Barbara’s blog

It is now 1:40 on Monday morning - Memorial Day.  I can't sleep because at the moment the sound of a chainsaw down the street and utility trucks are keeping me from my slumber.  Apparently we had quite a storm today.  Peter and I were at the movies and missed the whole thing.  We were watching the newest "Pirates of the Carribean" movie (which is great!) and never heard anything. On departing the movie theatre we did notice that it had rained, but really had no clue about what had happened until we approached our street.  The two traffic lights on the main road a block from our house were both in blinker mode.  We turned onto the street off of our street, noticing the fire truck at the next intersection.  We then turned onto our street and started to see downed branches.  Fortunately, there was no real damage on the street (that we could see - we later found out that a tree had split in one neighbors back yard.  One neighbor said you could see where it was scorched from the lightening strike.)  We decided to go investigate the next street over where we had seen that fire truck...down at almost the end of the street a major limb had come down on the wires and was blocking the whole street.  As we headed back to our house, we noticed trucks down at the other end of our street - so we went to check that out.  Around the corner, there had been another lightening strike - and a large tree had been split - the part of the tree that came down hit the wires, sheared off the utility pole and came down on the roof of the house - also landing on their brand new car in the driveway.  We know the folks who live there, their son is a friend of PJ's, but they were not around when we were there...someone said they had gone somewhere to get a glass of wine...

Our neighbor told us that it had been an incredible storm with wind and driving rain.  She said that at one point our lilac bush was parallel to the fence...but it was unscathed.  So - we missed it all.  Fortunately, no one was hurt. We were hoping it would rain while we were at the movie so that we wouldn't feel guilty about not working outside - but we had no idea! 

I had composed a rather lengthy posting a couple of weeks ago, but wasn't sure whether I should post it or not.  It's my reflection on Lent and faith and I'm not sure I want that "out there" yet.  This has been a very interesting Lent - and our Lenten program at church has brought a lot into focus.  (Not just for me and my life, but for EVERYTHING!)  Below is the synoposis of the program that I had written...you can tell where is starts - the font is bigger!!

I should back up and explain the program first.  We have been doing a series based on the book Virtue in the Vice: FInding the Seven Lively Virtues in the Seven Deadly Sins by Dr. Robin Meyers.  Great book!  SInce the program is only 5 weeks, we had to select 5 sins and virtues - our rector covered one in a great sermon the week before the program started and the last one has been somewhat incorporated into another one.  Each week,  a different parishioner presents the content of their chapter - and adds, etc. to it.  The idea is not to focus on the sin - nor even to to focus on the virtue that the church assigned to it back in the Middle Ages...but to uncover the LIVELY virtue in the sin.  The whole idea is that the sins and virtues that we have "lived" with all these centuries are the extremes and that there in no way a human being can live that way.  So - we look for the lively virtue with which God blesses us and with which we can live.  We have discussed Anger/Righteous Indignation; Gluttony/Communion; Pride/Worthiness - and last night was Lust/Holy Eros.  Wow!  These people in our parish have done a phenominal job.  I have learned something each week (and I have read the book!) and last night was no exception.  What I learned last night is that the sin and the virtue that the church has touted all these year - lust and chastity are self-centered.  One who give into lust is self-centered - and one who claims to live accoriging to the adjective that we gave chastity is also ultimately self-centered.  So what is in lust and perhaps even chastity that we would hunger and would help us to live as God wants us to live?  That would be holy eros.  (I will not go into the lecture about all of this now...!) 

This book - and the subsesquent presentations have been enlightening...and extremely thought provoking.  Now - the big challenge is - can I keep going after Lent?  It always seems that it's "easier" to discipline myself during Lent - but not at other times of the year...hmmm.  I highly recommend the book - and have copies for my family :-)

Today the sun is shining...spring is sprunging...and the world is looking pretty good for the moment...