This coming Sunday our Propers, the prayer and bible readings, lash out at sin, ungodly sinfulness, and specifically the wickedness of the nation, rulers and (at the Time) God's people Israel. It is an apt theme, characterizing, as it does, our national life here in the twenty-first century, people intentionally being treated with cruel, mean viciousness.  O n January 20, 2025, i n her sermon at the traditional service for newly installed leaders the Episcopal bishop of WashingtonDC pled that peoples' dignity be honored, and I watched as they stared at each other, incredulous that anyone would dare preach to them, offended by the gospel message Love God Love Neighbor (culminating in "Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?") that is central to Christianity as we understand it in the Episcopal Church.  In my mind, the nation's new viciousness, that includes frightening cruelty to little children, is ev...

It isn't unusual mornings in my waking up process for things to come to mind that won't quit, that keep on keeping on and stand in the way of my going back to sleep. Over these ninety years I have left undone those things which I ought to have done, and I have done those things which I ought not to have done, and if I admit even one of them in the door to my drifting thoughts, they flood over me like an incoming tide and further sleep is not only impossible and I might as well get up and turn on the coffee; but if I do manage to fall asleep anyway, nightmarish dreams ruin any peace in my back-to-sleepness.  Just so this morning, although this one was not in the nature of a there is no health in me, miserable offender, it kept me awake sufficient to throw in the towel and rise for my first mug of hot & black.  Some forty-five years ago w hen I began studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, my bishop (who made the arrangements for LTSG to admit...

Tue Feb 3 7:32 AM and 2026 just keeps getting deeper and deeper into itself, Time, which is always the present moment, moving inexorably toward its future.  "Inexorably," a good word, I looked it up, it means "in a way that is impossible to stop or prevent," which we all knew, but how often does someone stop to define a word? Well, come to think of it, once a day, eh?, for those of us who receive Anu Garg's a-word-a-day in our email.  So, my life, which to me is always present here and now, stays in the same place, the present; but Earth moves inexorably round the Sun, giving us a way to count Time, adding numbers to our past, making mine consist of, so far, 91 Thanksgivings, 91 Christmases, 91 New Years Days, 91 Januarys, and now working into my 91st February: ninety-one of everything on the calendar will be complete on my next birthday. So, what do I do to help Time include me a bit longer? Well (there's that ubiquitous well again), I actively acknowledge ...

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the  Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany  Year A: Feb 1, 2026 The Collect Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. But (scroll way down) see my postscript below.** Old Testament Micah 6:1-8 Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what King...

Two, two-something o'clock dark when I gave up and opened my eyes, looked at the clock, and closed them again, too comfortable to rouse. Two-thirty-something when I surrendered altogether, got up, ... , and turned on coffee to brew. DeCaf this early, hoping sleepiness will return. First Time in a while that this up too early business has happened. Maybe because, exhausted last evening from doing nothing all day, I was in bed asleep at seven-thirty, "early to bed and early to rise."  It just means that I won't be able to to avoid the morning nap later. I've been trying to cut down on the naps, coffee with noon dinner, e.g., to ward off the two-hour afternoon nap that leaves me uncomfortably groggy for too long. It's an extreme old age thing.  +++++++ Unusual, not especially alarming, but certainly not normal, all the Alen air cleaners have their red light glowing, why? No outside doors are open, I don't smell smoke (the smoke alarms aren't buzzing anywa...

Wednesday the text came, so Thursday morning we drove out to Tyndall to get my new eyeglasses. Same prescription for several years, and a thin black frame that I like and have long settled on.  The optical shop is in the building with the BX, the barbershop, the Commissary, and several other shops, so when we drive that far we like to wander the Exchange and the Commissary. I buy chocolate for Malinda at the BX, always check for bargains on the Apple computer shelf (a few years ago Apple switched to their own chip and the BX had MacBooks with the old chip at half price, but I let it go, a half-price MacBook is still several Times the price of other brands the BX offers). In the Commissary I usually buy a package of the 96% lean ground beef, which I like to make wide, very thin patties and cook them in a searing hot pan count one two three four five, flip over, count one two three four five and onto my prewarmed plate. Good anyTime, especially for breakfast with two or three eggs ov...