Episcopalian Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori

I was not in attendance at the triennial Convention of the USA Episcopal Church. I did attend my own Diocese of Milwaukee Convention after our new Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected. The various reports I heard were more than positive. Illuminated from the heart comes close to describing the tone of those sharing their experience of waiting to hear who was elected as our next national Presiding Bishop.

She told me the story at the dinner table of the Diocese of Milwaukee Convention, "I was attending the Women's Caucus when we received word that a Bishop had been selected. We all began to pray. Beyond our meeting walls, farther than the end of the stadium length hallway we felt a silent rush of breath. It was as a wave of air was making mute every thing in it's path. Suddenly it was on our backs and I felt my skin chill on the back of neck. Next we heard the announcement and began cheering . It was more than any of us had dared to dream. It was divine".

I had my own neck chilling moment when I heard that Bishop Katharine is a pilot. If we believe that God Speaks unexpectedly, then I trust that God answered a riddle for me. During my daily contemplative time last summer I envisioned a white linen costume falling from the sky to land on the front steps of my church. The costume was in the form of an empty single pilot plane. At the time of the vision I could only thank God for the delightfully odd image while praying mercy that I didn't know what it meant. The Spirit is a mystery, sometimes to confuse us into seeing something differently and sometimes to tickle our heart in affirmation that what we believe , though unseen is real.
The Lectionary for today, Ephesians 4:9-16, reminds us that God can lift us from the captivity of death. God can descend to our pain, in Jesus, to be with us in our human struggles. This covenant is eternally rooted, from Jacob's dream of angels ascending and descending a ladder to heaven. Perhaps Paul was correct that the gifts of angels wings land on us at random while we trust that God is knitting an numinous quilt for the entire Creation.

VOTE NOVEMBER 7TH

My labor union AFSCME/AFLCIO says NO to the ban on Civil Unions.
My Church, the Episcopal Church of USA says NO to the ban on Civil Unions.
I say NO to the ban on civil unions and alternative marriages.
I am married and DO NOT WANT my government to judge my marriage as worthy or unworthy.
I am married and DID NOT TAKE A VOW to deny others the right to alternative committed unions.
I say NO to the government looking at my marriage or any other couples union for the purpose of granting and denying benefits.

Sophia's Garden 6 the demons are biting

He said, " the demons are biting".
Cold air, sour dew, foreboding fog brings blemished fruit.
Winter is coming. Hold fast to the good harvest. Store sun
in your inner spaces for Joy once ready to play every dawn of summer now burrows deep into the earth for warmth.
She will not answer your cries to return to the winter days.
My feet feel like old roots that only desire deeper dirt.
Reaching above my own head for hope takes all my strength.
I stretch and pray .
Try this website...
http://www.gratefulness.org/index.htm

Psalm for Sophia

Mother creator, Sister Christ,
in Her we shall not want.
She makes us lie down in green pastures.
She leads us beside still waters.
She restores our souls.
She leads us on paths of righteousness
for her creations sake.
Even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of oppression,
I fear no evil, for she is with me.
Her rod and her staff they comfort me.
Her mantle of needles they protect me.
She prepares a table before me
in the presence of my oppressors.
She anoints my head with essence of hyacinth.
My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy
shall guide me all the days of my life
and I shall dwell in Her house forever.

related blog site

The Skeptical Priest go to this blog spot for a good dose of ordained heresy, I mean that in the good way!

Sophia's Garden 5 Toad's Gift

More surprises appeared in the night darkness. Just before dawn a toad was surprisingly serene as we approached it's perch, considering it's mortal enemy Sophia's dog walked by my side. From a mossy round boulder it sang to us in flute like tones, "The journey can overcome you, do not fear, peace will be your boat and Sophia will guide your sail".

Walking further the stones turned to sand and then dunes of sand seemed to pull my feet deeper into a hot beach. I followed Dog on all fours, crawling on my hands and knees. Uncertain of where we were crawling I became attentive to the changing ground under my hands and knees. Heat turned to moisture then coolness. Firm sand became soggy and floppy like lily pads. I was soon floating in cool water from one reed mat to another. I wondered who had woven these strange stepping stones. The function of these floating mats was unclear as they were too fragile to support much weight. Yet they appeared sacred in the wet void. There ahead of me I saw the toad hopping from one perch to the next. I wondered how my weight would be supported on the tiny flat floating steps that supported his slight weight. Then I was gathering them one by one with each reaching stroke of my arm. I was not aware yet that I was no longer swimming in water, but standing in moist sand. Small golden oval leaves gathered at my feet and began to swirl around my toes and ankles. Dawn appeared as a thread of light on the horizon.

"It is yours to use as you need". I looked up startled by the toad's voice and saw the boat he was looking at. It was a small craft of periwinkle blue trimmed in lavender. Suddenly he turned and jumped capturing an entire spider web with spider and prey in his mouth. Turning his head to look back at us one more time, I heard the chime of a bell as he winked his parting wish for our good travel.

Sophia's Garden 4

From night blue to velvet green I slid then fell to the fish below.
Preparing myself with a deep breath, ready to fall into the water, a wind embraced me from the west. I was passed from the tree branch to the river bank with gentle care, as though mother carried me and lay me down in a cradle of grass, whispering, "She makes me lie down in green pastures, leading me beside stilled waters". I rested in the grass blanket. I inhaled the sweet breath of the water and green growth. Sophia and I hand in hand. Sophia and I walked the same path.

Sophia's Garden 3

My feet began to adjust to the cold dampness. I was feeling ready to step into the darkness. Suddenly I felt a welcome warmth on my calves, a furry warmth that made me look down in fear even though the sensation was calming. "I am Sophia's friend", said the dog who was smaller than a wolf. "She has sent me to lead you to the Garden". " I really don't need your help" , I said as I looked into the darkness knowing that my garden was less than 60 feet away.
"But look deeper Dear One", said the warm dog. "There are many hidden barriers and steep falls ahead. Walk with me and steady your self at my side".
Sure enough Sophia's dog had given me fair warning. I was surprised to feel a wall that I could neither remember building in my yard, nor see at that moment. My toes were fumbling over sharp stones. Just as I was about to fall the dog guide broke my fall while towing me into a gentle river current. "There is no river in my backyard" I thought. "Why should you care", she whispered. Before I knew what had happened I was in a cedar tree looking down on the river. I had no idea where Dog had gone. I was distracted from thinking further about Dog. Below I saw a ballet of fish. The fish were all sizes and shapes and swam in radiant circles. There were five or seven fish in each circle forming a fish halo. The fish were facing each other and appeared to speak or sing to each other as their gills and lips opened and closed in breathing rhythm.

Sophia's Garden 2

When I opened my eyes to the dark silvery light I saw a fullness that I hadn't seen in the backyard the day before. Had it been more than a day since I looked at my own backyard? ( We have also admitted to each other that our memory capacity seems eschew these days).
I was about to put my garden shoes on when I felt an inner nudge to get out into the garden before dawns light. The ground felt damp and cold but I didn't let my stumbling steps stop me from going to the garden. When had this lush growth happened? The grass was knee high, thigh high in some places. There was a walkway that was overgrown with arching grasses. Next to the walkway I spotted a pool surrounded by grasses as tall as me. I wanted to run back to my studio for my camera to capture this amazing surprise. But I could not stop searching for more surprises and my work was rewarded. Under the arching grasses I saw white with red tipped irises. Next to the tree I saw a large leafed velvet blue plant I thought had died. There were star shaped pink penny blossoms at arms height. There were short stem roses barely higher than my toes.
What a treasure of a surprise in my own garden!