"AD" it up

I was listening to NPR and heard that the folks who oversee Stonehenge (you will recall dear reader that my maternal lineage comes from here and a little village nearby called “Elf’s Hole”) are seeking persons to oversee the site and the solstice celebrations. The commentator jokingly stated “applicant must like large rocks and be willing to talk to Druids.”


I’ve been doing a bit of reflecting recently on the role of clergy and the witness of the church. So much of what we do is to be the person who does oversee celebrations --- be they births, marriages, or deaths. Clergy are to be the spiritual leader of their respective communities and to present the spiritual insight to the issue, the matter at hand, the decision needing to be made. I understand this to mean that one should see some folks in collars (colloquial speak for: faith leaders) at school board meetings, town council meetings and present where significant policies are being debated, decided, and enacted.

What if organized religion took out an ad for clergy?

*“Must like strawberry festivals, drinking tea with old women, and potluck suppers;”
*“Must be heard in the pulpit, seen in the community, and present when there’s a need;”
*“Must stir up, stand with, and step up the march toward justice;”


Do these seem accurate?

What else would you add?

Is there one needing to be filled now more than the others?

Speaking from experience, one never knows who it is that might apply.

sj;

Lessons everywhere

I just can’t get enough of the eagles who have nested on the hillside near the Mon River! This seems appropriate on this Earth Day!

The other day I took a walk on the trail to see the pair and big news --- there are now two eaglets to join the family! While I was there one of the eagles was sitting on a branch looking regal and glorious. As I stood there watching him, an older gentleman wearing a bright pink shirt and riding a bike pieced together of various parts, including the still-way-cool banana seat, stopped and said to me, “Hey, I’m gonna’ tell ya’ I’m a blind cat. Is there an eagle up there? Just tell me.”

I smiled and replied, “Yes, there is. In fact there are two eagles and two eaglets.”

He nodded, looked at me and said, “OK. That’s good enough for me.” And he pedaled away further down the trail. He never stopped to look up at the hillside. He had his answer and he was good with it.

Talk about trusting a stranger’s reply.

Talk about the power of believing an eyewitness account.

Talk about believing without seeing.

This brief encounter on a walking and biking trail on a cool, sunny day in Pittsburgh was a gift recalling for me in this Easter season the need to trust and believe in what I know to be true based on the experiences of others and my own encounters.

Trust it....

sj;