Today is the feast day of Saint Gregory (540–604) on the Episcopal liturgical calendar. Even though John Calvin was an “admirer” of Gregory and states in his Institutes that he was the last good pope (Book IV, chapter 7:4) and he is the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers, he doesn’t do much for me.
I had planned to blog about him, but instead I give you these words from Rob Bell, who is a contemporary American author and minister.
Being a Christian is not cutting yourself off from real life; it is entering into it more fully.
It is not failing to go deeper; it is going deeper than ever.
It is a journey into the heart of how things really are.
What is it that makes you feel alive? What is it that makes your soul soar?
“All the absurd little meetings, decisions, inner skirmishes that go to make up our days. It all adds up to very little, and yet it all adds up to very much. Our days are full of nonsense, and yet not, because it is precisely into the nonsense of our days that God speaks to us words of great significance – not words that are written in the stars but words that are written into the raw stuff and nonsense of our days, which are not nonsense just because God speaks into the midst of them. And the words that he says, to each of us differently, are “Be brave…be merciful…feed my lambs…press on toward the goal.”
-Frederick Buechner, Secrets in the Dark
Lent begins today on Ash Wednesday. There is a traditional Ash Wednesday service going on somewhere near you. At our church, we have two services today, but neither time works for me. So I think I’ll go to a Noon service near work. If I do, then I will wipe my forehead off. If there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s pretentious Ash Wednesday worshippers.
No brownie points for the Veep.
When my children were younger and lived at home, I tried to make them aware of Lent. We watched our Lenten movies and discussed them. These efforts were a hit.
Once I put a lot of bible verses in a bowl on the dining room table. Each night one of the kids would pick one and read it. We would attempt to discuss it during dinner. My family was less comfortable with these efforts on my part. They seemed hokey I guess. I’m glad I tried. Perhaps something sunk in.
Once again I will endeavor to keep a “holy Lent”–not by denying myself things like chocolate or wine but by being more intentional about keeping the Great Commandment. You know, the one about loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself.
“Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.”
― Andrew Murray
(1828 – 1917) Murray was a South African writer, teacher, and Dutch Reformed minister.
Are you thinking about giving up something for Lent? Or taking something on? Are you eating pancakes tonight?
A new month has commenced! March, the weather forecasters predicted, would come in like a lion.
From “Katy and the Big Snow” by Virginia Lee Burton
They sure had everyone in a tizzy of expectation. Church was even called off yesterday! (The rector is in the holy land–is this what happens when the cat’s away?) In fact, most churches in the area canceled all services because of the expected 10″ of snow/sleet. Unheard of in the “olden” days! Can’t say that I wasn’t pleased to be able to stay in bed and read Olivier and Parrot by Peter Carey.
I also finished The Sweet-Shop Owner by Graham Swift, which was well-written and held my interest, but I can’t say I recommend it unless you are in the mood for a depressing story about post-WWII England.
But back to the weather and our snow-pocalypse that didn’t happen.
In fact, not much happened.
But Spring will be here before we know it! You know this is true.
Here’s evidence:
P.S. I did not watch the Oscars. I watched Serenity (2005) which was nominated for no Academy Awards (although 8 years later Chiwetel Ejiofor was nominated for Best Actor in 12 Years a Slave). However, it is a favorite of mine. I am a leaf on the wind…
During Epiphany at my church we are using Eucharistic Prayer C, which is the one that includes all that jazz about “from the primal elements you brought forth the human race”, not to mention this fragile earth, “our island home.” One wonders if most of our clergy even believe this anymore. Well, I do and so I don’t really mind all this post-modern verbage, although it sounds like something Dr. McCoy would say and not Dr. Cranmer. C’est la vie.
It is appropriate to pray thusly, moreover, having just viewed Gravity, a movie with absolutely no spiritual dimension to it. It is all about science and apparently was not written by Episcopalians**.
I like Sandra Bullock, but she is not believable as a medical doctor on a space station. What is a medical doctor doing walking in space and making technical changes to a space station anyway? It is difficult to imagine Sandra passing her basic training. Of course, none of the men hyperventilate when things go wrong. But when things go badly, she does not know what to do. Being a modern woman, she never even prays. She explains at one point that no one ever “taught her.” Oh please. You know what they say about no atheists in foxholes. There is no one to help her, but luckily an imaginary man comes to her aid and tells her what to do. Thank goodness.
There is a bit of backstory explaining that she is sad because her young daughter has died back on earth and we suppose this is why she is on a space station in the first place. She has no one on earth to keep her there. Why then she tries so hard to get back, I don’t know. Once I had managed to get back to the space station after the initial separation, I would, I think, be happy to make it my comfortable coffin and go to sleep. Especially if I had no one back on earth.
This movie made no sense to me. It was crazily implausible. Please. Why did I watch it?
Meanwhile back at church, I am still getting used to my new pew. The handicapped-accessible space which has displaced several of us caused my friend Mike and me once again to chuckle good-heartedly at our surroundings. Another man suggested Mike try the “other side” and he replied fervently, “Oh, good God, no!” He went on to say that this was the “Republican side” anyway, which really made me chuckle. As if there are enough Republicans in my church to make a “side”! I had never heard that one. He said that was what his father-in-law had always said.
The Olympics are over and I can’t say I care. Too many professionals and not enough American team spirit. I like the American ice dancing pair, the ones that looked like Owen Wilson and a Disney princess. They were exceptional. I enjoyed seeing Bode Miller ski again and win a bronze. I loved watching the Norwegian biathletes masochistically ski for miles at top speed and stop and shoot.
What a great sport!
In other news, I worked in the yard on Saturday as the temperatures soared into the sixties. It was positively warm. I filled up three bags of leaves. (An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.)
And the Christmas Amaryllis from my brother’s family continues to put on quite a show.
It is getting cold again, but as we head into March, these over-the-top flowers seem to herald the coming of spring, don’t you think? Have a great week!
The liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) remembers Eric Liddell with a feast day on February 22. Isn’t that nice?
You remember Eric Liddell. He was the Scottish athlete and devout Christian, who refused to run in a heat held on Sunday at the 1924 Olympics in Paris and was forced to withdraw from the 100-metres race, his best event. However, he won the 400 metres. They made a movie about him and Harold Abrahams called Chariots of Fire in 1981. Remarkably it won the Best Picture Oscar. (I blogged about it here.) It is one of my favorite movies.
Anyway, I was unaware that we Episcopalians recognize this worthy missionary on our calendar. I can’t say I approve of all the “saints” so celebrated, but I approve of him.
God whose strength bears us up as on mighty wings: We rejoice in remembering your athlete and missionary, Eric Liddell, to whom you gave courage and resolution in contest and in captivity; and we pray that we also may run with endurance the race set before us and persevere in patient witness, until we wear that crown of victory won for us by Jesus our Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
–Collect for the day
* Chariots of Fire (1981); screenplay by Colin Welland
You’ve probably heard that Shirley Temple died yesterday. Very sad. So it seems appropriate to include this picture of Shirley Temple sitting on Abraham Lincoln’s lap in The Littlest Rebel (1935) since it is the Great Man’s birthday today. Only Shirley could get away with such antics.
Shirley Temple Black, whom I have blogged about here and here and here, was quite a gal. She had a huge movie career–she was America’s top box-office draw from 1935 to 1938, a record no other child star has come near. She beat out such grown-up stars as Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Robert Taylor, Gary Cooper and Joan Crawford. After she retired at age 22, she had a great (second) marriage and family,
Shirley and her husband–hello, Charles
and, after a successful foray into television, an important second career in public service.
Ambassador Shirley in Prague 1989
Phew. She was a fine example to all women everywhere. And she was an Episcopalian to boot.
A statement released by her family said, “We salute her for a life of remarkable achievements as an actor, as a diplomat, and most importantly as our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and adored wife for fifty-five years of the late and much missed Charles Alden Black.”
Well, I don’t know about you, but I plan to overdose on some wholesome Shirley goodness over the next few days. She was one-of-a-kind.
TCM will celebrate Shirley Temple with eight back-to-back films on Sunday, March 9, starting at 4:30pm ET. Don’t miss HEIDI (’37), BRIGHT EYES (’34) & THE LITTLE PRINCESS (’39), among others. Mark your calendar!
*…and at thy coming may the martyrs receive thee, and bring thee into the holy city Jerusalem. (BCP, Burial of the Dead, Rite I)
Talk about dark and dreary–that was our weekend! But it was brightened a whole lot by my Saturday outing to historic Kimmswick for lunch with my good friends.
We dined at the celebrated “Blue Owl” restaurant. Our food was yummy and the company, as always, hilarious. Carla, our intrepid social planner, drove as usual. It is great to be like a child on these outings and just follow along. I mean that. With all my heart.
The boy came over and burned a CD for me. It is the soundtrack to the movie Inside Llewyn Davis.
Yes, that’s Justin Timberlake singing. It is a wonderful CD and I highly recommend it. (Also highly recommended by daughter #1) How can you miss with T. Bone Burnett producing? Well, you can’t.
I have also been listening to the new CD Old Yellow Moon with Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell.
I believe it just won a Grammy in the “Americana” field. What is this field, you ask? I had never heard of it, but it seems to be a category where old singers are put so they can still win Grammys. I am not trying to be harsh but, c’mon, this is a straight on Country album. I think Steve Martin and Edie Brickell were nominated in this field too. Anyway, it is a good album and I especially like their cover of the Kris Kristofferson song “Chase the Feeling” which includes the classic line: “You got loaded again, Ain’t you handsome when you’re high.”
Speaking of music, I heard that my friend Andrew Hunt will be opening for none other than (be still my heart) Dwight Yoakam
in Austin, TX soon. He will not be with his band Johnny Appleseed, but some other guys. Boy, wouldn’t it be great to see that concert? Okay, Dwight may not be the heart-throb he once was, but neither am I.
Saturday night I watched The Commancheros (1961) with John Wayne and Stuart Whitman.
Stuart Whitman (who replaced James Garner, Charlton Heston and several others) and the Duke in that iconic faded red shirt, leather vest and kerchief.
It is the last film directed by one of my favorites, Michael Curtiz (Casablanca and The Adventures of Robin Hood). He was very ill, dying as it turned out, during the filming of it and John Wayne stepped in and actually directed most of the movie. He took no credit for it, of course. Any film from this era of John Wayne westerns is always a winner in my book, especially when you have had it up to here (already) with X-Game sports at the Olympics.
At church on Sunday I was confronted with the fact that they have cut out a section of my pew (fifth row, epistle side) to accommodate oldsters with walkers. Carla had warned me about this, but still it was a bit jarring on Sunday morning. I had to find a new pew, and for oldsters like me, that is not easy! C’est la vie. I’ll live.
The boy and daughter #3 came over for dinner on Sunday night. I made Episcopal souffle, a nice salad and cut up a baguette for dinner. Perfect.
How was your weekend? Have a good week!
*…to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart”–BCP
It rained all day Saturday, so I stayed home and puttered around the house. I would probably not have ventured out at all, but the old man and I had tickets to attend the “Elegant Italian Dinner” at our church.
Every year the youth of the parish (and their parents) put on this dinner to raise money for their annual spring mission trip. Frighteningly, this was the nineteenth such dinner. All three of my children participated in this dinner and so did I–usually in the kitchen, serving up the plates and washing dishes.
So now it is nice to go and sit at a table with friends and be on the receiving end.
Everyone comes to this party and by Everyone I mean even the Old Man.
It is always the same menu: salad and lasagna and Italian bread with some fancy desserts thrown in. “Elegant” means they use real china and hang up some strings of twinkly white lights in Albright Hall. There are checkered tableclothes and candles in chianti bottles. You get the picture. The teenage waiters wear white shirts, black pants and bow ties. Oh my.
Everyone goes home at 9 o’clock. And, thank you, I would rather attend this function than any society ball or self-aggrandizing academic ceremony you can name.
On Sunday we watched the Super Bowl with some other like-minded, football-indifferent friends. I rooted for Peyton Manning and his Broncos, but was uninvested really in the outcome. (Ever since the Rams lost that heart-breaker in Super Bowl XXXVI and Kurt Warner moved to Phoenix, I haven’t cared much about football.) It was a major bummer, nevertheless, that Peyton’s team lost and lost Big Time, but oh well. It is just football. We enjoyed seeing our hometown Clydesdales in the latest AB commercial. However, my favorite (besides the Oikos Full House reunion) was the Go Daddy commercial with the running bodybuilders.
Now our local weather wizards are saying we’ll have more snow this week. But Candlemas was dark and dreary, so I hope that means that we will NOT have two winters. However, I see that Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter, much to the chagrin of everyone hoping for an early spring. Conflicting superstitions. C’est la vie.
I started mine off by going to a “Mass of Remembrance” (in other words, a Memorial Service) on Friday for the daughter of a friend of mine–a sad occasion, indeed.
However, I have to say that I, who am not easily shocked these days, was shocked to find out that this R.C. church uses white wine in the Eucharist service! (The explanation was that it is easier to clean and does not stain the linen.) Heavens to Betsy! What is the world coming to? I would sooner drink grape juice with the Baptists than white wine at communion. Gluten-free wafers and white wine. I will spare you more grumbling…but honestly what’s next?
I watched Hondo on Friday night and that cheered me up.
Then I had lunch with the boy on Saturday.
We went to Steak ‘N Shake which never lets you down.
Sunday was the pick day weather-wise with blue sky and temperatures in the fifties! I went to church but skipped our 155th Annual Meeting. I walked around my favorite antique mall and then took a long walk around our flyover town in the afternoon and then did some world-class puttering around our house. I caught up on my “desk work” as my Aunt Susanne used to call it.
All in all, not a bad weekend!
“Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life.”
dual personalities 