Ding, Dong, DOMA’s Dead!

 This is too basic to say anything more than

        It’s about time!

 

ALLELUIA!

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

   

 

Just give the elephant a cup of coffee.

Some other things we Episcopalians don’t talk about:

1.        Henry VIII  -- he always was a bit of an embarrassment, but it’s gotten worse since The Tudors was on TV.

2.       The Trinity – I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a sermon explaining the Trinity.  On Trinity Sunday, the priest will usually say something about how we can’t understand the Trinity and maybe make a joke.  “Now let’s talk about something else.”

3.       The Church of England’s position on women bishops.  (Only if there are non-Episcopalians present.  Among ourselves, we enjoy being indignant.)

4.       Mary – She’s easier to talk to (at least for women), but she’s so “Rome-ish.”  And what do you call her --  Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mother, Our Lady, Jesus’s mom, Mrs. God?

5.       Love – We’re told God showers it on us and that we are supposed to accept it, give it back and shower it on others.  But we’re not told how and we’re too scared or embarrassed to ask.

Is there anything you wish we’d talk about?

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The Fragility of Faith – the Elephant at the Potluck?

Sometimes I feel that I really, truly believe.  I love those times.  When they occur, I feel that I have to walk very carefully to keep the feeling, and the world becomes a mine field or a jungle filled with snipers.

Someone will make a remark or I will get a thought.  (How can God be everywhere?  Why did Jesus give Martha such a hard time?)  Then It comes back – that small ghost with the sharp teeth, made of doubt and guilt and envy of those who don’t seem to be bothered by it.

Then I tell myself that this is Satan doing his thing and that God understands and forgives.  And that it happens to everyone.  Then It whispers, “Really?  What makes you think that you’re not special – specially sinful, that is?”  (Followed by a diabolical laugh that I have no idea how to spell, but you get the idea.)

The point I’m trying to make, I think, is that certainty, at least for me, is not stable.  It’s not even a case of one day at a time.  Sometimes it’s one hour or even one minute at a time.  But that’s OK.  I (or we) just have to keep trying.  (Never mind that It says that one is being too easy on oneself.)

Maybe you are luckier or wiser than I am.  If you are, how do you do it?

 

You just might be a believer. . .

Are you afraid you have too many doubts?  Your faith may be stronger than you think.  Here are

The Top Ten Signs You Still Believe

1.        You think Mother Angelica would make a neat aunt.

2.       You wear a cross, even if it makes you feel you always have to be on your best behavior.  The thought of tucking it in your shirt is sometimes tempting, but it makes you nervous.

3.       If you accidentally say a bad word, you say “Sorry, God.”

4.       Your friend wishes his or her ex from Hell would die and go back there, and you look up and say, “He (or she) didn’t mean it, God.”

5.       The thought of deliberately skipping your prayers or quiet time makes you nervous.

6.       You get annoyed at people who are annoyed at people who say, “Have a blessed day.”  You think, “Don’t you want one?”  If you say it, you say “Sorry, God.”

7.       When you have something wrong with you,  you “go up” at the healing service, even  if it's something embarrassing, like lice.

8.       During the holidays, you change your voice mail greeting to “Merry Christmas.”  (If you keep it on until Epiphany, you are either Episcopalian or too burned out to change it.)

9.       A nonbelieving friend talks about the Hypocrisy of Organized Religion, and you say, “Oh, lighten up.”  (Especially if you add “for heaven’s sake.”)

10.   You feel sorry for Bill Maher, even though he is rich and famous and gets to talk about smoking pot on television.

 

Do you have any signs you’d like to share?

To comment, click “No Comment.”

 

Feel Free to Use as a Bumper Sticker, T-shirt or Whatever

 

 

 

PUT ON YOUR BIG KID PANTS  

 

and

 

BELIEVE!

I’m an evangelical Episcopalian -- I took a test.

I love personality tests.  Of course, when I was in graduate school, I took a test that said my “intellectual comfort level” was that of a high school dropout.  When I told my friends this  (because I thought it was a hoot) they got upset, told me that test was worthless, and tried to comfort me. 

I can imagine someone reading the title and saying, “I don’t believe in labels.”  I find them kind of fun.  And some of the fun comes from defying your label.

Someone else is probably saying, “What the (fill in your favorite expletive) is an evangelical Episcopalian?”  And my friends probably think that if anyone would be an evangelical Episcopalian, it would be me.

The fact that such people can exists is one of the strengths of the Episcopal Church.  Parish differ, priests differ, parishioners differ.  Let’s take advantage of and celebrate the diversity!

Milestones (More About Me)

So far this year, I’ve applied for Medicare and stopped my subscription to Mother Jones Magazine. I didn’t have any problems with Medicare.  I’ll be able to ride the bus for free!  And I spent my childhood waiting to be nuked.  By becoming a Senior Citizen, I’ve defeated the Communists.  (By the way, talking to people my age, I’ve never had anybody say they spent their childhood waiting for the Bomb to drop.  Is it just me?)

I did suffer some twinges when I decided not to renew my MJ subscription.  I started subscribing in the seventies, annoying my parents and my then husband.  But after thirty some years, I would be digging issues out the magazine basket and recycling them without even glancing at them. 

So I subscribed to The Episcopal Journal, which I do read.  I settle down with the paper and a cup of tea and feel like I’m in Dibley or St. Mary Mead.

This isn’t really supposed to make a point.  But please share your comments.

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