A Positively Poetic Priest

We don't tend to think of being shrewd as one of the spiritual gifts of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, self control, faith, humility, none of those sound remotely like shrewdness. But as I thought longer about the idea, I thought of discernment. Discernment is a gift of the Spirit. And discernment is the ability to judge well, going beyond the simple pros and cons of a situation and seeking out spiritual guidance to see the nuances and find the path forward. The definition of being shrewd is having sharp powers of judgment, being astute, being creative in thinking and looking at issues from multiple sides to see the outcomes. Being shrewd fits into the idea of discernment. Discernment is important in many different aspects of our lives. While the parable we heard from the gospel of is offputting there are a number of lessons we can learn from it.  Everyone agrees that it is a confusing and hard to figure out parable. Every...

When I was in college, I started dating a guy I really liked. We dated for three years, through study abroad school terms, both of us finishing college, me starting seminary and the process to become an Episcopal priest, him surviving the Tuscaloosa tornadoes, and starting a master's degree. By the summer before my last year at seminary, I was starting to look towards the future. I was thinking about where I would go after seminary, what kind of ministry I would find, sorting my way through the difficult process of a resigning bishop and wondering if or when I was going to be ordained. In the midst of all the conversations about the future,  he realized he didn't want to be with me for the long haul and that signaled the end of our relationship. After we broke up, I felt so rejected for a long time. Then, just a couple of months after we broke up, I got wonderful news. The date for my diaconate ordination was set. I was going to be ordaine...

"Dear People of God: In this Christmas Season, let it be our duty and delight to hear once more the message of the Angels, to go to Bethlehem and see the Son of God lying in a manger. Let us hear and heed in Holy Scripture the story of God's loving purpose from the time of our rebellion against him until the glorious redemption brought to us by his holy Child Jesus, and let us make this place glad with our carols of praise." (A Bidding Prayer, BOS 39) During these twelve days of Christmas, we cannot too often hear the story of Jesus' birth and entrance into this world. God loves us so much that he gave his son to be with us, and that is good news we need to hear over and over again. This coming Sunday, we will hear the story in nine lessons and sing joyously in praise of what God has done for us. In contrast to that beloved Christmas carol, the Twelve Days of Christmas, where the true love gives bounteous material gifts each day of the season of Christmas, our Tru...

4/6/18 Alleluia! Christ is Risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Easter is a joyful season of resurrection and new life. However, many find new life kind of disconcerting at first. The transition into something new is not always very easy. Easter is a time of celebration, yet sometimes celebration requires being gentle and compassionate with yourself and those around you. Welcoming the happy new morning each day in the spirit of Easter does take practice... and luckily, we have a whole fifty day season of Easter to work on celebrating this Good News! Not one chance, not two chances, but fifty chances. Living into new life does not happen over night, every morning we have a new chance to celebrate the new life begun in us through Jesus Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!

I cannot imagine the state of being  Jesus is in  during his time in the wilderness. I myself know what it has been like during wilderness times in my own life times of struggle, confusion, and tension. The wilderness always involves emotional and spiritual tension. Jesus goes from being a carpenter in a small town in Galilee, working with his earthly father, Joseph maybe with brothers learning the trade of repair and creating out of wood A good business keeping him busy And then he takes a small journey down to the Jordan River. He meets his cousin John again and asks him to baptize him. As he is coming up, he hears this voice A voice different than any other voice which speaks to him and names him and claims him "You are my son." Naturally,  I always sort of picture this happening as it does in The Lion King... the rolling thunder, the voice coming out of the cloud Simba, you are my son. His naming and claiming also come...

Imagine with me for a moment You spend your childhood in slavery always doing what someone else tells you to do always being put down always hungry hungry for food hungry for more in life and then in a swirl of events you and your family run away from everything you've grown up knowing you walk through a sea seeing sights you'd never imagine surrounded by fearful, confused, excited people hoping desperately for freedom. Imagine growing up wandering with those people living in tents in the desert searching for water, for food, for shelter. Being told you're now free but still only barely managing to live. Imagine everyday getting closer to good land where there is plenty of water and food wood to build shelters. Imagine fighting with everything you have to be able to live in that good land moving around to find the space to settle down. Imagine finally being able to live freely to be able to have your own house to h...