After his son Aaron died at fourteen of progeria, the rapid-aging disease, Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote When Bad Things Happen To Good People. The book has been an immense help and encouragement to many people, including to me in the development, evolution of my own personal theologies about God, creation, the universe and possibilities of multiverses, prayer, praise, liturgy, worship. Harold came and spoke to us -- ministers, ordination candidates, physicians, medical students and interns -- at Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania during my time of Clinical Pastoral Education there some thirty years ago. By then he was well known as a best-selling author, much in demand as a lecturer and leader of seminars around the country, no doubt a very wealthy man. The day he was with us at Hershey, I sat in the small auditorium with him and heard him say, “All I want is my son back.” We have wonderful stories in the Bible, New Testament and Old, about God’s creating powers, God’s...

Proper 10     The Sunday closest to July 13 O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Our collect for next Sunday is an interesting prayer, but a flaw always jumps out at me. It speaks of God’s people in the third person plural when it should speak of us in the first person plural.  ... grant that WE may ... things WE ought to do ... Another thing is the word “ought.” Years ago someone said, “don’t should on me, don’t ought and should on me.” That has kept me mindful that being told what we ought to do and what we should do, or being chided about what we should have done, can be a real downer, and can be really annoying and a turnoff to a relationship. So, ought and s...

Something’s Missing 2Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 (NRSV) ... all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, ‘Look, we are your bone and flesh. 2 For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.’ 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.   9 David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inwards. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. This is our Old Testament ...

Thank you for prayers, everyone. Christian is doing great. I got to hold him a long time in the NICU just now! Tom

A Collect for Saturdays Almighty God, who after the creation of the world didst rest from all thy works and sanctify a day of rest for all thy creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of thy sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to thy people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Putting away all earthly anxieties is easily said, easily prayed, less easily done. Waking early, my heart and mind are instantly on Christian, born yesterday noon, touched and blessed two hours later, being treated for infection in the NICU at GulfCoastHosp. My anxiety could hardly be higher than the parents’ anxiety, but it is intense. Prayer list, dear friends, and thank you. For the first time in a decade, our fig trees are producing. Not enough to set up a fruit stand, but enough to pick a few morning and again evening, eat a few, freeze some, hope to preserve some. B...

Stopping By Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circling flight. I am the soft star-shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die. Mary Elizabeth Frye’s poem is in mind every time. Norman isn’t there, of course, and part of my prayer is always, “You aren’t here, but where else can we meet?” Perhaps he and Gordon and I could meet in the sanctuary at St. Thomas by the Sea, maybe at times when no one else is around. But on retiring I turned in my key, so that’s out.  Some people don’t visit the cemetery. Some do, I’m one, but I can understand not doing so: a friend still cannot visit the grave of his son even decades later, the pain of the loss is so terrible. For other folks, ...

Pardon Our Progress The renovation work at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church seems to be going beautifully. The roof is finished and no longer forms a patchwork quilt. The outside is being painted, a perfect color. Same with the inside painting. And the tile in the foyer area, a light cream color, seems all laid now. Tuesday, a craftsman was installing the baseboard around the foyer walls; this morning we’ll see how far he got. And the new kitchen: everyone should walk to the other side and check out the cabinets and the layout.  The restrooms are still gutted, but there are restrooms inside the building, two more in the two story building, and one in the library, all open and accessible Sunday mornings. Finish work is being done on the decorative entrances; the south exterior door into the church is blocked and may still be Sunday, not a problem. It will be nice when the grounds start looking as wonderful as the building.  At the parish house across the street, t...