WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

 Hands : Women at Beckwith put our n\hands on the altar.  Photo by The Pensacola Hippie 

This week's #SermonQuestion to our congregation was " Who do YOU say Jesus Christ is?"

We know Who Scripture says He is. We know Who our pastors say He is. We know that the blue-eyed, blond, White Jesus is historically NOT Who He is. 

But Who is Jesus to you? Who is He to me? 

This is a question that should be at our core as Christians. The answer will look a bit different for every believer, but one common theme is simply that Jesus Is Love Personified. 

To me, Jesus is the Greatest Teacher: the Rabbi of Rabbis.  

His life is a living example of living according to what our Presiding Bishop calls " The Way of Love.  Jesus--- Creator God incarnate-- loves humanity so much that he live a fully HUMAN life-- while showing us The Way. 

He is The Best Teacher Ever.  As humans, He knows that we are imperfect creatures of Earth. We often miss the point He makes, but He loves us enough to tell us to " try again". 

Jesus does not just offer lectures and parables. He SHOWS us by his ACTIONS how to make a better world. He demands that His followers live a life of grace, while realizing that there is a time and place for righteous anger. 

He teaches a radical TRUST--- promising His early followers that they will never be alone. He stresses the importance of COMMUNITY: and we at St Christopher's are blessed with one such community where we do our best to live as Jesus teaches. 

He shows us how to care for the most vulnerable in society. Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Tend to widows and orphans. Talk with your neighbor who is different from you in any way..

He teaches that love is an action verb. The Love that Christ teaches us never was passive. 

To me, Jesus is the Teacher of the Way. 

Amen. 

~Sarah 

Life is Short Take the Trip

 

When  I skipped lunch at a conference at Kanuga, because APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

Life is short. Take that trip. 

Brian and I will do exactly this next month. We're driving eight hours north to the North Carolina Highlands for a short vacation. We booked a room in the same B and B that we stayed in during our honeymoon almost five years ago. 

Needless to say: this Mountain gal is excited. Due to circumstances, I've not seen highlands for two years, and I am more than ready to spend time in the old, old mountains of Western North Carolina. 

We're staying in Hendersonville, a town located close to the South Carolina border. Brian and I honeymooned here almost five years ago, and it has been one of the many thin spots in the Carolina Mountains . 

Me with " Hippie Bear" in downtown H'ville . June 2016. Episcopal Church Women, Province 3 conference. Photo by Becky S. 

In June, 2016, I was back in Hendersonville { Nearby Kanuga Conference  Center} for an annual Episcopal Church Women's Conference. Although that was a " work" trip--- I managed to squeeze in as much time out in the woods as possible. 

After four years, I'm heading back to a place where I've always felt  deep communion with Creation. My parents took my younger brother and me to the mountain resorts near Boone, NC , for several summer weeklong getaways.  There are many wonderful memories of our time as a family on Beech Mountain , near Boone. 

The Carolina Mountains are a part of my story. 

Brian and I are looking forward to some sabbath time on this trip. There are many hiking trails near Hendersonville, including the beautiful waterfalls in the southern portion of Pisgah National forest. When Brian and I saw these falls last, it was cool and the swimming hole was closed { December in NC is not like December in Florida} I'm hoping to show him the joy of swimming in an Appalachian swimming hole , but will be content to just look at the waterfalls. I've some great memories of our parents taking Matt and me to " Jonah's Hole" an out-of-the-way swimming hole in the northern end of Pisgah National Forest. . My brother and father would jump into the deep water from a cliff cross the river while my mom and I sat on a rock near the falls and sunbathed. 

Waterfalls at Pisgah National Forest. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

As much as I love my Pensacola and Gulf Coast home, part of my soul still resides in the soil of the oldest mountains on Earth, the Appalachians.  I love the beach, but there is something sacred about hiking the wooded mountains. I especially am grateful for a chance to share these woods with Brian-- my " flatlander" spouse. 

If there is anything that I've learned from 2020 , it is this. Life is short. Do that thing. Time is not a renewable commodity. Take that trip { If it is drive-able--- flying isn't safe}

Amen. 

Sarah

Egret

 

Photo of a snowy egret that I'd snapped while on my kayak . This was the first time that she has let me photograph her. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

Here she { Egret} is close to my favorite tree.  Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

Yesterday a small miracle happened while Brian and I were at Shoreline Park. The resident Egret whom for months, I've been unsuccessful at photographing, let e get close enough to her on the kayak. 

Egrets are beautiful. 

Research informed me that they are part of the heron family, and that at one time were endangered. Egret { that is my original name for her} is rather shy-- unlike her cousins' Blue Herons. 

I can't help but to think that Egret decided to introduce herself to me yesterday for a reason. Perhaps after all these months she understands that Brian and I will not hurt her.  Perhaps she has been watching us, as I've watched her. 

Shorebirds are beautiful and fascinating, an I'm especially drawn to egrets. The seem to be solitary creatures, so I am especially happy that she chose to let me get close to her. 

~Sarah

When your " Spidey Sense" is on Point About Someone & You Ignore it

            How I feel regarding Naked Florida Man Bitmoji created for me by Ariana. 

  Now that the story Of Naked Peeping Florida Man is literally all over news outlets. { a friend said this morning that her significant other who lives several states away called to tell her that he'd seen the story on his local channel. So, I'm not spreading any rumors or state secrets. 

    Naked Peeping Florida Man was our neighbor when Brian and I lived across the bridge. It was surreal when we turned on the news last evening and there was Local Newscaster standing in the middle of the street near the perp's house. Brian and I passed by that tree , and that house countless times. We know the Peeper and his family. { However , we do not know  the 7 year old victim or her family-- they moved in after we left} 

I can't talk with many people about this because I feel myself getting all full of righteous anger. The fact that Brian and I both know this human fuels my sense of injustice. The crime of stalking a child while NAKED is hideous enough but my knowledge of this person & his family makes me even more sick . 

   To put things gently { I don't wanna harm his wife or stepson any more than they have already been harmed.} " Mr Straight" { play on words there} was much more " crooked" than anyone would have imagined. He clearly is only full of words----  touting extremely outdated gender roles and rules about " what a man does". UGH! 

  To be honest, I never quite trusted the guy. I really don't wish to elaborate on why I felt such a keen distrust of this man--but I honestly wish that my instincts were wrong for once . After all, just because I do not like the guy doesn't mean he's a bad person, correct? In this case, my instincts proved me right: Naked Peeping Florida Man has some deep-seeded issues. 

  In cases such as this one, I hate being right.  I want to believe that people with whom I disagree vehemently  are decent folx--- not creepy middle-aged stalkers of a child. 

   What he did to that child is WRONG. It angers me that he is out on bail. Yet at the same time, I feel sorry for his spouse-- the Court Of Beach Town has already tried her and deemed her guilty by association. 

   I am angry & I am sad. Right now I understand why some people think this guy deserves " Dixie Justice"  & this also makes my peace-loving soul sad. I think about my five-year-old niece in Atlanta and wonder how my { very liberal and nonviolent} Brother would respond as a Father and also as a feminist. 

   Why did God " bless" { its a mixed blessing for sure} with such good Spidey Sense.  Furthermore, how did I let myself be fooled by the charm of a seriously sick man? 

    Prayers for the victim and her family. 

   ~Sarah

Grace and Forgiveness Is Costly

 

Forgiveness quote. 

This Sunday's sermon was about grace. Contrary to what some people believe/preach, God's grace is something that is costly . Grace IS NOT cheap. It is costly for we humans to both give and receive grace. 

I was reminded of this last evening when it came to my attention that someone both my spouse & I know was arrested for some pretty disgusting acts. To be honest, my relationship with this person has always been sketchy: as he professed a right-wing and hate-filled brand of Christianity: one that includes the vilification of LGBTQ+ persons. On more than one occasion I recall being very uncomfortable listening to this person's rants--- I did not { back then} trust myself to counter his hatred of people I love. 

To discover that Mr Family Values was arrested for something illegal and indecent blows my mind. Although to be honest, I'd suspect anyone with that much hatred in their hearts to harbor some sort of darkness within themselves. Yet I was not prepared to discover that someone I know-- even someone whom I do not particularly like, is capable of offenses against children. 

Reading the comment section of the local news outlets was--- interesting. There was a lot of understandable disgust towards this person's actions as well as some rater violent suggestions on retribution.  Again, I am being honest here-- s much as i abhor " taking the law into our own hands" with violence, I understand why people would speak that way. 

It is NOT OKAY to victimize a minor. While I hate violence, I understand why acts such as this trigger responses from the public. 

I actually dealt with the person in my life in our old neighborhood and { barely} tolerated his verbal spew. Unlike many of the posters on the local web sites, I know how hypocritical this guy is now, and that makes me feel even more soul-sick. 

I don't feel like offering any grace towards him at all. To me, he is the worst kind of hypocrite: demonizing others for whom they love { and for whom we " liberals" vote-- just don't get me started on THOSE words he and I exchanged} Yet I know that we are commanded to be agents of God's grace--- both giving & receiving the Gift tat God offers each of us daily.  Christians are not called to be vigilantes. I need to let God-- and the court system-- sort out this mess. 

As the sermon noted on Sunday: Grace is hard to GIVE and hard to RECEIVE. Right now I am still processing everything that went down in our old neighborhood. Frankly, I want to at least make a big ' call out" on this person for the hypocritical nature of his words and actions. yet I remember that this guy has a wife who is probably devastated by his actions. The last thing I want to do is cause her more sorrow. 

I sit with the disgust and wait for grace. 

Amen. 

~Sarah

2020: The Year That Is Not.

 

Photo of me, taken by Brian, while enjoying some of Pensacola's outdoor space during the Year That Is Not. 

Preacher/blogger John Pavlovitz writes recently :

 "...nothing can change the reality that this was not how this year was supposed to go for any of us, and that we’re all not sure how much more we’ll have to cancel and lose and miss or shelve, or when we’ll get to make new plans or pick up our dreams where we left off, if we’re able to at all. The frustrating stuck-ness of this moment is epidemic."

Preach on, Preacher Man! 

Frankly, when I look back on my life I am not planning to include anything about 2020 in my  good memories. This year has been trouble for me since my brother-in-law and sister-in-law died ten days apart back in January. Brian and I were trying to deal with all that the sudden death of his brother here in Pensacola throughout the month of February. We sort of knew about the strange virus , but were not in tune to most of the national & international news at that time: I was still processing the shock of being awakened by a phone call to Brian from the police & then seeing my first dead body { Funerals don't count. } 

Then the virus invaded . Due to poor leadership at states' & federal levels, the COVID19 bug cruised throughout the United States-- overwhelming Intensive Care Units at hospitals nationwide. 

The country shut down. Police escorts sat in front of my local Wal-Mart , preventing me from purchasing needed art supplies. 

All churches & agencies in my Diocese closed--- moving Sunday worship to various online platforms. Quickly, those of us who had never teleconferenced had to learn Zoom . 

Flights were stopped. We live near the airport in Pensacola , and the skies were eerily quiet , save for the occasional military or cargo plane. 

Public Gulf beaches were closed-- forcing Brian and me to seek communion with Nature in other places. 

Masking is necessary-- blocking people from seeing smiles. However, I am so grateful for the limited contact with people I love. In-person church resumes with the needed safety protocol. Everyone wears a face mask and touching others not of your household is forbidden. 

For someone for whom touch is one of their love languages, no contact socialization is hard. I'm not gonna sugar-coat-- not hugging people I love is heart-wrenching. 

Not knowing when any of this will end is what is traumatic for me. After over 40 years of life on Earth, I know that I am resilient.  Yet not knowing when my personal and society's collective COVID-Trauma will end is part of what makes this unlike anything most people have ever experienced. 

This virus has robed everyone of so much: we cannot even bury out dead loved ones in the normal fashion due to virus protocols. My mom lost  first cousin to cancer , and her funeral was broadcast online. 

Students are going to college: many for their first semester and they cannot  enjoy a  full campus life due to the lingering pandemic. Many of these students had some sort of " virtual" high school graduation. K12 and college students spent most of last semester learning online. 

My grandmother's 90th birthday party in Pittsburgh was nixed because too many people were planning to honor her by flying in from all over. Trips of all sorts are being postponed or totally cancelled. 

I'm weary. 

What angers me the most are the few people who will not mask in public.  They cite that " their rights are violated" by the ask rule. Yet how many of us sacrifice our own comfort { and mental well-being for those of us who have depressive disorders}  because love is an action verb. The selfish behavior of a few is  lengthening the time that it takes to get this pandemic under control. 

In my opinion, 2020 is The Year That Is Not.  No one I know is living fully human during this pandemic-- we are doing all we can to keep from getting sick. 

My only goal for 2020 is to live to see 2021. 

Amen

~Sarah

Benson/Stabler: Friends Forever

 

Images pulled prom the Internet of my favorite TV " couple" , Benson & Stabler from Law & Order: SVU.  I am TOTALLY excited about Stabler making a guest appearance on the season-opening episode of SVU AND the character starring in his own show. 

My priest's sermon for this week's Gospel lesson has me thinking about true friendship.  I'm blessed with several true blue girl friends, but there is something special about knowing someone long-term. Right now, my best friend is my spouse , but I have other friends from my past who have grown along with me.  Its such a blessing to know that someone "has your back", and loves you in spite of yourself. Brian IS my best friend, but I've a long-term gal pal whom I've known since we were toddlers. Ana is my secret-keeper and one of my biggest champions and I am hers. 

But I'd like to turn to a fictional relationship that has captured my imagination since 1999. It is the lead detective of the show Law & Order : Special Victims' Unit 's relationship with her first partner.  At first glance, Olivia Benson & Eliot Stabler appear to be total opposites. I remember watching them together during season one and wondering why one or both of them did not request a new partner. Eliot's temper would get in the way of his good heart and eventually be his undoing at SVU while Olivia Benson is steadfast.  Stabler is married { albit that is a complicated relationship} with children while Olivia is perpetually single. 

I must add that I find both Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay, the actors who portray these characters,  as incredibly attractive .However,  Chris looks his age while Mariska seems to get more beautiful s the years pass. 

Anyway, these two characters are together as partners & friends for twelve seasons. There are too many wonderful Benson/Stabler moments for me to recall at once, but I do remember Stabler's wife refer to his partner as a " work wife". 

The nature of police work requires that partners always look out for one another, and by spending so much time together, Benson & Stabler developed a deep friendship with hints of physical attraction to each other. The relationship dynamic shared among Benson, Stabler & Stabler's wife is messy.  His wife, Kathy, once talked privately to Benson, asking her to encourage Stabler to sign divorce papers. In another episode  , Olivia volunteers to drive Kathy to her doctor's appointment since Stabler had  a lead on a case. In this episode  Someone T-bone's Olivia's care, trapping an injured , very pregnant Kathy in the car. Kathy goes into labor, and Olivia helps bring the baby safely outside the womb.  At the end of the show, Stabler hugs Benson tightly.

Partners and friends.  

Men & women can be best friends, without the relationship turning romantic, and I am glad that the writers of the show put just enough sexual tension between Benson/Stabler to keep people guessing. 

I'm not sure what the writers have in store for this duo in the new season, but I  hope that they explain why Eliot left so abruptly-- without mentioning to his partner that he wanted to retire. This just illustrates taht friends, even best friends, will hurt each other. No one is perfect.  { At any rate, I wouldn't mind at all if , when she sees Eliot, she slaps him hard on the face. How he left---letting their boss break the news was not okay } 

As these two fictional characters show us, real friendship is messy. As a matter of fact, one can argue that friendship is even messier than one's relationship with one's spouse. Two people who , like Benson & Stabler, spend a lot of time together for year tend to see the best and worst versions of each other.  I am grateful for Ana because she's seen me at my best & worst -- yet has not given up on me.  Likewise, I think that Benson/Stabler will still be close-- hopefully Stabler has grown a lot in the years he's been absent.  As for my opinion on an eventual romantic relationship for these two characters: I am ok either way. { Hopefully the writers have grown Eliot so he isn't so hot-headed and childish -- Olivia deserves  someone who acts like an adult in her life-- as she's grown since Eliot's departure. }

Friends make life better. 

Amen

~Sarah

A Room of My Own, designed to suit ME

 

Photo looking in door of my " She Shed" room. Its part studio, part home office { wi-fi is weak there, so I'll still work mostly in the living room area for now. It is still a work in progress. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

This past weekend I grew frustrated with the pile of " stuff" that had accumulated in the small middle bedroom of our cottage. This room, designated as  " Sarah's Studio//Office" when we moved to Pensacola almost exactly three years ago had become a Covid Catch-All Space. 

After spending a good three hours decluttering and cleaning the room, I decided to totally make this space mine. 

I am pleased with what I've done to the space so far: transforming it into MY oasis. When I get shelves, I shall move my books to the studio, making room for other things in our square-footage-challenged house. 

 All my art supplies went to a neat place atop my jewelry box { until I get the book shelves that a friend promised to me when he moved}  I re-arranged the light fixtures to my liking and padded the cheap desk chair with a lumbar support pillow and throw pillow. To make the chair pretty, I draped an afghan that I'd purchased at a thrift shop. { So far, this is the only " new" item that I purchased for the room redo} 

I just LOVE this blanket-- so worth the visit { keeping safe and masking, of course} to the thrift store. Purple is my color. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

Eventually I want to get a purple bean bag char to use as a cozy reading nook, but I'll wait on that addition, as well as the painting of the walls. It is entirely possible that I'll opt to pain one wall lavender-- leaving the other three walls as they are now. An accent wall will highlight the books, the reading nook, and the wall crosses. At any rate, there is no hurry for me to do the paint job. 

IF i decide to pain an accent wall this wall will be some shade of purple. I think a color will highlight the wall crosses. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

I removed the flimsy, cheap curtains and decided that I like, at least for now, a curtain-less window. If I change my mind, I can always add some window dressings. There are blinds covering the window, so I feel secure without curtains. 

I'm looking forward to slowly turning this room into an oasis. Brian has " his room" in the work shed, and this is MY " room" . It only took three years and a pandemic, but I am FINALLY making my little Zen nest reflect MY personality. 

Mugs holding writing and drawing implements, representing both The University of West Florid *** and*** St Christopher's Episcopal Church, Pensacola. Go Argos! Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

Yesterday was the Feast of Christ's Transfiguration, and I am celebrating by honoring my uniqueness. Each of us is an individual, known and loved by a wonderful Earth-Maker and to honor our uniqueness is honoring the Maker. 

Amen. 

~Sarah

7 August 2020

Maiden Voyage of "The Bri-ak", my Spouse's Kayak

Calm Pensacola Bay in the morning. In the photo is The Chappie James Bridge is in the background, as Brian and I launched our kayaks at Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

Brian has a kayak. He hunted hard for this boat and is quite proud of her. He calls her " The Bri-Ak", and she is a fishing kayak that is almost 12 feet long. Somehow, we managed to fit both her and my kayak, " Good Trouble" in our pickup truck bed & rode over to Shoreline Park to launch. 

It took both of us, but we unloaded both boats and soon set out on some calm waters. We saw our usual osprey friends as well as Egret. 

Egret looking for fish near The Tree Of Life. Shoreline Park, Gulf Breeze, FL. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

Following the example of a friend, I secured my phone in a Ziplock bag and fit it snugly in the pocket of the life jacket I am amazed at the different beauty of " our" park as I see it from the water.  For instance, our " Tree of Life's" big branches & roots look more magical from the vantage point of a boat.  Additionally, the quiet boat allows me to sneak up on wildlife for photos: I've been trying to capture this egret in a photo for weeks. 

I only open my phone to snap photos. To me, this water is sacred, as is the ground at its edge. Kayaking dictates that I remain fully engaged in what I do : I don't want to tip the boat! 

If it were not for the Florida heat and humidity, I could stay on the water literally all day. As I have mentioned before, I feel the most at peace and connected to The Divine when I am either swimming in or paddling on water. I feel safe from the virus and the evils of humanity as I converse with the Osprey in their language. { Brian says I imitate an Osprey call fairly well}  I've gotten to know the Osprey who live at Shoreline Park: and they have names. I can't know for certain, but I like to think that the Osprey siblings know me as I know them. 

During a paddling break, I dipped my fingertips in the water: its temperature was perfect! 

No matter how advanced computer software can become, certain things about life cannot be replaced by a digital format. The virus keeps me here in Pensacola this summer, but I've done my best to enjoy the natural world in my own backyard. I do miss my Appalachian mountains and especially my kin there, but safety dictates that I not ride on an airplane right now. 

In a season where nearly all human interaction is done on Zoom & Facebook, our almost daily trips to the park feed my soul and remind me that a loving Creator holds all of us lovingly. showing up here in my sacred spot among the birds, fish and trees, as well as making some effort to " show up" for daily prayer sustains me. 

In the Name of the Holy Three...

Amen.

~Sarah

Middle Age is GREAT: Fashion Sense Edition

Middle-aged hippie chick. Photo by Brian. 

I do not understand why the media forces people to idolize youth. I spent my teens & twenties either being miserable {in high school} or making poor choices { in my second decade} in a vain attempt to try t fit into the mold society puts women into. 

I'd spent the first half of my life hating my five foot six inches, slender , curve-less body. None of the clothes taht were in style seemed to fit my " pencil person" { That what Mom says I am since I'm built straight up and down} figure.  Butts and boobs were the look for women , and I hated the fact that I had neither. lso, I lost count of how many times I went to the vice principal's office in middle and high school due to my " inappropriate " shorts and skirts. :(Girls with shorter lets and arms got away with wearing miniskirts and Daisy Duke shorts while I was a dress code violation every time I wore shorts to school. { M'kay, maybe I exaggerate a wee bit, but it sure seemed like my clothing was policed more than my shorter, bustier classmates. 

Dresses were just as bad: as a narrow-shouldered female with a small chest, I'm grateful that I never had to find a formal gown { Shyness and insecurity kept me away from all the dances} Even s an adult-- dress shipping is NOT my favorite activity, but I've developed n eye for thinks that suit my narrow body. 

Today, I embrace my natural figure.  Working WITH my body--- rather than AGAINST it-- I've developed my own style.  Furthermore, I've remembered that beauty comes in all sizes, and I should not let people " thin-shame " me. I find fashion nd workout advice and inspiration from women who are also naturally long-limbed and thin. 

I think Carly Simon is beautiful. 

 

After reading her autobiography and realizing that she, too, struggled with hating her tall and thin body  From her example, I learned that long skirts need NOT be prudish. 

Instead of dresses, I wear several long, flowing skirts when I need to dress up. I've discovered that I can mix and match many shirts to make skirts seasonable all year long. I tend to favor skirts { and pants} that accentuate my long legs, and draw the center of focus away from my narrow upper body. I pair the flowing skirts with bright, solid colored tops. I'd discovered that as a thin, blonde person, black and brown does nothing but wash me out. 

Neutral colors are NOT my friend. 

If I do wear neutral pants, I pair them with a bright top.  I also have a gorgeous second-hand gray skirt suit that I wear a lot with varying tops of bright colors. 

 Awesome gray power suit with a pencil skirt , paired with a bright lacey top.  Photo by Brian.

My Bishop is fond of telling people. " be whom you are. Nothing more nothing less."   I've learned that  fashion is more about expressing MYSELF than following trends. I've learned to work with  and not against how God knit me together. 

Amen. 

~Sarah 

Feast Of The Transfiguration 2020

Centering Oneself On the Water

Sarah getting ready for a trip on " Good Trouble" Photo by Brian . 

I confessed to my priest not long ago that I'm really struggling with feeling the presence of God in this Covid-ridden existence.  Intellectually, I know God is with me--- that God loves humanity so much that God became human in the Person of Jesus Christ. 

However, " head knowledge" of a loving God is moot when someone cannot feel God's Presence in their life. Things got so bad that I confessed to my priest that I really did not want any part of online church that week-- I was feeling disconnected from everyone in my life { save for Brian} and therefore could not see God in faces of people I love. She { my priest} reminded me that the purpose of prayer is not magic, it is something that we faithful people do because God desires connection with us. 

In these pandemic times, I find that I feel a real connection with The Divine when I am outdoors-- and especially when I am kayaking. I find that the rhythm of paddling on the water and the peaceful sounds of the shoreline birds " centers" me in a way that cannot be replicated online-- or even in a traditional in-person worship service.{ Of course , I love in-person worship-- and am so grateful that there is an option for me to worship " in the flesh" with my people. }

 This is where I come close to meeting The Divine: Hollowed Ground. 

Our favorite oak tree: "Tree Of Life", as seen from my kayak . To me, this is a " thin place"  Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

Brian and I are at the park early--when most people are just eating their breakfast. Not only do we feel safe from strangers in these COVID times during our early-morning outings, we appreciate the quiet park. Here and then I can engage all of my senses and experience LIFE fully. God shows God' saSelf  freely here-- and no threat of disease keeps me from appreciating all that God Is. I feel God while on the water because I can literally sense God with all five senses. 

Maybe it is due to my Celtic Druid ancestry, but Nature has always been where I felt closest to God. Perhaps that is prat of why I felt drawn to The Episcopal Church: our liturgical practices and worship are to be experienced with our whole selves. 

 We sit , stand & kneel { usually} at prescribed times during the liturgy. 

We see the altar, each other, and the beauty of our worship space. 

We listen to the lessons, music, and sermon. 

In non-COVID times, it is customary for us to exchange handshakes and hugs during the Peace. We cannot touch each other, but we can look into people's eyes and sense the love there 

During non-pandemic times, we arrive at the altar for Communion and smell the wine before we taste the consecrated elements. The priest still presses the Bread into our hands as we safely come to the rail.

We participate in our worship rituals with our full selves because that is how God designed us to live. 

The calm waters on which I kayak calls me back to that full personhood-- for a little while I  forget that I am-- at best-- existing in a dystopian time in human history . I feel God very near-- because I feel fully human.  I think back to the narrative in Genesis where the water is called forth  and that living things: according to science and our faith tradition first emerged from water. 

I feel at home. 

The glory of God is the human being fully alive.” 
~ St. Irenaeus of Lyon (AD 202) His feast Day was 31 July...

Amen.

Sarah

3 August 2020