Not So Fast

Last week I went for a check-up to my regular optometrist and was told that I needed cataract surgery on my right eye. I knew that I had the beginnings of a cataract, but over the course of two years, it had grown to the point that I'm aware of glare more than I was previously, especially at night. I don't do highway driving at night anyway, but I do drive around town.

The optometrist said he could get me up to only 20/40 vision with glasses in the right eye, and he wanted me to schedule the surgery with the eye surgeon that he works with right then. I'm thinking, "Not so fast. 20/40 is not bad, if I see 20/20 in the left eye." My vision in the right eye still seems pretty good to me. I'm a little (not a lot) phobic about invasive medical interventions. I know what the surgery is like, because I watched on TV with a microscopic camera when my mother had the surgery. A tiny slit in the eye, the break-up of the lens by ultrasound, the pieces suctioned out, and then the placement of the new folded lens through the slit, and - voila! - it's done.

I want to check around to see if the optometrist's eye-surgeon associate has a good reputation around town. It seems to me that there's no rush, and I can take a little time to inquire about the surgeon and see if there is another surgeon in town who does the surgery who has an outstanding reputation. So that's what I shall do.

Grandpère Is Not Impressed

Several members of my family are seriously disturbed by the economic downturn, close to freaking out, I'd say. We watch our nest eggs shrink day by day. One or two family members are quite concerned that they will lose their jobs. I'm concerned, too, but there's not much I can do to turn the economy around. We're headed for difficult times, but I know that many will be, and indeed already are, much worse off than we are.

My thought, which I expressed to Grandpère, is that we have no choice but to go through the bad times. Our only choice is to decide how we will live through the economic woes. We can try to do it with a measure of grace and dignity and with care and concern for those who are worse off than we are, or we can bitch and moan and cry out, "Woe is me!" over and over. Go through the tough times we will anyway, so let's do it with a bit of class. GP is not impressed by my thought.

Blog Posts You Should Read

For a while now I've been reading Bishop Alan's Blog. He is the Area Bishop of Buckinghamshire in England. I especially liked his post titled Reading the Bible 101. According to Bishop Alan, those who interpret the Bible in a literalist manner are latecomers in the history of Christianity.

The idea that the “factual/ original” meaning of a text is its only real one dates back to Benjamin Jowett in 1859, the year the Origin of Soecies was published. People who lived before then were not fools. Wooden fundamentalism about the Bible was not the only option before Darwin.

Read the comments to the post, because the discussion there is enlightening, too, especially Bishop Alan's long reply to one of the comments.

For the two or three of you who visit here and do not read Of Course I Could Be Wrong, I urge you to read MadPriest's sermon for the 2nd Sunday of Lent. The Lenten theme at his parish church this year is "The Marginalized".

MadPriest speaks of his own madness in connection with Jesus' words from the Gospel in which he says:

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

Read the sermon. Read MadPriest's story. You won't be sorry. He says:

So, that is my burden. But I had other crosses to bare before it and it is almost certain I will have others in the future. And all of you will be carrying crosses, as well. Illness, abuse, sorrow, family duties, fear. The list seems endless. And I suppose we now have to ask the million dollar question. Does God impose these, sometimes unbearable, burdens upon us?

My answer to that question is a definite “no.” For God to do so he would have to contradict everything that Jesus told us about God and his relationship with us and his feelings, towards us. Our burdens are just part of life.

And last, but most certainly, not least, read Themethatisme's moving memories of the closing of the coal mines by Margaret Thatcher. This week is the 25th anniversary of those events. I remember the shock I felt over here, across the sea, when the announcement was made.

It may be just my perspective from the inside but when people asked me what is wrong with society today I am always tempted to talk about the strike. This was the first time on a national scale that the public saw a community destroyed. The uncertainty and lack of future that was intimated in such a destruction told forth that Mrs.Thatchers claim that there was no such thing as community, was a reality. Self-seeking individuality was the name of the game and anyone who acted collectively would be effectively frozen out or beaten into submission.

And isn't that the truth?

Go on now. Move along.

Who Amongst Us Is Without Sin?

In Chapter 10 of Mark's Gospel, Jesus speaks to the Pharisees and to his disciples about divorce, about allowing the children to come to him for blessings, and instructs those around him to come approach the Kingdom of God like a child.

Then came a man to Jesus asking the way to eternal life. Jesus lists the commandments. The man replies that he has kept the commandments from a young age. Then from the Gospel:

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money* to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Every time I read that passage, I stand convicted. There are those who say that Jesus didn't really mean those words, that he meant that we should not be greedy and have possessions in excess. Society couldn't function if everyone literally followed those directives.

Of course, Jesus' words are impractical. Pragmatism was not Jesus' strong suit. Who amongst us is innocent, except the destitute and those who have given up their possessions to live and work amongst the poor? I believe that Jesus meant the words. Do I follow them? No, I do not. I could not have cast the first stone at the woman caught in adultery. Trust me; I am going somewhere with this besides lay sermonizing.

Those former and present members of the Episcopal Church who long for and attempt to build a pure church try in vain, "since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;" (Rom. 3:23) To attempt to build a pure church consisting of humans who have sinned and fallen short is simply not possible. The church is the Body of Christ and is sanctified by Christ himself, not by the beliefs or mistaken beliefs, or good or sinful acts or omissions of the imperfect members of the Body. The church is not my church, or your church, or their church, but God's church. We, the members of the church, put our faith and trust in a loving and merciful God to take us where we should go, not in purity of doctrines or "thou shalt nots" declared by imperfect human beings.

The reason that I am against a Covenant for the Anglican Communion is because we have the Covenant of God with his people in the Hebrew Testament, and we have Jesus building on that Covenant with the New Covenant of "love God, love your neighbor". What is lacking in the New Covenant? Why would we expect imperfect humans to come up with a superior, or even an equal covenant? We have the Baptismal Covenant and the Prayer Book which bind us together as Anglicans. What further need for a Covenant?

The man in the Gospel story went away grieving because of his many possessions, but, just as Jesus loved him when he spoke the words to him, he loved the man still when he walked away. And he loves us, just as we are, sinners all. In that love of God, I put my faith and hope.

My two cents, inspired by this post by Rmj at Adventus. Any mistakes here are my own and not attributable to Rmj.

UPDATE: I was late to the Lectionary today, and I found the readings pertinant to the words that I posted:

AM Psalm 95 & 40, 54
PM Psalm 51
Deut. 10:12-22
Heb. 4:11-16
John 3:22-36

What's He Gonna Be?

An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. But like many young men, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem too concerned about it, either.

One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table four objects: a Bible, a silver dollar, a bottle of whiskey, and a Playboy magazine.

"I'll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself, "and when he comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see which object he picks up. If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher just like me and what a blessing that would be! If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a businessman, and that would be okay, too. But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunkard, and, Lord, what a shame that would be. And worst of all, if he picks up that magazine he's gonna be a skirt-chasin' bum."

The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his room.

The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he noticed the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them. Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. Furtively looking around, he picked up the silver dollar and dropped it into his pocket. Then he uncorked the bottle and took a big drink as he sat down on his bed and opened up the magazine to the centerfold.

"Lord have mercy," the old preacher disgustedly whispered to himself, "he's gonna run for Congress!"

Don't blame me, blame Doug.

Final, Final Word On ABS' Episcopal Church Listing

See Tobias Haller's post on the final resolution of the missing listings for the Episcopal Church on the American Bible Society's website.

Finally, We Meet!

Yesterday, a friend and I planned to have lunch together. We met at church some years ago, and we get along well, like the same books, and mean to get together more often than we do, but we manage only about one meeting a year, with the exception of our meetings at church.

We decided that we'd try the new Mexican restaurant, El Paso, rather than the old Mexican restaurant, La Casa. My friend and I are about the same age, and we're both somewhat "head-in-the clouds" types, not much given to nailing down the details. I had only a vague idea of where El Paso was, didn't know the name at the time to give to my friend, and when I tried to find it, I could not. I rode around in the vicinity for about 10 or 15 minutes with no success. I passed La Casa and thought about stopping there to see if my friend was there, but I decided against it and returned home.

Why didn't we exchange cell phone numbers? Why didn't I tell her to meet me at my house, which is near the restaurant? Grandpère shook his head, when I came back home. I called my friend's house, but, of course, no answer. GP told me again where El Paso was, and I took off and found it with a sign saying "El Paso coming soon!", but the building was still being renovated, and the restaurant was surely not open. I went back home and thought about what to do. Now I am quite late for lunch. I didn't even look at the clock to see how late, because I didn't want to know. La Casa had moved to a new location several months ago, and as a last resort to try to save our date, I called La Casa to see if my friend was there, and indeed she was! I told the staff person to tell her that I was on my way and would be there in a few minutes.

My friend had ordered and was eating her lunch, which consoled me a little. I apologized profusely, and she said that it was really her fault, because she did not know that the new La Casa was the old restaurant in a new location. I ordered a glass of wine (to be brought quickly) and my lunch and we did the Alphonse and Gaston (link for the youngsters) routine for a while and then settled in to enjoy lunch and conversation, which we very much did, and then pledged to get together before a year passed for another misadventure. It was really all my fault, and I'm a bit surprised that my friend wants to try again, but she is a lovely and forgiving person.

Image from Wiki.

I've Done It More Than Once

Click on the picture to enlarge.


We're a small church, but, when folks who regularly attend one Sunday service, show up at the other service, I've done that very thing. Now when I meet someone whom I think may be a newcomer, I've learned to put my hand out and say, "Hi, I'm June," and stop there.

With thanks to ASBO Jesus.

Oyster Is Wicked, Wicked, Wicked

The immature man (by his own admission) who writes at Your Right Hand Thief has outdone himself. Not only has he thought bad thoughts about an innocent post of mine (and during Lent, too!), and committed a string of other sins in a single post, he tells a story about defective flushable wipes.

That reminds me: I recently purchased a box of defective flushable wipes. In what way were they defective? Well... how can I put this? The concentration of "cleansers and emollients" on the wipes exceeded any conceivable household or industrial standard.

That's all I'll quote from the story. You are forewarned. If you're squeamish about stories of (perfectly natural) bodily functions and minor, though painful, maladies, then you may not want to follow the link and read the rest. On the other hand, if you enjoy the occasional laugh at the misfortune of another, then....

Oyster is a New Orleanian by adoption only. Natives of the city are not nearly so wicked.

Jindal Won't/Will Take The Federal Money

From the News Star in Monroe, Louisiana:

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal brought most of his Cabinet here Monday afternoon to offer moral and tangible support to a group of 500 desperate Pilgrim's Pride contract growers and employees whose livelihoods are at risk following the company's decision to idle its northeastern Louisiana and southern Arkansas operations.
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Pilgrim's Pride announced its decision on Friday, saying it will eliminate 1,300 jobs in Union and the surrounding parishes and 800 jobs in El Dorado, Ark., within 75 days. Almost 300 independent growers will also likely be ruined by the closures.
....

Jindal said that the state would apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance from the federal government, which would expand unemployment benefits to employees and provide benefits to growers who aren't eligible for unemployment benefits. The state was recently granted Trade Adjustment Assistance for International Paper workers who lost their jobs when IP closed its Bastrop paper mill late last year.

From Politico just a couple of weeks ago:

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Friday that he will decline stimulus money specifically targeted at expanding state unemployment insurance coverage, becoming the first state executive to officially refuse any part of the federal government’s payout to states.

Different federal money? Not stimulus money? Still federal money. Still running up the deficit. What's the deal, Guv?

And the latest in the saga of Governor Jindal's wide-ranging travels from the Times-Picayune:

Gov. Bobby Jindal's string of out-of-state fundraising visits continues this week with a California trip that will include four stops to raise money for his 2011 re-election campaign.

Jindal traveled to Malibu, Calif., for a Tuesday evening fundraiser in a private residence, according to the governor's press office. Today, the governor is scheduled to raise money in San Diego, Fairfield and Palo Alto before heading back to Baton Rouge.

Since the start of the year the governor has visited Mississippi, Arkansas, North Carolina and Florida to meet donors and raise campaign cash. Jindal raised $3.5 million in 2008 for his 2011 campaign despite having no challengers in sight.

Some might say that Governor Jindal should spend a tad, just a tad, more time minding the store in the state which elected him governor.