not have many memories of this event. I was in the sixth grade and not terribly clued in to current events. I remember that it was our father’s birthday and we were focused on that. He turned 46. A pall was thrown over the day, much as a pall was thrown over daughter #1’s birthday years later on September 11 in 2001. The world intrudes.

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My father had many shortcomings, but he was a gentleman of the old school. He treated everyone the same; he was kind and courteous, regardless of race, color or creed. I try to be like that as well. There is certainly not enough kindness or courtesy around these days.

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March 29, 2018

A science snippet and a reminder

by chuckofish

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The full Moon that shows up for a second time this month (March 31) is known as a “Blue Moon.” This full Blue Moon is also known as the “Paschal Blue Moon” and it has a special connection to Easter. The first Sunday after the Paschal Moon is usually designated as Easter Sunday, as will indeed be the case this year (April 1).

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The last time we had a Paschal Blue Moon was in 1999.  In that year, that second March full Moon fell on a Wednesday, so Easter Sunday fell on April 4. If you’re wondering when the last time Easter Sunday fell on April 1, that was in 1956!

Here’s another “Blue Moon” for you; watch the whole thing…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hkngjEgHgk

Suddenly I feel like having a

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How about you?

I will have to wait, however. I have a busy day at work and then I am reading at the Maundy Thursday service this evening,

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followed by my one hour waiting “in the garden” with our Lord. I won’t be home ’til late I’m afraid.

Tomorrow is Good Friday. Time to get our act together.

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

– Collect for Maundy Thursday, Book of Common Prayer

Blue Moon information from The Farmer’s Almanac 2018; Last Supper painting from the Ottheinrich Folio.

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March 26, 2018

“Let thy blood in mercy poured, let thy gracious body broken, be to me, O gracious Lord, of thy boundless love the token”*

by chuckofish

Our bride-to-be seemed pleased with her shower and I think everyone had fun. The champagne punch was a hit.

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It was a busy Saturday, but daughter #1 and I still managed to go out to breakfast and hit a couple of estate sales prior to the festivities.

We also watched two great movies over the weekend: The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming (1966)

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which is a really funny movie. The screenplay is hilarious; it was even nominated for an  Oscar. The movie was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Film Editing. If you have not seen it lately, treat yourself. Jonathan Winters repeatedly saying, “We have… GOT… to get organized!” is worth the price of admission alone. Also, I think I am becoming Muriel Everett.

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The other movie we watched was The Quiet Man (1952)–the classic John Ford/John Wayne fantasy about Ireland–also very enjoyable.

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As usual this poster shows a lot more cleavage/bosom than ever would have been appropriate in the actual film. Zut alors!

We went to the Palm Sunday service at Grace.

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All went well with the Passion story as read by the lay reader stars. I was the Narrator again, which I enjoyed. But, you know, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (I Cor. 1:31)

Afterwards we went over to see the wee babes at their house before daughter #1 had to hit the road and head home to Mid-MO. It is always a joy to see the wee babes in their natural habitat.

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And now it is back to the salt mine. Let’s try to keep our focus where it belongs during Holy Week!

*Episcopal hymnal

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March 23, 2018

“Sit down, you’re rocking the boat”*

by chuckofish

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Funny story: when I was returning from my trip east on Tuesday, my carryon bag was detained when it went through security at BWI. I had to wait while another TSA agent came over to check things out. He said, “It looks like you have a book in there.”

“Yes,” I said, thinking, is a book a problem?

He opened up my suitcase and rooted around until he found the 640-page Henry David Thoreau: A Life, which daughter #2 had given me in my welcome goodie bag of treats. He whiffled through the pages, but didn’t come up with anything, so he put it back inside and we closed up the bag.

Then he said, “Do you mind if I ask you what that book is about?”

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“It’s the new biography of Thoreau,” I said. “What do you think he’d make of all this?” I chuckled.

He chuckled too, but he had no idea what I was talking about.

“I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest.” (Civil Disobedience)

That’s what I thought.

Well, this weekend will be a busy one. Carla and I are hosting a bridal shower at my house for our friend Becky’s future daughter-in-law. Daughter #1 is coming into town to make the champagne punch!

Can’t wait to see the wee babes–it’s been two weeks!

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And can you believe it, Sunday is Palm Sunday! Time for the Passion story and the Grace Church showcase of lay reader stars. It is also time to catch up with some Lenten movie fare. Indeed, it may be time to dust off Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth (1977) and get down to business. Holy Week is upon us.

*Nicely-Nicely in Guys and Dolls

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March 14, 2018

“Let your light shine before others”*

by chuckofish

Hubert de Givenchy, the French couturier, died  last Saturday. He will always be associated with his muse Audrey Hepburn and for designing chic, but ladylike, fashions.

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Coincidentally, when daughter #1 was home for a night last week, we watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s (for the umpteenth time) and once again marveled at how great AH looks in this movie. That orange coat!

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They were a great team.

Funnily enough, the NYT obit actually mentioned that Hubert was “a devout Protestant,” who “regarded his talents as a gift from God.” In 2007 “he told Women’s Wear Daily: ‘Balenciaga was my religion. Since I’m a believer, for me, there’s Balenciaga, and the good Lord.’”

Indeed, there was more to Hubert de Givenchy, and Audrey Hepburn too, than fashion. And we should remember that.

Also this was interesting. It reminded me of going to the fabric department in several department stores to look at the pattern books with my mother. We would look at the patterns slowly page by page and finally choose one. Then we’d pick out the fabric and a zipper if the pattern called for one. She made a lot of clothes for me. She saved money by making my clothes, but it was also a creative outlet for a very creative woman without many outlets. I think she enjoyed making clothes for me. I enjoyed wearing them and was proud of them.  If there were girls at my school who made snide remarks regarding my “homemade” fashions, I thought at the time that they could go to hell, and I still do. They weren’t just judging me, after all, they were judging my mother.

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She always said that all the most expensive haute couture clothes were handmade. And she was right.

Into paradise may the angels lead thee. At your coming may the martyrs receive thee, and bring thee into the holy city Jerusalem. 

*Matthew 5: 16

4 Comments
March 13, 2018

It happens to the best of us

by chuckofish

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“We’ve really gone into grandma and grandpa mode…It’s very relaxed. We love being in Connecticut, with each other, having the family around all the time and enjoying this time of our life.”

–Patti Hansen, Keith Richards’ wife of 34 years, quoted in the WSJ.

This just struck me as hilarious. Patti, I totally relate.

O gracious and holy Father, give us wisdom to perceive thee, diligence to seek thee, patience to wait for thee, eyes to behold thee, a heart to meditate upon thee, and a life to proclaim thee; through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.

–St. Benedict

(Photo from the Daily Mirror)

3 Comments
March 12, 2018

Restore thou those who are penitent*

by chuckofish

It was a busy weekend filled with chores–going to Target and other shopping, doing laundry, cleaning up the kitchen, vacuuming–the usual weekend to do list. I don’t mind. I got some of my bunnies out since it is that time of year.

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And I did a little spring cleaning in the Florida room, but I may have jumped the gun on that.

I went to church on Sunday and I was the first lector. My passage was from Numbers, the classic scene where the Israelites are grumbling–“Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?”–and the Lord punishes them by sending poisonous snakes. They repent and He takes the snakes away. This leads nicely into the gospel lesson, “Jesus said, ‘Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted  up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world…”.

It was raining when I left the church and soon it was snowing, really coming down like soap flakes in a movie. It was pretty to watch.

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iPhone cameras can never capture snow falling! It was coming down in giant chunks!

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I also started to pack for my trip this coming Friday to visit sweet daughter #2 back east. We have a little road trip planned to Virginia where we will stop in for a few days to see my oldest/dearest friend who lives in Norfolk. Can’t wait to get out of Dodge!

Meanwhile the boy’s BFF (and the wee laddie’s godfather) was ordained to the diaconate at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC.

imagejpeg_0We are all very proud of him.

Ah, sunrise, sunset…swiftly flow the years!

Speaking  of which, the wee babes are now 15-months old! They came over for dinner on Sunday night. They had fun playing with vintage toys.

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After they went home I watched The Robe (1953)–the first of my Lenten movies!

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Were you…out there?

I enjoyed it immensely.

*BCP, General Confession, A Penitential Order, Rite I

5 Comments