Vote as if America's soul depended on it

 

Dear Friends

Those who read this blog know that once in a while I cannot help going political! Today is one of those days. It is hard to imagine anyone not being moved by the two speeches we just heard from Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. No cheering crowds were needed to feed our emotions. Even those who support our current president would be hard pressed to deny how refreshing it was to hear intelligent and inspirational, hopeful and heartfelt words, coming from the mouths of those who seek to lead and represent this nation.

The buttons above (for sale online from the Biden campaign) sum up well the choice we have before us this November. If it weren’t for Covid 19, Kathleen and I would combine a road trip with visiting any state that needed volunteers to insure victory. And as it was said today, it is not enough to win; we need a clear mandate to let the world know we will not tolerate the tone which we have had to endure for nearly four years. We must replace our divider in chief with a Healer in Chief, something this country needs now more than ever.

Enough of the lies. Enough of the fear-mongering. Enough of the juvenile whining and blaming.  Enough of destroying the dignity of the office and insulting people. Enough of the ego over the common good.

It’s not enough to just vote this year. We must encourage others to get their souls and remember their souls when they go to the polls, by whatever means.

Lord have mercy if we don’t take this election seriously.

John

 

 

 

Reclaiming your house

Dear Friends

Kathleen and I are happy to announce that we have just finished filming the premiere episode for a new HGTV series, “Reclaim Your House.” We had not expected to have the opportunity to share our experience in such a public way. But we hope it will help others who find themselves in such a situation someday, as we have over the past week since returning to Corona. It is scheduled to air in October. Check your local listings.

One of several reclamation scenes is the "kitchen counter makeover". It’s out with the “Hello Kitty” toaster, tea kettle, water dispenser, pop-corn popper, chocolate fountain, and many other appliances that littered the counter and in with just a few of Kathleen’s standard favorites.

This is the first time we have had a completely “empty nest” since Christopher moved in to live with us when he was just three days old. That was in 1984. (And then Emily moved in with us when she was seven days old in 1989.) Our joy is only tempered by missing the wonderful memories when our nest was full, including the backyard fort, swing set and sandbox. (A couple dinosaurs that were affixed to the fort have survived on the fence.)

All this is to say that while we are glad to be home alone, we also thank God for the memories and that our children are relatively close by!

John

P.S. Kathleen just informed me she has called HGTV to offer our house for an episode of another new series, “Reclaim My Garage”. If accepted, it will feature multiple boxes from Christopher and Emily. And me.

 

A ride we wish would end

Dear Friends

This definition of Coronacoaster produced one of the best discussions we have had at our weekly virtual coffee hour. People shared their life experiences with amusement park roller coasters (some were not amused) but we quickly pivoted to the roller coaster of emotions we have felt during this pandemic. The consensus was that this is a ride we would glad to see come to an end. Or at least, Lord, let us get off for awhile and maybe try one of those Storybook Land boats?

One person said this has been more like a very long, very rocky, very steep hike in the wilderness, with no end in sight. Another imagined being in a hot air balloon, above it all, just watching and waiting until it was safe to land again,

Life, of course, always has its ups and downs, highs and lows, sad and happy moments and days. But this feels different because there is so much uncertainty and constant change. Of all times, this is when we need to feel Jesus' certain, unchanging love wrapped around us, holding us tightly and close, while also allowing our hearts and minds and bodies to relax and rest in his peace and calmness and assuring words, “Lo, I am with you always”.

John

P.S. We are coming home! Starting July 27^th and through August, I will continue as St. Dunstan’s Interim Priest from home, (as I have been doing from the rectory here in Carmel Valley Village for a few months). I am pre-taping some services and will be sending in some tapes. It has been another blessed, post retirement experience with wonderful people in a beautiful part of California. We are sad to leave but glad to be closer to family during this extraordinary time. While Amtrack could rename its Coaster commuter trains to Coronacoaster (unlikely) which would be a faster and more direct route, we have decided to drive, via the 68, 101, 46, 5, 210, 57, 71 and 91. That will make it easier to bring our cars and belongings home. 

Some July 4th Food for thought

 

Dear Friends

I hope you like this picture I just painted of “Eric the Eagle”. It is amazing what one can learn to do while sheltering in place! JUST KIDDING---MY TALENTED SISTER MARY DID THIS, AND IT CAME WITH THIS GREAT MESSAGE:

Let’s all take time to

REMEMBER THE PAST.

REFLECT ON THIS MOMENT.

RESPOND IN THE FUTURE.

Thanks also to Charles Schultz for this timely cartoon:

Thanks to Scott Stoner for reminding us of this quote from the musical "Hamilton" and part of his reflection:

America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me. You let me make a difference. A place where even orphan immigrants can leave their fingerprints and rise up.

Whenever I have the privilege of consulting with a family or organization in conflict, I often ask them to go back to the ideals and vision they held in common when they first started. I ask them to remember and hold on to those as they seek to resolve their current conflict. I remind them that it is easy for any of us to lose sight of our founding spirit and vision when we are in the midst of challenging times. We, our families and our county, are all unfinished symphonies, a mixture of beautiful harmonies and, at times, glaring imperfections and inconsistencies. And still, we continue to evolve, learning new harmonies to sing and new ways to more fully embody our founding ideals of life, liberty, and happiness for all.

And finally, thanks to Avery Brooke for this part of his prayer “Our Country”:

O Christ, we love this land. We wish it were always a simple love and often it is, but life has become complicated. When things go wrong it becomes easy to give up, to blame other people and to do nothing. O Christ, give us the unashamed courage to believe in the highest and best ideals of our country and enough passionate patience to make them come true. Amen.

Happy 4th! 

John

P.S. And for my two cents worth, is it asking too much that we choose a "Healer in Chief" and a "Uniter in Chief" this fall, for the health and well being of the country we all love? Personally, I think it is an urgent need; our nations's soul is at stake. But of course, in the meantime, we can and should all still keep declaring our dependence on God---on this Independence Day, and every day. 

Thanks be to God!

Feast of John the Baptist

Dear Friends

On this Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist, I just had to share this cartoon, which appeared when I turned to the page for today. Imagine my surprise and delight at this PBI (possible blog illustration). Not only is the quote timely---“Sometimes life takes sudden turns without using its turn signal”--- (does anything come to mind from earlier this year?)---but the U-turn Snoopy is making is exactly what John’s shouting “REPENT” means. About face! Turn around! You’re going the WRONG WAY!

I wonder if the creators of this calendar knew how appropriate this cartoon was for 2020 and, for different reasons, June 24^th. Or maybe it was the Holy Spirit?

In any case, may God help us recognize, personally and as a society, what course corrections we need to make. It would be a shame to miss whatever there is to learn from the living of these days, even as we ask God for wisdom and courage and patience to get through them and get back to some sense of “normal”. (I miss watching the Dodgers!)

May we be willing to expect and be surprised by new blessings being born, even during these days of anxiety and anger, heartache and hopelessness, sadness and suffering.

Finally, note that John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” If there was ever a time to look towards Jesus, it is now.

John

 

Sunny side up....for now

Dear Friends

On this first full day of summer after the summer solstice, Kathleen and I have just finished breakfast, having had fried eggs, (sunny side up), washed down with Sunny-D orange juice, all the while singing that old favorite, “Here comes the sun.” And because it is Sunday, we had sundaes for dessert, because life is short so why wait because you never know what the future holds.

Speaking of “you never know what the future holds”, we are now planning and expecting to have dinner tonight, subject to change. It’s really up in the air, a half hour to half hour decision. It depends on what stage Monterey County will be in at that point and what we are able/allowed to do at that time. We’ll have to look at and study the numbers. What we will have for dinner, if we do have dinner, is unknown at this time, depending on what is available at the grocery store.

And yet, in the meantime, we are going ahead and planning and hoping to drive to the grocery store (our weekly “date drive”) assuming nothing changes between now and dinnertime, while understanding things might change and so we are prepared to come up with alternate plans, subject to change, unless we are in the stage by tonight that allows us to go out to dinner without a mask, although we might still have reservations, being over 65, although we are unaware of any underlying conditions, but how would be know since they are underlying and therefore out of sight, out of mind, which you may be thinking I am right now, but I'm not unless you ask Kathleen.

Certainly we wish things were not so uncertain, but one thing is for certain; we will find a way to have dinner, unless we decide to skip it and wait for breakfast on Monday, assuming we get through the night and the sun comes up on the second full day of summer.

Happy Father’s Day too!

John

Sick and Angry

Dear Friends

The picture above is a "photo op" Kathleen and I had with our Presiding Bishop in January, the day before our new bishop's consecration. It makes me proud and thankful that he is speaking for so many of us at this time with such grace and love, intelligence and compassion and courage.

This evening, there was a "photo op" at a church next to the White House and the circumstances around it---reading that speech, protesters being pushed away to make room just for him, and holding a bible as a prop for a campaign ad?---made me sick and angry. I am not sure why it has affected me so much, but I know I am not alone. The person in question is raising the temperature. If things get worse over the next days and weeks, he is partially responsible, though of course he will blame everyone else.  

Bishop Curry is one of the many voices responding to what we had to witness. His message is below. I share it in case you missed it.

Lord have mercy upon us. Help me focus on love.

John 

This evening, the President of the United States stood in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, lifted up a bible, and had pictures of himself taken. In so doing, he used a church building and the Holy Bible for partisan political purposes. This was done in a time of deep hurt and pain in our country, and his action did nothing to help us or to heal us.

The bible teaches us that “God is love.” Jesus of Nazareth taught, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The prophet Micah taught that the Lord requires us to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.”

The bible the President held up and the church that he stood in front of represent the values of love, of justice, of compassion, and of a way to heal our hurts.

We need our President, and all who hold office, to be moral leaders who help us to be a people and nation living these values. For the sake of George Floyd, for all who have wrongly suffered, and for the sake of us all, we need leaders to help us to be “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”
 
The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church