Linda Sue posted a photo of a northwestern pygmy owl today (below, left). Those colors would make a nice God's eye, I thought.
But... there's the problem of spots again!
Oh well, I'm not going for veracity: I held it in my mind as I worked.
An owl is a pleasant thought, if you are not a mouse.
I was commenting to a neighbor yesterday that the leaves are late to turn. Then this morning, after a rainy night, you can see they have turned to gold.
People are taking the eyes off the fence, slowly, I noticed when I left work yesterday--so I'm not able to fill the fence up, but am filling gaps. That's okay. They're still all along the fence, a vibrant presence.
Sulfur & Marshmallow
I hadn't made any for a few days, and so I still have a couple hours of the audio book on Roger Williams. Listening again after a break, I'm putting something together:
the pastor at the church I've gone to 3x now reflects his denomination's Puritan roots.
And I like that.
With rainbow flags & solar panels mounted on its old, fortress-like stone building, I'd worried this liberal church would be all ooey-gooey sweetness and light, like an Unity Church a friend goes to, which advertises itself as "uplifting and affirming", like a bra.
I don't want that.
The pastor commutes by bike, for instance.
At first I thought that was a ridiculous affectation--big whoop--but then I though, Who do I know (who can afford a car) who chooses to bike?
I can count them on one hand.
So, I get the feeling he has some passionate intensity to him.
Those Puritans were intense. I wouldn't want to know them, but I admire their ferocity.
They are not the ancestors of the New Age movement.
I suspect the pastor is restraining ghosts whispering that he cut off the ears of those who refuse to hear.
I like that he preaches and acts on the belief that what we're doing matters. Or so it seems. I'm new--I'm gathering data, for now.
There may be a whiff of sulfur about the pastor, but as I've mentioned, the Spiritual Director comes trailing clouds of marshmallow fluff.
I have to leave the sanctuary so I cannot even hear her goo-ily guiding us in "gentle reflection".
It goes beyond eye rolling.
To use a word suggested by Micahel:
she makes me writhe.
i would find your current church quite fascinating to attend. the thing i'm so leery of in attending one here is the forced shaking hands at the end of the service. i've never liked that and don't feel that people should be forced to do so. finding comfort and solace in traditions even if i don't always agree with what is said. marshmallow fluff would have me running away from that! i wonder how many people like that aspect -- the forced act.
ReplyDeletek
DeleteI have a Catholic friend who just hates that Catholics are supposed to share “a sign of peace” in the middle of Mass – – which means a handshake – – at least it did up until Covid. (Since then, it is acceptable to smile and nod.)
This church I’ve started going to is quite an odd tangle of practices – – as I said, I sense some iron in the pastor but treacle in the spiritual Director, (yes, I wonder too, do people love that???)—and I’m not sure what the underlying theology of it all is.
I don’t want to go somewhere where I dislike the theology, but as I’ve said, in many ways I just want neighborhood connection – – and I really hope I like it enough that I want to go at Christmas time, which I’ve missed very much.
neighborhood connection is important. i have 3 churches around me -- Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Mennonite. i grew up going to the Presbyterian church as well as the United Methodist church which now has contemporary and traditional services. Way back in the 1970s the UM church had someone who signed the service. i wonder if they still do. i do. miss the Christmas services also.
Deletein the late 90's i was in paris around Christmas time and went into Notre Dame. it was so magnificent to do so -- the darkness inside, the smell of pine and the burning candles. i remember lighting a candle before i left.
k
Let’s go to Notre Dame this Christmas! I’d love to see the restoration.
DeleteWhen bombing around London , if I needed a charge, I would sit in some church that was open, for about ten minutes- just sit. It was comforting and did indeed recharge the batteries for more bombing around. Other than, that, as you know, I have no truck with churches or contrived ideas. The gooey churches make me wretch. Just Don't!!! Raccoons have more to say about life than gooey affirmations- likened to a bra, hilarious!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Love the owl eye- the fluffy-ness of it. the downy feathers. The colors are accurate- I see a little owl represented there.
I do hear you, Linda Sue, that you do not care for church and religion.
DeleteAnd I believe you, I really do.
Many many people I know feel the same.
Thanks for posting the owl 🦉 picture!