The Garden Of Love

"Pity" - William Blake, ca.1795

The Garden Of Love

I went to the Garden of Love,
And saw what I never had seen;
A Chapel was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.

And the gates of this Chapel were shut,
And 'Thou shalt not' writ over the door;
So I turned to the Garden of Love
That so many sweet flowers bore.

And I saw it was filled with graves,
And tombstones where flowers should be;
And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars my joys and desires.

William Blake - Songs of Experience


Both Fr Scott and MadPriest posted on preparing to preside at funerals. Funerals can't be the easy part of clergy ministry. I think that, too often, we don't properly appreciate the work of our clergy, those in parish work, those in the trenches with their people.

As I was feeling a little somber, William Blake came to mind. He was somewhat of a mad mystic, misunderstood and mostly unappreciated in his time. Perhaps that's why I'm quite fond of his poems and art.

Image from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

UPDATE: Father David Heron had seven funerals last week and word of two more to come today. Lord, have mercy. Lord, give Father David strength.

Can The Country Take This Kind Of Satire?

Probably not. But I'm going to link anyway to the latest Obama scandal at The Onion. I was going to copy the picture, but I thought that would be TOO MUCH.

Note to the uninitiated: The Onion is a satirical online magazine.

Rick In The Saddle At Saddleback

As I've said before, I hate that the candidates think that they must do appearances at forums like the one arranged by Rick Warren of "Purpose Driven" this-that-and-the-other-thing book fame and pastor of the mega-, mega-, mega-church called Saddleback. Moral character, principles, good judgment, and a modicum of intelligence are important for a candidate, but I dislike intensely the focus on religious faith. That should not be part of the equation. Why didn't the candidates follow Nancy Reagan's advice and "just say no"? Because they couldn't; that's why. In today's climate, it's not possible for a politician to say "no" to that sort of event here in the US.

Let me say up front that I did not watch the show. I meant to, but I forgot. That's probably for the best. Rmj at Adventus has an excellent post about the forum, ($500 to $2000 a ticket) or whatever it was, at Rick Warren's church. I dismissed any thought of writing about this event after reading his post. It's not short, (Rmj's posts hardly ever are) and he puts you to work with links and all, so be prepared, but you won't be sorry if you take the trouble. I started off laughing at the ridiculousness of the entire event and at some of the quotes from the forum. Then, I ended up wanting to cry. What in the hell kind of craziness are we engaged in this political season?

Brueggemann? Oh, Yeah!

Folks, I am not a morning person. It's not getting out of bed that's difficult, although that is becoming harder, but it's getting presentable enough to meet the public in the great world outside my house. Grandpère is accustomed to my scary morning appearance, but others are not.

Our adult Sunday school class begins at 9:15, that's AM. It was tough, but I arrived this morning at the parish hall with a few minutes to spare. I had to go, because my rector arranged to introduce us to a series of lectures by Walter Brueggemann, Professor Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary. He said that the parish congregation consists of conservatives and liberals and those in between, with most of the congregation in the middle. He was offering this series to represent the more liberal side. (My rector may not know it, but I'm closer to a radical than a liberal.)

In recent classes, we've had the more conservative view presented to us, the Alpha series from Trinity Church Brompton, in London, and N. T. Wright's Simply Christian. I did not like the Alpha series. The DVDs were shown during Lent, and I stayed with the course as a Lenten discipline and just to be able to speak with some authority about them, in the event the subject came up.

The N. T. Wright series was fine, but the motivation to rush to get to the parish hall at 9:15 AM petered out, and I did not complete the entire course. I don't agree with Bishop Wright's views on a number of issues, but I had no objection to what I saw of the teachings in the series.

The offer of Brueggemann for Sunday school was, at least in part, for me, so I felt I had to make the effort. Others had recommended his books to me, including my blog friend, Doorman-Priest, but I never got around to buying one. I was actually looking forward to the class.

Well, am I glad I went! For me, Brueggemann's lecture was like a glass of cool water, after I'd been wandering in the desert. He was terrific - definitely my cup of tea, right down my alley, every possible positive platitude that you can imagine. Plus, we had a lively and interesting discussion along with the lecture. Brueggemann is subversive, and I love him. And what a learned scholar! What brilliant insights! I remember one statement he made, right at the beginning, and I hope I'm getting this close to right, "The Old Testament is a work of imagination and memory." He went on to compare the Israelites' period of slavery in Egypt to our present day society, reminding us that in both situations, productivity was primary, but that those who produced did not profit from their production. Goals were set for the producers, and their only reward was to have the bar raised for them to produce even more, from which they would never profit.

I do not know even the name of the lecture series, or any details to give you. I searched online and did not find the series of lectures that we watched, partly because I did not know what I was looking for. I will get that information later and pass it on.

Brueggemann's denomination is the United Church of Christ. If I were not a member of the Episcopal Church, and if I did not desire with all my heart a church with frequent Eucharists, and if I did not love the liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer, I could be attracted to the UCC. Yes, that a lot of "ifs". Then, too, it's a congregational church, and, as much grief as bishops can sometimes give us, I prefer a church with a line of authority to having the congregation itself being the final authority.

All in all, a lovely day. Thanks be to God.

Good News About William

My daughter reports that William is much better. The swelling has gone down, he's itching much less, and he slept like a rock. Thanks be to God, and thanks to all you beautiful people who sent prayers and good wishes his way and my way. We are most grateful. I am greatly relieved and breathing easier today.

Seattle Sells Toilets - Finally

From USA Today:

City officials have finally gotten rid of five high-tech self-cleaning toilets that cost Seattle $5 million — but sold online for just $12,549.

The city installed the modernistic stand-alone toilets four years ago, hoping they would provide tourists and the homeless a place to do their business while downtown. But the automated loos became better known for drug use and prostitution than for relief.

The reality is that the city of Seattle spent $5 million (minus $12,549) to set up cubicles for the use of prostitutes and their patrons and drug buyers and sellers.

Public toilets work in other cities. I wonder why not in Seattle. They seem nice enough, as public toilets go.

What Did NOLA Do To Deserve This?

From the Times-Picayune:

WASHINGTON -- President Bush is scheduled Wednesday to make his 13th, and probably final, visit as chief executive to the New Orleans area since Hurricanes Katrina slammed into the state almost three years ago.

Gordon Johndroe, a Bush spokesman, said Friday that Bush plans to travel from his Crawford, Texas, ranch to Orlando, Fla., for a convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and then travel to New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast to mark the third anniversary of Katrina, which came ashore Aug. 29, 2005.

Johndroe didn't offer any specifics, but said the president will give a speech in New Orleans talking "about his commitment to rebuilding the Gulf Coast."

The only good news here is that it's "probably final", but let's not get carried away. He still has 156 days, 10 hours, and 21 minutes left in office. Our hopes could be dashed.

Bush has admitted that the initial response to Hurricane Katrina was insufficient, and gave a speech a little more than two weeks after the hurricane in Jackson Square promising that the nation "will do what it takes, we will stay as long as it takes, to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives."

Oh well, then, forgive me, President Bush. That makes it all OK.

Hot Or Wot?

My personal book of saints does not include presidential candidates. Really. Do you vote for a guy because he looks so damned good? Definitely not! I would never do that. Here is our candidate with his lovely daughter on a foreign beach in Hawaii, when he should have vacationed in Florida like a normal American. Ah well. No one's perfect.

Picture via Athenae at First Draft.

My Guest Post At The World Of Doorman-Priest

Doorman-Priest, who blogs at The World of Doorman-Priest is in Tallin, Estonia, for five weeks as part of his seminary program. He is studying to become a Lutheran priest in Leeds in the UK. During his time in Estonia, several of his blog friends are filling in for him while he is away. I am honored that he trusted me to post at his excellent blog.

For weeks, I've been anxious about posting there, because DP writes well. That my fellow guest writers who preceded me have written fine posts, only made me more anxious. The result is here.

Please Pray For Tim And Fran

Fran O'Gorman's husband, Tim, is ill. His diagnosis is not yet certain. Here's the latest word from Fran:

I guess I should update you on him.. now they're thinking myelofibrosis because when they tried to do the bone marrow biopsy they couldn't because of scarring of the marrow which I guess occurs in this disease. They had to take a sample of bone tissue instead. We're supposed to get results Monday or Tuesday.

For wisdom and guidance for the doctors, for healing for Tim, for peace and comfort for all, Tim, Fran, and their family and friends, as they await the diagnosis,

Lord, hear our prayer.