Girlierev!

A letter to my nieces and nephew

2008-11-05T09:55:00.001-05:00

Darlings,

As I sat and watched history made last night, I could not help but think of you and how wonderful it is that, on the very first time you were asked to participate in choosing the next president of our beloved country, Barack Obama was elected. You will get to tell your children and grandchildren about what happened when you voted, how hope triumphed over fear, and justice overcame centuries of shameful degradation.

We inherit a nation that is capable of great good, and astounding evil, and I believe it is our duty, our high calling, to help bend the arc of history toward justice, freedom and peace. Today the work begins again. Today we put foundations on that castle in the sky. Today we work so that tomorrow children not go to bed hungry, so that tomorrow no one will have to make a home under a bridge or out of discarded cardboard boxes. Today we put hands and feet on Matthew 25's call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the captive, so that tomorrow hope stays alive.

I believe that change is possible, that transformation and renewal is real. The year before I was born, a man from Omaha, Nebraska, stood in front of a crowd and proclaimed his profound conversion from disdain and contempt towards those of another race to a deep recognition of the beauty and worth of all God's children, proclaimed aloud his hope for a better tomorrow and a world where all people would learn to respect one another. For his conversion to hope, Malcolm X was assassinated, as were Emmit Till, Jonathan Daniel, Dr. King and countless others. This time, pray God, hope will not be shot down. This time, we can bring about healing in the nation.

Yes we can.

Happy day after the election to each of you. Now, let's get to work.

Peace,

Anne Marie

Of Symphonies and Spirit

2008-09-23T18:33:00.001-05:00

There’s an orchestra getting ready for rehearsal down the hall. Seriously, an entire orchestra in our parish hall. For the last 15 minutes or so the sound has been chaotic—everybody warming up his or her instrument as needed, setting up, moving chairs, nobody playing anywhere near the same thing. I’d like to say it sounded pretty, but it really didn’t. I should have shut my door, but that would have required getting up, and really, who needs to do that?

Funny thing just happened though. Somebody (concertmaster? conductor?) just gave the signal, and suddenly the random bits of sound, both musical and non, ceased. It is as if everyone paused at once, took in one big breath and then, music. OK, not really “music,” but sound—one sound. One glorious note, one stunningly beautiful attempt to be in the same key at the same time. A few more moments of fine tuning and then another pause, breathe in, wait…and there they go. Off into whatever piece they are playing (I don’t recognize it just yet). Off together on an adventure that is largely scripted and predictable but that, I know, still leaves a great deal to chance. Tempo. Volume. One’s ability to actually play what is in the score.

These lovely musicians, and all musicians are lovely when they play even if they are as difficult and tempermental as all human beings at other times, these lovely musicians are practicing. Rehearsing. Going back over the same territory again and again. Yes, to work towards some level of perfection, but even more than that, to mine those notes for every drop of beauty possible, for every meaning, for every subtle point and every dramatic statement.

This to me is the spiritual life, particularly the spiritual life in community. We come together making a million different noises, warming up and stretching and yawning and complaining. We need to move our chairs and set up our “space” and then somebody gives the signal and we tune ourselves to one another and set off to pray, to worship, to question, to quest, together. I’m gonna hit a few bad notes. I am going to be too loud or too soft. And so we’ll do it again. Tomorrow, next week, next year. We do it—we go over the same territory, the same texts, the same songs, the same rituals, over and over again. Not because we desire perfection, or at least not because we believe we will achieve it, but because we are constantly seeking God in all places, and constantly discovering that there is more to discover. The well does not run dry, there is always something more to learn, to uncover.

I love the symphony down the hall. I love the symphony that is the church.

Island of Stability

2008-09-10T07:30:00.002-05:00

OK, let me open with a disclaimer. I'm a pretty smart gal, but the complex scientific and mathematical details that comprise the discipline of physics are often just beyond (well, way beyond sometimes...) my ability to really get what the folks with all the smarticles are talking about. So, forgive me now for the technical mistakes which you will, no doubt, find in this brief musing. I'm a big picture girl who is forever grateful to those of you who have the gift of understanding the tiniest details of creation.

So, today's the day they fired up the Large Hadron Collider. This is big news, Steven-Hawking-mind-blowing big news. The potential to confirm or negate so much of what we think we know about the universe is amazing. Scientists will be sorting through the data for years.

However, my take on this event is most profoundly shaped by a comment that Max made about it this morning. As he was listing off all the cool things about the collider, he casually mentioned that some part of what is going on in there (in there? on there? is that the way to describe this thing?) might allow us to finally find the island of stability. And that hooked me.

The Island of Stability. A point at which all the magical, tiny elements inside the atom, inside you and me and everything that is, are stable. Can you imagine it? I'm not a huge fan of being still, and I'm not even sure that stillness is our ideal state, but stable? That's a plan I can get behind. Stable implies, to me, not a lack of motion, but a point at which the motion up and down and back and forth and in and out and in all those other infinite directions, the point at which all those vectors are in balance. And balance is all that. All that.

And, because there have been so many times in his life that Max has been just about anywhere but the Island of Stability, this little moment in the kitchen, as he was putting his breakfast dishes in the dishwasher, was particularly poignant. Of all the details he could recall about LHC, the idea of stability on an atomic, sub-atomic level was the one that made him smile. I'm sure he was thinking about all the cool scientific and mathematical implications, but his mother was thinking about all the cool Max implications. He hopped on his bike and headed off to school, and I stood in the kitchen and looked out at the tree in the front yard, and the comings and goings of the neighborhood children, parents, dogs, bikes, etc., praying for him to know that his own particles have achieved some island of stability. Praying that he know Julian's confidence that all will be well.

So sure, I'm no particle physicist, but maybe Max is. And maybe someday he'll discover something no one has ever known, or done, or seen before. That would be totally cool. But the coolest thing would be for him, for all of us, to discover what I am sure God created for our renewal, refreshment, redemption--an island of stability.

Why I will continue to love cycling

2008-07-17T19:13:00.002-05:00

Like every July morning, I got up early today, made the coffee, turned on Versus and sat down for a few hours of the greatest sporting event in the world--the Tour de France. And then it happened again--the kick in the gut of another positive doping test. Today was almost too much, almost that one thing that pushed me over the edge and made me never want to care about this sport again. Because I have been there so many times before. I loved Floyd--heck, I hiked up to the top of Brasstown Bald with his mom one year--and he broke my heart. And this morning, well I just about gave up.

But then I spotted the argyle of the Garmin-Chipotle team, and alongside that, the Columbia and CSC guys, and I thought again. I decided to stop for a moment and practice what I preach week in and week out from the pulpit--belief in redemption and infinite second chances. Decided to have hope even when it seems like the craziest choice in the world. Decided to have faith, to, as Jonathan puts it, keep the faith. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

It is a choice--I have a choice about whether or not I love cycling, and I choose to give in to my love for the pure grace and beauty of the sport. A choice, just like the brave, hard-working, kick-ass Garmin-Chipotle riders choosing to set things right even while they stand in a minority by doing so.

Allez Argyle! And thanks JV for speaking up, for standing up.

Le Tour Time!

2008-07-09T14:53:00.002-05:00

It is just possible that I love Garmin-Chipotle and JV just a little too much. But how nice is it to have a team that is really a team? To see a group of guys really working together. And, although JV lets loose with an unexpected response to Robby Ventura's annoying question, what a great coach he is. There is no other sporting event like The Tour de France. What these men do on bikes is awe inspiring, and a testament to the beauty of creation.

And now for the infamous Versus moment...

Keep watching--it only gets better!

A Better Christian Witness...

2008-07-01T16:10:00.000-05:00

Passion & Purpose

2008-05-24T19:39:00.002-05:00

For some reason YouTube won't let me embed this, so I'll just say that you should click here and be proud of our fabulous church. Oh, and you should be considering the possibility (particularly if you are a very young person) that God may be calling you to the priesthood.

Where were you 15 years ago today?

2008-05-15T07:54:00.002-05:00

I know where I was. I began the day, just after midnight at one of those hours that only has a tiny little digit in it, by making a trip to Alexandria Hospital because labor pains had started after dinner the night before. This was our first child, and I had no idea what to expect, but the doctor said come in, so we did.

And, pretty promptly, we came home. So what I did for the rest of this day 15 years ago was walk around in pain. Not like screaming pain, just enough to keep me from sleeping, just enough to remind me that change was clearly on the way.

I was thinking about this today because tomorrow we will celebrate Malcolm's 15th birthday. (Yes, it took another whole day and then some for the darling to arrive...) 15 is not a huge number, but yes it is. For 15 years, come tomorrow, I have been somebody's mother. The pains of this day in 1993 were heralds of the beginning of an adventure I could not have predicted. Dr. Seuss got it right - Oh, the places you'll go!

But, and what strikes me today as important and helpful in light of all the pain and struggle in the world, in my life, today, is that the adventure, the miracle, the pure joy of Malcolm would not have been revealed to this world without the pain. Passage, transformation, renewal, resurrection--call it what you will--is so often painful. And we don't want to go through it. We don't want to imagine our lower lip pulled up over the top of our heads (Carol Burnett's rather accurate description of child birth!), but the pain is part of the journey. Not something to be dwelled upon or something to pridefully proclaim, but a part, an important part, of life.

Change is in the air right now. Change on a national level, change in our community of faith, and, yes, change in the life of a fantastic young man of whom I could not be prouder. Change is good, but change, transformation, resurrection, new life, growth--well all these come with some pain. Rest assured, though, that Jesus walks with us through the pain ('cause, duh, he knows it in his body and soul...) and into the light of new day.

Officers Acquitted...again

2008-04-25T09:07:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you just got to preach it!

2007-09-29T15:04:00.000-05:00

So, this is for tomorrow. And we'll see if I still have a job after telling a congregation that I truly and deeply love that they treat each other (and their church staff) like s#!t from time to time and that they are called to be better than that.

A Sermon Preached by The Rev. Anne Marie Richards
Trinity Church, Princeton, NJ
September 30, 2007
Proper 21C (RCL)

Yesterday at nearly 3pm I put away the sermon I had almost finished for this morning. You may hear parts of it someday—no good exegetical work goes unused, and I had the help of some of the best and brightest minds in the church today. So, thank you to Carey Stone in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Paul Canady in Washington, DC—your words opened up Luke and Timothy to me in unexpected ways—but in a flash I was converted and knew that there was another word on my heart that I needed to say out loud.

And that word is about how we as a Christian community treat one another—how we encourage the best from our sisters and brothers, and how we lovingly correct mistakes in judgment, sins of omission and sins of commission.

Consider the scene narrated in Luke’s gospel this morning. The rich man has died and is in Hades, while poor Lazarus has died and is among the heavenly chorus. As separate as they were on earth, they are even further apart now—the chasm having been fixed between them. And yet, the rich man still thinks he is calling the shots. From the fires of Hell he instructs Abraham to send Lazarus down to serve him, to bring him water. When that demand is denied, he still wants to tell ol’ Lazarus what to do, so he tells Abraham to send him to his brothers.

Now, to my mind there are multiple problems here with the way the rich man is behaving. First, um, well, he’s in Hell—shouldn’t that maybe have clued him in to the fact that the status quo was no longer acceptable. Was he so un-self-aware that he couldn’t see what got him there in the first place? Is he so full of pride that even death and eternal damnation cannot shake his self-importance or open his eyes to the pain he might have caused. Clearly he is not concerned, even now, about the pain he might still cause Lazarus—he invites him down to Hades, to the midst of the flames, for no reason other than his own comfort. I suppose he feels that Lazarus’ burns and blisters are justified because, after all, Lazarus is the servant.

It was this realization, at 2:47pm yesterday, that caused me to toss out hours and hours of work and struggle. The rich man did not care about Lazarus, and it was made most evident in his treatment of him even after he was dead. The rich man assumed a position of superiority, of “rightness”, of privilege, and from that position, both in life and in death, assumed that he had the right to dis’ Lazarus.

Jesus, in telling this parable, is not trying to make his audience comfortable, so I will not apologize if I am making anyone here today uncomforted. The one thing I will rescue from my work on that other sermon is this message from my friend Paul Canady, the Canon for Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Washington. Speaking to the less-than-pleasant character of today’s text, and with tongue planted firmly in cheek, Paul said, “That is a tough Gospel passage. I'd like to see it removed from the lectionary. We really only need happy and encouraging Jesus stories.” Paul was being sarcastic, but how many of us have had that same thought? How many of us thought last week’s passage was equally deserving of being left on the cutting floor?

Here’s the hard-hitting message of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. You are not better than your brother or sister—no matter what his/her station in life relative to your own. You are not more worthy of respect, or more deserving of a cool drink of water. And you are not justified in speaking to any child of God in a way that makes him or her feel inadequate or less than the beloved creation that he/she is.

This is not a subtle or nuanced teaching. You do not need to noodle it through. But you, and I, do need to take it to heart and put it into action every time we address one another, every time we pick up the telephone and, most particularly, every single time we put fingers to the keyboard and prepare to hit the “send” button. How we speak with one another matters as a deep and abiding theological statement. Because we are incarnational people. Our Baptismal vows include a promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons,” so perhaps we need to remind ourselves that when we communicate with a brother or sister, it is Christ that we are addressing. Would you go behind Christ’s back to gossip about him? Would you speak down to Christ? Would you assume that you are more important than Jesus? I hope not. So why do we let ourselves treat one another as something less than the holy and blessed ones that we are?

Our station in life need only be described as child of God. Our earthly titles are human ways of creating a sense of order, and within an organizational structure, they do serve a purpose. In a hierarchical denomination such as ours, there are folks with more authority than others, but the best of those all the way up the ladder are those men and women who exert their authority humbly and with the greatest love and respect for those given unto their care. In the end, though, an earthly title or position, does not give any of us permission to deal unfairly or disrespectfully with anyone either within or outside this community of faith. Jesus died for my sins and for yours—neither of us will appear at the heavenly throne unblemished.

The struggle is not new. The first letter of Timothy is, in many ways, saying the same thing to the church:

“As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty…They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, … so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.”

And there’s the nut of it—what are you taking hold of? What are we valuing? The life that is materialistic, or power-hungry? The life that is about being better-than, or richer-than, or more-important-than our brother or sister? Or are we, maybe, trying to hold on to “the life that really is life?” A life of respect, and dignity, of abundance and generosity, of love for Jesus and for one another expressed in the way we treat one another.

Amen.

He was a good frog

2007-08-29T13:08:00.000-05:00

Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,

Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;

Love lives again, that with the dead has been:

Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

So begins Max's favorite hymn, which he sang this morning for our friend and pet, Frog 1, who died sometime last night.

Now, I know he was only a tiny amphibian creature. But he was with us for two years (pretty long for a tree frog!) and he was Max's first pet. And, he was part of what made moving to New Jersey OK, what allowed all of us to adjust to a strange place. Frog 1, and his partner Frog 2, were the pets we always promised we would get, but never had the time for in Maryland what with work and my time in seminary, and a million other excuses. (I suppose it is worth explaining at this point, that Max gave the frogs their names. After pondering many options, Frog 1 and Frog 2 just seemed to fit them, so thus they were known.)

And now Frog 1 has, as our old Rector used to say, "gone on to the life of greater service."

It was a lovely little service in the back yard.

Brook had gently scooped him up out of the terrarium and into a waiting ziploc bag. He brought Frog 1 down stairs and then went to get the shovel from the garage. Max picked out a nice spot in the back yard--on a little rise where a pine tree used to be--and bravely took the shovel from his dad so that he could dig the tiny hole himself. There we were, this funny little family--me in my gym-going clothes, Brook dressed for work, Malcolm barely awake and in his pajamas, and sweet little Max seeing to the final resting place of his beloved frog. Crying at the grave of a tiny green creature.

Suddenly Max dashed off, and for a moment I thought it had all become too much for him and that he was running to escape. But then he returned with a small plastic vial in hand. He carefully opened it and, after Brook had placed Frog 1 in the dirt, poured the watery liquid around the tiny body. When I asked Max what the liquid was he said it was his own DNA, somehow preserved during a science class last year. "Now I will always be with him," said Max.

As directed in the Prayer Book, we "cast earth upon the [grave]" until the hole was filled in and Frog 1 was no longer visible. Then Max sprinted off again, this time to the creek, and came back with a large flat stone to mark the grave. More digging, and it was securely planted in the ground. One final blessing, and we made our way back inside to wash hands, hug, and get on with the day.

He was only a frog, but he was loved, and he was part of God's beautiful creation. And so we have returned him to the Creator who gave us care over him for just a little while.

And I have witnessed the tender heart of my young man, and seen the way he loves and cares for God's creatures. What more could a parent ask than for a boy who weeps at the grave of his frog and yet still sings of a love that lives again? Nothing more.

What an Iron Man!

2007-07-23T08:41:00.000-05:00

Final Time: 16:03:51
Final Feeling: Woo Hoo!!!!!!

So sorry that I didn't post anything last night. When we finally got back to the hotel it was almost 2:00am and we all just kind of fell into bed. Someday I'll tell the story of all the events post-finish. Too much drama, but everyone is just fine now. No worries!

So, by the time Brook came to the finish line, it was after 11:00pm and getting pretty chilly in Lake Placid, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that Brook did it--he finished Iron Man Lake Placid. And he has the t-shirt and the medal to prove it! The end was quite fabulous as Max joined him for the last two miles of the run. Wow.

Here are a few photos from the run and two from just after the finish. The crowd at the line was so huge that I couldn't get a shot of him crossing the line, but we'll order one from the "official" photographer. And, we didn't take photos in the medical tent either. Nobody looks good with an IV and warming blankets, trust me...

So, this is Brook coming in from the first loop of the run:

And this is him heading out for the second loop (long sleeves added--it's getting cold!):

Iron Man!

Iron Man with his boys!
Thank you to one and all for the love, prayers, good wishes and overall support.

Iron Man Update 2

2007-07-22T14:38:00.000-05:00

Here’s Brook at approximately mile 100 on the bike! He came past us at about 3:15pm.

Still looking good. He tossed two used water bottles to us as he passed and was all smiles.

When asked, “How you feeling?” he replied, “Fine!”

When asked, "How's your butt?" he replied, "Sore!"

About 12 more miles of biking and then a marathon to run.

More later…

Iron Man Update 1

2007-07-22T11:41:00.000-05:00

He's doing really well!!!

The start cannon went off at 7:00am and some 2000 athletes began churning up the waters of Mirror Lake. What chaos! We weren't able to pick him out of the crowd, but we did catch him as he made his was to the transition area. He'll kill us for this, but here is a photo of him heading into T1 (Swim to Bike):

He was out on the bike by about 8:30am and seemed to be quite pleased at that point--check out this smile:

Max caught sight of him again at about 11:05am, just as he rounded the corner by our hotel. (The corner of Routes 86 & 431, I think...) Sadly, Malcolm and I had both just gone inside to use the facilities. Oh well, we'll catch him on the next loop.

Keep cheering. He should be half-way through at about 2:30pm!

Iron Man Lake Placid--Go Brook Go!!!

2007-07-21T19:49:00.000-05:00

Hey y'all! Get ready, pray hard, and wish Brook much success in tomorrow's Iron Man Lake Placid! We are all up here now, enjoying the gorgeous scenery and making sure that all is in order for Brook to Swim/Bike/Run tomorrow.

If you want to follow his progress once the race has started (at 7am!), go to this site, and follow the instructions there (his bib number is 1592). You should be able to get split times during the race. He is thinking that he'll finish in about 15 hours, so he should be crossing the finish line at about 10:00pm.

Both Malcolm and I are hoping to get some pictures from the race. If we can find a wireless signal, we'll post during the day.

Oh, and Lake Placid is a really fun place! While Brook was resting today we took a Gondola up Whiteface Mountain (Malcolm had to be the brave one when it stopped mid-ascent and both Max and I started crying...it stinks to be afraid of heights...) for some fantastic views of the area. We also hiked along High Mountain Gorge and saw some fab waterfalls. Lots of photos to post sometime soon.

If you want a live update during the race, call my cell phone: 609-651-4921.

So much to do, so close to Le Tour..

2007-06-30T09:24:00.000-05:00

Right, so I have not just one, but two sermons to write. And I'm the only priest from my parish in town at the moment, so am on call in case of "pastoral emergency" (such as the ding-dang fire alarm going off at the church again...), but what I just realized is that it is only ONE WEEK to the start of the Tour de France. Woohoo! Here's how to have a perfect July day:

Wake up early
Make Coffee and put it in the carafe so it doesn't get all burnt tasting
Settle in to the best spot on the couch
Tune TV toVs. (formerly OLN) and watch the early, live, coverage of the Tour
When the stage is finished, go to beach or pool

Really, it doesn't get much better than that. OK, right, actually being in France for the race would be better, but isn't terribly likely in my world right now, so this is the best I can do. Biggest challenge of the month? Rest days! Yuck, no Tour. Those are really great days for sleeping in though...

And about those two sermons, well I'm actually not as far behind as I thought I was. The Revised Common Lectionary (see here for an explanation of that strange term) is quite handy in that it keeps blocks of text together, and works through the Scriptures in a much more continuous way than BCP did. It's more like the Daily Office readings, and offers the chance to experience the stories in context. Of course, that's only true if you actually stick to the lectionary and don't keep inserting texts that you like better. Not that I know anyone who would do that...

So, here's a preview of what I'm thinking to preach about tomorrow and next week. (You can stop reading now if this is of no interest to you, I promise I won't be offended. Really.) This Sunday's Gospel is Luke 9:51-62, the very end of Chapter 9. And it starts off with a bang--Jesus set his face to Jerusalem. Doh! Don't you just wish he wasn't so dag on clear. Setting his face--what's up with that? All singularity of purpose and what not. The Jesus we like is the one who just meanders around being nice and doing miracles (we're particularly fond of the ones with wine and food, thank you very much!). This dude is headed right into trouble. Jerusalem! Hey--that's not where you want to go, do you know what happens to prophets there? Oh, what's that, you do know? Oh, OK. Alright then, sign me up. I want to follow you, but could you just wait a minute, I've got some things to see to. And so it goes--Jesus lays out the mission and calls us to follow and we really and truly want to go along with him, but, being good humans we can always find something to hold us back, some really good excuse why it's just not possible right now. That's this week.

Next week, is the opening of Chapter 10 in Luke's Gospel, wherein Jesus commissions either 70 or 72 missionaries (bit of a translation issue there...). Having dealt with our lack of commitment in the previous passage, he now gives us marching orders. Mission is clearly defined for us. A commentary I read said this

"The sending out of the 70 (or 72)...reminds us that Jesus sent out not just the Twelve, but perhaps all of his followers. A few churches still send out members on mission, sharing their faith door to door, but most churches have abandoned that practice. More than ever, therefore, the church must struggle with its understanding of its mission. Having abandoned one traditional form or expression of that mission, has the church abandoned its mission entirely?" (New Interpreters Bible, Volume IX)

Ouch. How are we responding to the call on our lives?

OK, now to actually write the sermons. And get ready for the bike race.

I won't grow up

2007-05-12T19:48:00.000-05:00

Malcolm will be 14 this week. Max will be 12 on June 1st. Excuse me, how did this happen? I'm getting older than I thought I was. And, just in case my sons' rapid ascent in years is not shocking enough, this week I was totally dissed just for being over 40. Yep, I found a cool preaching conference at the Cathedral College that is just for young female clergy and I thought, hooray! I can go to that. Until I read the fine print. Young is under 40. No exceptions. So, although I qualify on female and clergy, I can't participate. Whatever, I'm going to a different preaching conference next week anyway, so I don't feel like I lack homiletical opportunities, it's just that I really don't think of myself as anything but young. I still like to sleep 'til noon (although the opportunities to do so are few and far between), I still listen to music that was just released, I have all my teeth, I can still hide my grey hair with only periodic visits to the salon. But, I was born in 1966, and I just have to deal with that.

Fine, I'll just go enjoy my new red pillows on my totally cool terrace. So what if I'm not young by someone else's standards, I am young at heart and still refuse to grow up. So there.

Keeping the vision alive

2007-04-30T09:02:00.000-05:00

So, I've been going through some tough times. Trying to come to grips with some personal failings, some ways in which I knowingly or unknowingly really hurt some people about whom I really care. And trying to understand some pretty big hurts that have been flung at me. The best homiletics professor I ever had once said, "If you don't need to hear your sermon, neither does anyone else." So, although this isn't something I would normally do here, I'm posting my sermon from yesterday. Because we all struggle to keep the Lord's vision in front of us, because we are all tempted to give up, stay in bed and believe that the world is ugly and painful and without redemption. And because we all, most especially me, need to remember the great blessing of Christ's redemption. We are saved, not only from our sins, but from ourselves.

Trinity Episcopal Church, Princeton, NJ
April 29, 2007
Revelation 7:9-17

The Revelation of John is a “trippy” little book. OK, so that’s not the technical term I learned in Seminary, but it is the best word I can think of to describe this oft-misunderstood, and frequently skipped-over last book of our Bible. Revelation is a trip, and it invites to go on that trip, to enter into John’s vision of God’s reign. If we read this text the same way we read a Gospel, or one of the letters, we miss something. Revelation narrates a different reality, one which broke into our world when the word became flesh, and one which is still yet to fully come to be. We live in the time of “already and not yet,” and Revelation is a vision of that reality.

Popular culture has focused on a few sections of the book, mostly those having to do with specific predictions of end-times. Many people have spent time attempting to “decode” the text, to discover the exact day and time this world will end. That activity has no appeal for me, because to look at Revelation that way is to reduce it to facts and figures, to limit a visionary text to pedestrian servitude.

Rather, I look to Revelation for a hint at what Desmond Tutu was talking about when he said of the Bible, “Don’t worry—I read to the end and we win!”

The ‘we” of Revelation is immense. Look at today’s passage: “there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and people and languages.” One commentary referred to this text as describing “variety and universality.” Yes, earlier in the book there are references to specific numbers of saved people, but not here, and not as the vision progresses. Here what John sees in his vision of heaven is everybody. So many one cannot count. People who come from every place on the earth, whose skin colors make up the rainbow of creation. Whose tongues form all the sounds of creation. Whose unique selves are recognizable and acceptable. Whose status as beloved children of God is not determined by any human standard but only by this truly divine vision. We are part of this we. We have become part of God’s heavenly realm, and so celebrate with Him the victory.

And the text before us today certainly is triumphant! “Salvation belongs to our God!” Hooray! Did anyone notice what the crowd is waving? Palm branches. An ancient sign of victory and triumph. A sign which we too waved just four weeks ago, before trading them in for nails and sponges soaked with vinegar. But you see, here is the power of Revelation: that same symbol, which the Palm Sunday crowds abandon so quickly, is here waved for all eternity. That which was broken and abandoned is taken up and redeemed. Palm branches no longer signal impending betrayal, but here proclaim the everlasting victory of God.

And the angels sing back in response, and those whose times have been difficult are washed clean and renewed in spirit. It is a party to end all parties! Thanksgiving! Honor! Blessing! Glory! Wisdom! Hurrah!

The celebration breaks forth in the temple, and the great multitude worships God day and night. The Lord recognizes those who have been without shelter on earth—and shelters them from his throne. Recognizes those who have gone hungry and thirsty—and provides food and drink aplenty. The Lamb, Jesus, is at the center of the vision and will guide all the people to the springs of eternal life.

What a beautiful vision. That to me is heaven. The one-ness of all creation, where no one wants or needs. Where all divisions end. Where pain is no more. “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

I would guess that some of you are saying to yourselves, “Yes, that is a beautiful vision, but it isn’t real. And my life is not like that. So what good is this text to me?” I get that question. And I have asked it countless times.

I found myself contemplating this glorious text while I was away in the mountains of Georgia last week. There, among the beauty of peaks and trees and flowers and birds and all the splendor of creation, John’s vision seemed almost displayed before me. I leaned back on a cool rock, looked out over a valley and thought, Yes, I believe. Thank you Lord, I believe.

And then I came back to my room to hear of the tragic events at Virginia Tech. And that mountaintop experience was shattered. Such senseless violence, such pain. Such utter contrast to the glorious kingdom to come. I threw away the preliminary reflections I had written on the mountain that day, thinking I would never preach them.

And yet, you just heard them.

And that, my friend, is the Good News of this strange and wonderful vision of the reign of God. It is a vision that, yes, attempts to describe what is to come, but maybe even more than that, it is a vision of what has already come.

For God so loved the world, that hope cuts through the grief. God’s love transforms this broken world into something whole and healed. The vision of heaven is so written on our hearts that if we try, we can see it even now, even in the pain of the day-to-day world.

Bad things happen. Beloved ones die, friends hurt and betray, children go to bed hungry in wealthy nations, madmen take up arms. And yet we cling to the hope of the Lamb who leads all creation to the water of life. It makes no logical, linear sense. To hope in the face of horror is, perhaps, insanity. But it is our calling and our blessed inheritance.

We can gather ‘round the throne of God today, and be sheltered by Him and fed by Him and loved by Him. Right here, right now. That’s how we win, that’s how John’s trippy little book opens our eyes and our minds and our hearts and points to a vision which is possible and real and for everyone. Gather, be loved, be fed and take the victory to the streets, to the great multitudes. Participate in the vision—bring it about in your piece of creation.

Final Laps in Atlanta

2007-04-23T14:05:00.000-05:00

Simoni heading for the start

And they're off!

To be honest, I can't remember if this guy is off the front or trailing the peloton...

Looking back to see who's chasing...

Picking up the pace as the second lap begins

So, that's it for the 2007 Tour de Georgia. (Unless I think of something else I want to say...). There are lots of great photos online at Cycling News, if you want to see more. TV coverage of cycling is not great, but Vs. (formerly OLN) will do a couple of hours this Saturday and Sunday. (check your local listings).

And now I have to go back to work. Sigh.

Floyd's in the house!

2007-04-23T13:21:00.000-05:00

Floyd Landis was in Atlanta for the final loops. He rode in a one-lap cancer fundraising ride. Good to see him on the bike. Today's L'equipe (a publication owned by the company that produces the Tour de France) published a report that Floyd's B samples from last summer, which should not have been tested at all because the A samples were normal, showed traces of exogenous testosterone. Now, I suppose it may be that Floyd cheated, I don't pretend to know for sure. But the way he is being treated in this affair is tragic. WADA and USADA have consistently disregarded their own policies and procedures. And Floyd's representative was barred from witnessing this latest round of testing. And, of course, the testing was done by the same lab that did the initial work last summer, and made many mistakes. As I said, I don't know for sure, I have no special knowledge of the contents of Floyd's urine, but I believe him. I believe the way he rides, and the courage he has shown. I believe in his upbringing and the way he treats people. He is a gentle, polite, kind man, and he shouldn't have to be subject to the agendas of bitter men.

Bikes, bikes, and more bikes

2007-04-23T13:04:00.000-05:00

Dave Z's bike, and his legs, too

Spare bike parts just in case....

Discovery's bikes

Prodir-Saunier Duval

Hincapie's tricked out US Road Champion bike

Centennial Olympic Park

2007-04-23T11:56:00.000-05:00

Tater Mitts

2007-04-23T11:47:00.000-05:00

But wait, there's more...

OK, so this has nothing at all to do with bike racing, but I was just watching some TV (I know, a scary thing to do in the daytime...) and there was a commercial for these. Basically, they are rubber gloves with a sufficiently abrasive surface to remove the skins from potatoes in just 8 seconds! Because just peeling them is so difficult? Because you'd like to wear these stylish accessories? Why? Who thinks these things up? These sorts of products just crack me up. But if you want them, order today--they are sure to go quickly.

Hmmmmm, wonder if I could market Cheese Shredder Socks?

Stage Six Start Photos

2007-04-23T11:01:00.000-05:00

Dave Towle is the coolest race announcer around

Levi Leipheimer

Tommy D. and Fast Freddy

Dave Z. rolling into sign in

David Millar

Start Line on Lake Lanier. What a gorgeous location!

I was THIS CLOSE to Tyler Hamilton!

Janez!

George, Tommy D., Dave, Levi

An impressive front line

Tyler Hamilton

Stage Five from a turn in the road....

2007-04-23T10:50:00.000-05:00

Two off the front trying to reach the break

What a great juncture in the road

Mountains. Green grass. Sunshine. Amen.

Sorry, pictures are out of order--this is the breakaway group

...and so is this

And this would be the charging peloton on their way to a catch

Stage Five Start Photos

2007-04-23T10:34:00.000-05:00

Janez signs for all his fans

Gianni at his last start--he didn't finish the stage....

The peloton heads out of town on the long quest for
Brasstown Bald

Did I mention that we started in Dalton today?
FYI, Dalton is the Carpet Capital of the world. Really.

The awesome Austin King! Jittery Joe's had special kits today.

David Millar

Saul Raisin

Former Giro champion Gilberto Simoni

I've fallen behind...and I can't catch up!

2007-04-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

Oh my, I am so far behind on posting pictures and my odd little comments. Sorry. I'm exhausted! Sooooo, where were we? Right, at a bike race.

Stage 5 started in Dalton, GA, home of Saul Raisin. The start was very well attended. Good to see, 'cause some of the other days have looked a bit thin. (Some of the race staff have looked a little nervous...) Last year when the tour rolled through, Saul was in the hospital struggling to survive a brain injury sustained during a race in Europe. This year he was the honorary lead-out man on a parade lap through Dalton--still tricked out in his Credit Agricole kit. (Funny side note--Saul just got engaged to Dave Zabriskie's sister, Aleeza. Can you imagine Dave Z. as a brother-in-law?) I'll post some start pictures when I get home.

I got stuck in traffic leaving Dalton, so was behind the race heading to Fort Mountain State Park. Drat! Some quick map-checking though, and I was able to catch the peloton as they turned up the road towards Brasstown Bald. I decided not to go to the top of the mountain this year. Would have meant getting up way to early, and I would have missed Saul, and it just didn't seem that it would be as much fun by myself. So, the photos I have are from the intersection of Routes 19 and 180. Beautiful spot. And, there was this funny little hunting/camping store there that had cold drinks. Woo hoo!!

The peloton kept on climbing, and Levi Leipheimer took the stage in a very strong finish. I can't wait to see the Vs. coverage of that climb, it sounds like it was great. For me, what followed was a long, long drive to Lake Lanier Islands. It was a beautiful drive, though, and went straight through some lovely stretches of the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Saturday's start was in Lake Lanier, so I was happy to be right down the street. I managed to find my way to a spot literally right at the start line. I had a very nice, brief, conversation with Tyler Hamilton, who was about six inches away from me as the race formed up to head out. Very cool. And some nice photos. Which you will see when I post them. Whenever that is....

And so, then there was today, the last stage--circuits in Downtown Atlanta. First, let me just say how truly beautiful Centennial Olympic Park is. There were kids all over the place--particularly in the fountains that are formed in the shape of the Olympic rings. The park is an easy walk from the Georgia Dome, the Georgia Aquarium (which we loved visiting last year!), and the CNN Center. Someday, when I'm not trying to follow a bike race, I hope to come back and spend some time in this city. (Maybe even to find a job here....)

After hanging out in front of the closed-up-tighter-than-Fort-Knox Discovery Channel bus, I decided to go find something more interesting to do. I know they are great riders, and I respect their talent, but the Discovery guys are so stingy with their fans. They dash out at the very last minute. Outside the other team vehicles I found lots of riders just casually hanging out. Had a nice exchange with Scotsman, David Millar and said hello to Dave Z. I also got a picture of Gilberto Simoni, former Giro winner. All just going about their work, not hiding behind closed doors and shaded windows.

I watched the first three circuits and then had to head out to the airport. The peloton was flying through the course! At one point I thought the voice on the loudspeaker sounded familiar, and when I listened closely, I realized that it was Floyd Landis! (Who should have been riding in this race...) As he left the announcers stage I got a photo and a signature from the Tour de France champion. Wow.

And so now I am finally on my way home. It has been a great trip, but too long away from my three boys. I understand that I am going home to new haircuts on all of them, but luckily not to a flooded house. I had some questions I wanted to ponder on this trip, and certainly the peace and quiet of being solo helped that project, but it's more fun with my boys.

I'll post photos tomorrow. Really.

Photos from a really tough time trial (aka Stage Four)

2007-04-19T20:53:00.000-05:00

The finish line at Lookout Mountain, GA

George Hincapie--not a great day

Dave Z. went by so fast all I got was a pic of his backside...

Nathan O'Neill is Australia's National Time Trial Champion
(and today's 3rd place finisher)

Gianni Meersman grits it out

Juan Jose Haedo

Levi gave it all - and won the day!

Tom D.

Janez!

Janez, again!

Vandevelde!

Vandevelde! (nice bike...)

Vandevelde!

This would turn out to be David Canada's last day in the leader's jersey

Stage Four Post-Race Photos

2007-04-19T20:38:00.000-05:00

Discovery Channel's jersey up close

Levi Leipheimer sprays the crowd with champagne

Dave Zabriskie took 2nd place--and the obligatory birdhouse....

Trying to get a podium shot together...

Balancing like a crane on the podium (a la Karate Kid...)

Janez Brajkovic gets the Best Young Rider jersey first....

...and then the Yellow Jersey!!!

Today's Jersey Boyz
Sprint: Daniele Contrini
Most Aggressive: Tim Johnson
Overall Lead: Janez Brajkovic
King of the Mountains: Jeff Louder

Stage Three Start in Rome

2007-04-19T08:22:00.000-05:00

Levi Leipheimer chats before the start

Waiting and waiting....

Tyler Hamilton

David Zabriskie

Tom Danielson

George Hincapie

Everybody is ready to go!

Stage Three Finish Photos

2007-04-19T08:10:00.000-05:00

Finish line in beautiful Chattanooga, TN, with TN Aquarium in the background

Gianni Meersman takes the stage!

Ciaran Power crashed on the road, but still made it to the finish way ahead of the peloton!

Gianni Meersman waited more than 30 minutes for the podium presentations

Contrini arrives to hand over the leader's jersey

Stage Three podium:
1) Gianni Meersman 2) David Canada 3) Janez Brajkovic

Leaders' Jerseys
Sprint: Daniele Contrini
Most Aggressive: Tim Johnson
King of the Mountains: Jeff Louder
Overall Leader: David Canada
Best Young Rider: Janez Brajkovic

Stage Three

2007-04-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Sunny Georgia! I meant to post this last night, but I was exhausted and went to bed instead. It's a vacation, right?

I went to the start in Rome and got a lot of autographs (felt like such a bike geek...) and some good photos of riders just hanging out waiting to start. The start was at The Darlington School, and so there were students everywhere. They got the day off school for the race--cool!

It was a really strange stage. A group of 13 riders went away early--and stayed away. Really away. The 13 provided an exciting sprint finish, with Belgian Gianni Meersman (Discovery) taking the stage. And then we waited. And waited. For 29 minutes! That's an eternity in bike racing. The top of the standings is totally different now, and most of the pre-race favorites are now working for others. Discovery's Janez Brajkovic is now just two seconds behind the new race leader, David Canada.

Today is a time trial that finishes up on Lookout Mountain at the world famous "See Rock City." Should be interesting....

Just for my boys...

2007-04-17T21:02:00.000-05:00

Yes, boys, it is a Waffle House on wheels! This may just be the finest vehicle ever created. Sadly, though, it was empty the whole day. Perhaps it was just a breakfast thing...

Stage Two Photos

2007-04-17T20:09:00.000-05:00

Three away on the road--Austin King (Jittery Joe's), Glen Chadwick (Navigators),
Garrett Peltonen (Priority Health)

Clock Tower Hill, a serious climb

Did I mention that spring is in full bloom here?

Peloton in second circuit. Tom Danielson on the far left, and Ivan Stevic is third from right. Stevic will go on to take the stage.

Stragglers still kicking it!

Ivan Stevic approaches the podium. He rides for Toyota United, but wears the jersey of the National Road Race Champion of Serbia

Stage Two podium: 1) Ivan Stevic 2) Juan Jose Haedo 3) Fred Rodriguez

Current Jerseys:
Most Aggressive - Austin King (Jittery Joe's)
Best Young Rider - John Devine (USA National Development Team)
Overall Lead and Sprint Leader - Daniele Contrini (Tinkoff Credit Systems)
King of the Mountains - Ben Jacques-Maynes (Priority Health)

Rome Church Project

2007-04-17T19:44:00.000-05:00

Two Steeples and Clock Tower

St. Peter's Episcopal Church

They only have to do two services...

It wouldn't stink to work in a building like this one!

First Presbyterian

Another Presbyterian (can't remember which one...)

Methodist

Stage Two: Sunny and Fabulous!

2007-04-17T18:57:00.000-05:00

What a great day of racing we had today! Three guys were away from early on--and one stayed away almost to the finishing circuits in Rome. That climb up Clock Tower Hill is brutal! Thanks to the jumbo-tron I could stay at the finish line and still see what was happening on the back side of the circuit.

I met a great guy along the barricades. He was born and raised in Rome and is a youth minister at his non-denominational church. He plays football at Jackson State University, but had never watched a pro bike race. We had a good talk about church stuff (same everywhere!) and I gave him the uber quick bike racing tutorial. Here's a shout out to Jason--keep watching those bike races!

I loved spending time in Rome today. It is a lovely town with lots of cool little shops and lots (meaning seemingly hundreds...) of churches. Oh my--this is the Bible Belt! I'm putting together a little gallery of church steeples which I'll post when I have time. Oh, and the local Episcopal church (which was locked up tighter than a drum--wouldn't want any bike fans to get in and mess the place up...) has this gorgeous house in which their offices are located. Seriously, it's all white columns and up on a hill. (Yes, jealous.) Still, though, the other mainline churches in that corner of the town made ours seem tiny. The Presbyterian Church was massive. And not locked up--they were hosting the post-race press conference. Sigh.

Yesterday, when I tried to mix photos with text the blog entry went all wonky, so today I'll put photos in a separate post. As soon as I download them. And edit them. And then upload them. Right, this may take a while...

Of Bikes and Life

2007-04-16T21:24:00.000-05:00

So, I said I would post any photos from today that seemed worth seeing. I'll do that below, but I have to say that even my beloved sport seems less important today as we learn of the tragic events at Virginia Tech. My heart aches for the loss of life, and for the scars left in the wake of today's violence. The world is broken, and hurting, and at times like this seems beyond repair, past the point of redemption. And yet, in this Easter season, we proclaim another message. That death will not have the last word, that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead, that the in-breaking of the kingdom is real, and active, and now. How I cling to that belief now. And how I know in my heart that God does not "allow" such events, that free will is for all, but that God was with each scared and beloved son and daughter through it all and has now welcomed those who have died into His eternal presence and love. May the souls of the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace and rise in glory.

And, there was a bike race today. Proof that for all the pain in the world, there is also beauty. And redemption, as Tyler Hamilton returned to racing after serving a two-year suspension. Tomorrow, to Rome!

Tom Danielson, Levi Leipheimer, Fred Rodriguez, Ivan Dominguez

Daniele Contrini solos for the win!

Tyler Hamilton after the race

Final Podium: 1) Daniele Contrini 2) Doug Ollerenshaw 3) Viktor Rapinski

Spring has really sprung in Georgia!!

Contrini leads in the final circuit

Ollerenshaw and Rapinski were about 25 seconds back...

Macon has hosted a stage finish in every TDG

Tour de Georgia 2007

2007-04-16T09:31:00.000-05:00

Welll, after battling a wicked rain storm in New Jersey, and dealing with the cranky folks at Delta Airlines, I am finally in Atlanta getting ready to head out for the start of the 2007 Tour de Georgia. This is my post-Easter recovery week, so I'm here for the duration of the race. Hooray!

For the first time ever, I am making this trek all alone. Malcolm and Max decided that they could not miss a week of school (clearly their father's influence--I am always ready to play hooky!) so Brook is at home with them. Funny--they actually got the day off today anyway because of the flooding in and around Princeton. So, I'm going to take in as much of the race as I can, armed with my laptop, camera, phone and GPS unit! Let's hope this year's model is more helpful than last year's, whose favorite phrase was "now exiting the service area."

Who is riding this year? Well, my man Floyd is not. In some sort of odd tribute/reminder of his situation, no one is wearing number one this year. (Traditionally, the previous year's winner wears 1, and each of his team mates the following numbers.) Tom Danielson, who came in second last year, is wearing number two, and the rest of the Disco boys follow along in turn. Hincapie, Leipheimer, McCartney are all rolling out. So is Dave Zabriskie for CSC, and Tyler Hamilton for Tinkoff. Yes, Tyler is riding. Not sure how I feel about that yet. A complete start list is here.

Atlanta is gorgeous today--sunny and very windy. The race starts in Peach Tree City which is about an hour south of here, then heads down to Macon. I'll try to post some photos tonight, if I shoot anything worth looking at...

Edited (4/23/07) to correct the statement that Jason McCartney took part in the race. He did not start because he was in the hospital with what would be diagnosed as viral meningitis. His folks came to stay with him (they thought they were coming to see him ride...) and he was on the team bus on Sunday.

How Alton Brown Saved Thanksgiving

2006-11-23T21:12:00.000-05:00

OK, so cooking a turkey is a big scary thing. Really. With a stew, or saute or stir-fry (why do so many cooking things start with S?) you can taste along the way. More salt, a few more minutes, lower the heat--basically you can adapt as the cooking goes forward. But a turkey, once it is in the oven, is a bit of an act of faith. Truss it up, grease it, tent if that's your thing, and then throw it into the heat. Possibilities for mid-course correction are quite limited, and the potential for a dry product which resembles the texture and taste of a cardboard box is huge. That is, until the wonder of Alton Brown. Now, I admit, Mr. Brown is not the first person to think of brining the turkey. We know lots of folks who have sworn by this method for years. But he is the first one to have a tv show (hooray for Food Network!) during which he had an entire hour to devote to producing a fabulous bird. After Brook and I carefully watched the show, and then printed out the recipe we were almost ready to go. OK, there was the need to acquire a new, and therefore clean, 5-gallon bucket, as well as a fancy digital probe thermometer thing, but really the rest was simple. And the result? FABULOUS! So, with hearty thanks to Alton Brown, and my sister Kathleen and nephew Nathaniel, who actually did most of the cooking and certainly the vast majority of the turkey wrestling (it was a big bird at 23 pounds), we have consumed massive quantities of turkey and not a bit of it was dry or chewy. And that is reason to celebrate.

Oh, and there was also the small matter of 10 pounds of mashed potatoes, and brussel sprouts, spinach, roast veggies, dressing, sweet potatoes, rolls, gravy, and green beans. Now it's time for pie, cookies and ice cream. And tomorrow a long, long walk around Manhattan.

Women in Leadership Forum

2006-10-20T14:35:00.000-05:00

Last night I was invited to a program at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, a wonderful girls' school in Princeton. Their headmistress, Sr. Frances de la Chapelle, is a real treasure, and wonderfully committed to the young women in her care. In her letter welcoming folks to their website she writes

As they have for 200 years, Sacred Heart women positively influence the world by thinking critically, acting with courage and compassion, and manifesting an informed and lively faith.

What a gift to the world!

Now, what brought me to Stuart last night was their newly initiated Women in Leadership Forum. Last night's speaker was Dr. Shirley Tilghman, President of Princeton University. Dr. Tilghman is a scientist, a leader in the field of molecular biology, and she spoke eloquently about what it is to be a woman in leadership in two male-dominated fields--hard science and university administration. What struck me about her address was her identification of eight qualities that leaders possess. Her comments were, I thought, spot on, and she chose eight women as her examples. What follows is my summary of her list, with apologies for its brevity--she was much more eloquent than I could jot down quickly on the back of the program:

1. Passion and purpose—Martha Graham (the mother of modern dance) who did not take up dancing until in her 20’s, who was not a “classical” dancer, who moved “from oddity to icon”

2. Persuasion/Inspiration/Eloquence—Barbara Jordan (African-American woman elected to Congress from Texas in early 1970's) called the nation to attention during Nixon’s impeachment, a voice of righteousness, a woman of clarity

3. Strong Moral Compass—Sr. Helen Prejean (champion of eliminating the death penalty) the idea that what we believe ought to be “grounded in something deeper than prevailing sentiments and passions”

4. BIG Idea—Wendy Kopp (founder of Teach For America, Princeton class of 1989) an ability to think way, way out of the box, to create new solutions and pursue them despite being told "no" or "not yet"

5. Stubbornness, refusal to let others define you—Sandra Day O’Connor (first woman appointed to the US Supreme Court) realizing that the path one takes may need to be unique, and fighting for that freedom, meeting challenges head on and defining the solution on your own terms

6. Habit of listening and building community—Meg Whitman (CEO of eBay) leadership as influencing not dictating, “the power of all of us,” understanding the importance of building a collaborative network

7. Learning from mistakes, making mid-course corrections—Hilary Rodham Clinton (former First Lady and now Junior Senator from New York) knowing when you need to step back and listen to feedback and make a new choice, not letting pride stop you from learning and succeeding

8. Courage of convictions—Aung San Suu Kyi (Burmese political activist) freedom from fear, courage to stand up in face of opposition, to hold fast to what one believes to be true and important and worth suffering for

Why I get up in the morning

2006-10-19T11:52:00.000-05:00

You know, there are lots and lots of reasons not to stay in bed all day--as tempting as that particular activity may be from time to time. These three lads are among my top reasons for greeting each day with joy and gratitude. Look at them! Who wouldn't want to get up and go into a world that contains Brook, Malcolm and Max? These fabulous gifts from God point to so much more than their three individual lives, they are creation itself, the very incarnation of love. In these men I see powerfully how the choice (yes, free will is real!) to love, really love, changes the world. So, I get up each day, and put on a collar, and say thanks to the Almighty for asking me to be part of a radical movement that takes as its goal no less than global reconcilation.