Finding Bigfoot

A few days ago I walked toward the parking lot of the church looking to the east through the now bare and gray trees. I cannot guarantee that I saw Bigfoot far in the distance across the lake which borders the adjacent neighborhood, but I cannot guarantee that I didn't see Bigfoot either. (My first grammatical dilemma in this blog is to determine if Bigfoot is a proper name or not?)

Since childhood, I have imagined that Bigfoot or Sasquatch existed. This creature is just fanscinating enough not to be too scary, but deeply mysterious, and plausible. I loved watching Leonard Nimoy's TV series, In Search Of, as Bigfoot was a frequent subject. My fascination was increased because we lived next to a deep wood in which Bigfoot could have resided based on all the data collected in my 10 year old mind. Now as a reasonable (my opinion only) adult, a new series on the Animal Planet channel has rekindled my childhood curiosity. The series, Finding Bigfoot, is about a group called the Bigfoot Research Organization (the BFRO), investigators who follow sightings and launch a proper investigation into the plausibility of sasquatch activity in a given geographic area.

I watched this show the night before sighting the suspicious object across the lake. If I were to call the BFRO, they would venture out into the woods, listen for sounds unique to Bigfoot, check out food sources and then say, "This place is definitely squatchy."  That means that while no conclusive evidence exists, the conditions are right for a sasquatch - squatchy. I love that word!

I also love the word faithy. Okay, I made that up that word, but I do love the idea of a place being faithy. That is, a place or a circumstance or an experience or a group of people in which all the conditions exist for faith to thrive and flourish. You see, faith can be elusive like a squatch. Faith can be difficult to prove, faith can be difficult to see and faith can be difficult to locate, but I believe faith exists. I hope that our lives can be faithy, that our families can be faithy, that our community can be faithy and that our church is faithy. Faith, and being faithy, exists in the mystery between absolute proof and absolute foolishness. This life that we live is definitely faithy.

Peace, John+

Happy Anniversary?

Yesterday, Lisa and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. Well, to say we celebrated it might be a little misleading. How do you define celebration - an exchange of gifts, a romantic candlelight dinner and dancing? We didn't do any of those things.

We awoke early to take our beloved dog Sadie to see the neurological specialists at Mississippi State. He has exhibited symptons that are consistent with a serious neurological issue and, at the recommendation of our local veternarians, we wanted them to give us their perspective. Yesterday's cold and rain didn't do much to lighten our moods, nor did the news we received from the specialists.

Now what I have learned over the course of time in our marriage comes down to two big things. First, I am not always right. This is not fair and I will argue the percentage of time that this is not true, but it is true nonetheless.  The second thing that I have learned is that Lisa and I are two very different people who listen in different ways, who speak in different ways, who process in different ways, who plan in different ways and who react in different ways.  We are not the same person as though that would be easier, but we are very different in very important ways. 

In most trivial matters, recognizing that is easy, but celebrating it is not a visceral response. However, yesterday, our anniversary, and today as we work though not only the issue with Sadie, but also with all of life's questions, family dynamics and dilemmas I am thankful for our differences. In fact, I celebrate them. Perhaps this is what we mean when we say vows that include words like love, honor and cherish. Two opinions create tension, but in that tension is the beauty of listening to another person, of having to check my own arrogance and prejudices and, at the very least, of being vulnerable. 

Each day we are presented situations and experiences that require our "better angels." In most cases, we do not ask God for the hard and difficult stuff just to test our mettle. But when we encounter those trying moments that come with being in a family, with being a parent, with being a partner, with being a child of God and, yes, with loving a dog, I give thanks that I have someone not like me whom I honor and cherish and love.

Just so you know, I did take Lisa out to eat for our anniversary. On the way back to Memphis, we stopped and ate Tops BBQ in the car with our dog. From the back seat with the dog curled up next to her, Lisa raised her styrofoam cup and straw and said to me, "Cheers," and "Happy Anniversary."  Happy Anniversary indeed.

Peace, John+

Giving Thanks for Angels

This morning I went to Page Robbins Adult Day Care Center to lead singing and a brief devotional. Page Robbins hosts folks with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia filling their days with various activities and lots of compassion from a wonderful staff. Holy Apostles visits on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. They voices are always joyful and they often sing from memory which amazes me because I cannot.

Today, we sang together, and then I asked them to tell me something for which they were thankful. Every person in that room was able to participate giving thanks for their life, their health, their loved ones, this country, the staff at Page Robbins and for faith. What I thought was a relatively simple question produced answers that moved me deeply. Here we a group of ladies (they were all women today) who despite disease and age were genuinely thankful. Certainly, they could have been angry or frustrated by the reason for being there today, but to a person they smiled and articulated with great clarity their gratitude for the blessings of their lives. I fought back tears.

Although I know we are all grateful for many of these same things, I also know that we can allow life's challenges to create negativity in our attitudes. When I am having a bad day or when the news feels overwhelmingly grim or when being frustrated at things not going my way limits my gratitude and appreciation for all the blessings of this life given by God, I am going to think about those beautiful women at Page Robbins. For today, they were angels and for that, I give thanks.

Peace,  John+

What's in a Pledge? (from my father)

The following post was written by my father, an Episcopal priest, in October 1973.  It was typed on a green legal sized paper and mailed to his parishioners during their stewardship program. It is one of the few writings of his that I have, and I think it is still meaningful and relevant today.  Peace, John+

What's In A Pledge?

I have read a lot of very pertinent and interesting information in the past, which has attempted to answer this question, and has, from time to time, sturck some deep chords in my life. Some of it has not done anything for me, and, judging from the results of the past, has done done too much for many people like you.

This is my attempt to put it into words and thoughts which are most meaningful to me, and which I hope you, too, can find helpful.    Father Leach ( The Rev. Philip M. P. Leach)

What's in a pledge .  . .

a certain kind of offering of myself which is hard to describe but is there just the same . . .

what I feel when I look at my children and realize whose they are and who has given them to me. . .

the security I feel when my wife or mother or just a good friend loves me . . .

the hope that I have for a better world for my children . . .

the gloriousness of a fresh new day . . .

the satisfaction of being a part of a great effort . . .

My hopes and dreams for my life and the lives of  those whom I love most . . .

the strength and hope and faith I feel in times of stress and of tribulation . . .

the thankfulness that I have that I live in this land of the free . . .

my faith that my struggles have meaning and that life is not a vain thing . . .

the goodness that I feel in the presence of goodness . . .

the hope that I have for all mankind and me that Jesus Christ has brought eternal life . . .

the joys of my life and the sadnesses of my life . . .

the great sense of comfort I feel when I realize that I never walk alone . . .

thanksgiving for this day and hope for tomorrow . . .

the pride I feel in doing my share . . .

all these things, some good, some questionable perhpas, but all ME.

From Light to Darkness

Yesterday our neighbors commented on how dark our house has been saying, "Usually it is all lit up!"  They were not commenting on our Christmas decorations, but on the fact that our children are now both in college. The upstairs is dark, the front porch lights are not left on for their late arrival home, and the parking lot that is our driveway is not filled with their cars or the cars of their friends.

Yes, the house is quiet and much darker without them. This is our new reality, and I hope and trust, that the darkness is not a permanent metaphor, only that MLG&W will not benefit so much from their presence. Truth be told, this new reality is not comfortable yet. We miss our children and the light and chaos their presence brings. At the same time however, they are experiencing the life we hoped for them. They are having fun, not too much fun I pray, while pursuing their dreams, honing their God-given gifts, stretching their minds and their perspectives, finding new friends and discovering new truths. This is what we said we wanted and this is what we have.

For our children, they are walking in a new light, armed with whatever precepts and understandings we were able to successfully impart. And we are left with a darker house and not worrying about what time they get home. Such is the process of letting go.

Transitions in life can always feel gloomy and dark in the beginning, but that darkness always gives way to light. It may take time to see and to accept new realities, but that is what faith proclaims. Change opens up chances to discover and do new things. Like our children, we will live into our new reality and we will find that comfortable place, even knowing that it too is only temporary.  And the bonus for this new reality - I will smile each month when I open the utility bill!

Peace,

John+