Wordle

I just discovered Wordle through the Boar's Head Tavern. It creates word clouds from text you provide. For instance, this is the result of putting in Matthew 25.

Enjoy!

CAThedra

It is traditional for a bishop to have a cathedra, or chair/throne, in which to sit when s/he exercises episcopal ministry. I don't really have one, but I am happy to announce that the bishop's cat now has a CAThedra. I helped a friend move in with his significant other today, and they were giving away some items, and talked me into taking a trunk. Charles has decided to make it his throne:

2 steps forward/1 back

I did great yesterday, but it was like two steps forward and one step back because I overdid it. I wasn't aware of that however, until the evening and throughout the night. My physical therapist said I need to remove one
activity for the next time.

So now after PT and a couple of errands, I'm resting. Didn't Jesus say something about that? Oh yeah...he's the source of rest.

Picture from flickr.

I've turned the corner and...

experienced a turning point recuperating from my knee replacement surgery. I have significantly less pain, am walking with one crutch (practicing with a cane), and am now cleared to drive--doing so for the first time today (on a road at least). Last week I experimented in the parking lot under the watchful eye of my physical therapist. Tomorrow I begin outpatient physical therapy.

When in pain, it is difficult to focus on anything but the pain. And we sometimes feel alone despite friends. Sunday's gospel was a pointed reminder that whether or not we're aware of it, God is with us, taking care of us, and we need not fear. By his grace our eyes are opened to his presence--sometimes in the most unexpected places. Thanks be to God.

Friday Cat Blogging

Today, I thought I would post pictures of the cats as they frequently appear. Here is Charles, on his hind legs guiding my fingers holding a cat treat to his mouth with his front paws:

I hope his end is not destruction, and I don't think his glory is his shame, but another part of Philippians 3:19 certainly applies to Charles!

Allie loves to sit on the chairs in the chapel:
In the morning, I sometimes have to have my breviary in one hand, and my other petting her!

Breaking the Rules

I am among those who too easily judge others, especially if they break the rules. Matthew 12:1-14 is a classic passage pitting humans against God, rules and laws against mercy and needs. Jesus responds to the Pharisees' protest of the disciples plucking grains to eat on the sabbath by countering with examples of David eating the bread of Presence and the temple priests guiltlessly breaking the sabbath.

"...something greater than the temple is here." God was among them in Christ and they didn't recognize him. He who is "Lord of the sabbath" was greater than the sabbath, greater than the temple, greater than the rules of men.

Verse 7, lying right in the middle of the passage, holds the key to that which should motivate our relationships, that which motivated Christ--mercy! This is further illustrated by Jesus healing on the sabbath.

He just never learned did he? He kept obeying his heavenly father despite the religious hierarchy's opposition. Just look at what this brought him--God's pleasure, but via the way of the cross-- just as it does for us. No cross, no crown. Are we willing to take the risk, to break the rules, to please our Lord?


Photo from flickr.

Friday the 13th Cat Blogging

Chris Tessone posted a picture of Mahler blocking access to the Anglican Breviary. Allie, in contrast, reads a section from it and then meditates on it:


Charles saw me taking a picture of Allie and was jealous, so I took a picture of him as well:

Friday Five: Beach Trip

Those RevGals are such party animals.

So in honor of summer, please share your own beachy memories, plans, and dreams with a "Beach Trip" Friday Five.





1. Ocean rocks, lake limps? Vice versa? Or "it's all beautiful in its own way"? I enjoy being out in nature of all kinds, but prefer lakes to ocean. And even better, prefer a swimming pool.

2. Year round beach living: Heaven...or the Other Place? I'm not a real beach fan, but as long as there is shade, maybe it should be considered purgatory.

3. Any beach plans for this summer? None that I'm aware of. There is plenty of recuperation and packing for the move to Gettysburg with little, if any, vacation time.

4. Best beach memory ever? Our granddaughter's first steps into the Atlantic when she was an infant. She cried, but it was their first trip to see us in R. I., so it was special.

5. Fantasy beach trip? Hawaii sounds good.

Bonus: Share a piece of music/poetry/film/book that expresses something about what the beach means to you. This is a picture of sunrise on the Galilee in Israel. In the 80s we spent numerous vacations there while living in Bethlehem, which is still near and dear to our hearts. Secondly, Jesus spent lots of time on the beach with his buddies.


Picture from flickr.

Perfect Storm

Last night Ray and I watched The Perfect Storm, a movie depicting a true story of a fishing crew's battle against the forces of nature. Their ship was minuscule compared to the huge waves that washed over it and eventually destroyed it. Contrasted with their struggle was that of a crew that called out, "Mayday" and were rescued.

A while back as I read this passage its significance struck me. Jesus is portrayed as this amazing man who rescues his friends who struggle with their faith or lack thereof. They issued their own "mayday" to the Lord and he responded. Today this hits even closer to home as I struggle with storms of sleeplessness, pain, and emotions.

"Lord, my boat is so small and your sea is so big." It sometimes seems like life's circumstances are whipping us around uncontrollably. We are not exempt from life's challenges just because we are people of faith, but God is with us in the small boats of our lives, in the midst of the storms.

He is the one I want to/need to trust and follow. Just as the winds and seas on the Galilee obeyed him then, the winds and seas of our lives are his as well. Giving up fear and worry, control is the issue. Will I trust in this "kind of man?" By the grace of the one who is able to do "immeasurably more" than we could ever imagine I can. What challenges do you face that you find hard to release to God's care?


Picture from flickr.

Friday Cat Blogging a couple of days late

First, a friend who was moving ended up leaving most of his books with me. One of the books is "The Life and Times of St. Francis", and both Charles and Allie seem to know that St. Francis is the patron saint of animals, because each of them at different times today took a nap lying on top of it.

Second, the dish that Charles has his head in contained catnip. Allie was actually roughly where he was (there was another dish on the floor with Charles' catnip), but Charles chased her away to take her catnip. I can only assume that the wild party held by the potsmokers across the hall influenced him to behave this way. I'm glad to see that Allie did come back to sleep on the arm of the couch.

RevGals Fri. 5

Weekly, RevGalBlogPals has a meme for us. This is the first I've actually participated in and is very apt for this time in my life. Let me know your responses to the following. Mine are.

1. How important is the "big picture" to you, do you need a glimpse of the possibilities or are you a details person? Primarily a big picture person who doesn't worry about the details, sometimes even though I should.

2. If the big picture is important to you how do you hold onto it in the nitty gritty details of life? Lots of prayer and communication with friends who help me keep on track, particularly if I am comparing myself with others too much and second guessing myself.

3. Name a book, poem, psalm, piece of music that transports to to another dimension ( one....what am I thinking....) "I am a Servant."

4.Thinking of physical views, is there somewhere that inspires you, somewhere that you breathe more easily? When I'm sitting, reclining on the swing on our deck. I can hear the birds singing and hear what God is saying through creation and his word.

5. A picture opportunity... post one if you can ( or a link to one!) See above picture.

Let us know in comments if you play. And for even more visits to your blog, post a direct link in your comment using the following formulation:
<a href="the url of your blog post goes here">what you want the link to say goes here</a>
For a complete how-to, click here.

Food for thought

Michael Kruse has an interesting post on religious affiliation. How much like the culture should we be? Take a peek and tell me what you think.

Photo from flickr.
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Pain doing its work

I came home a week ago Sat. from rehab after knee replacement. It hasn't been easy--physical therapy exercises, pain, little sleep, pain, reading, pain, praying, pain...you get the idea. What sleep I have been getting has been interrupted with pain.

Henri Nouwen in The Inner Voice of Love, wrote:

There is a deep hole in your being, like an abyss. You will never succeed in filling that hole, because your needs are inexhaustible. You have to work around it so that gradually the abyss closes...

There are two extremes to avoid: being completely absorbed in your pain and being distracted by so many things that you stay far away from the wound you want to heal.1.

Pain can be all consuming, whereas it is God that should be all consuming.

Yet again, I am confronted with that which I am unable to do in my own strength, reminded of who I need to look to. Our faith walk is not always easy, but in the tough times we learn upon whom we can and must lean. That's the lesson for me, what about you?

Photo from Flickr.
1. Henrie J. M. Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love (New York: Doubleday, 1996), 3.