Tuesday, August 28, 2007

bike trip
















Today was a glorious day to explore my own backyard on bike. Well, nearly my own backyard. Eight blocks from my house lies a lovely bike path along the Niagara River.
Even though you have to pass through an area along that river that has been completely industrial for almost a century, the sublime beauty of the river takes your attention away from the rusty look of the chemical refineries.

As you get closer to the falls themselves, the rapids become more turbulent. I saw people, reading, relaxing and enjoying the silvery sheen of the bright sun on the water amid the pleasant din of nature which calms the soul if you sit along side the water and meditate.

I passed by tourists at the falls, snapped a bunch of pictures along with a video of the American Falls and then had my German Roggenbrot and Brie sandwich, an apple and white, iced tea flavored with strawberry. The latter was a powdery product similar to Kool Aid, which, when added to your favorite tea, makes quite a suitable beverage.

Riding home was a bit tiring, but it is mostly downhill. All in all, I put in approximately 10 miles, if not more.

Falling leaves

Another beautiful day in the Falls. The weather is getting to be more Fall-like with the nights getting cooler and the humidity getting more comfortable. The skies have been bright blue. I love Fall and long for the yellow, reds and golds of God's palate to adorn the trees. A dear friend of mine, Maggy, says that Fall depresses her as everything is about to die. I look at it as a time of repose and peacefullness, just like we experience when we are sleeping soundly.

There is a very nice bikepath that leads from near my house to Goat Island in the State Park here at the Falls. It has a few knolls that one has to climb but in reality the area is not hilly at all. Once you get to the falls, you can meander in and out among the people. There are people from all over the world here between the American and Canadian sides. It's a shame that thet American side was so industrial for so long. The Canadian side is opulent while the American side has the beautiful state park and only a few blocks which are beautiful. The rest is all urban squalor.
Pity!

Monday, August 27, 2007

Aren't all Christians equal in God's eyes? Then why not in humankind's eyes?



I found a lovely Episcopal/Anglican church in Youngstown, NY, a pictoresque town at the upper most western tip of New York State on the scenic Niagara River across from the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario. The church has a small congregation that is neither ultra-liberal nor are they ultra-conservative; in short, somewhat in the middle in their views on liturgy, morality, church issues, etc.

Although I am a newcomer to this congregation, the rector, a very loving, committed lady, assured me that I would fit in just fine. Being in a same-sex partnered, committed relationship, I thought to myself, "isn't this how it should be in churches?" Aren't we all equal in God's eyes, pilgrims on a path, all with our faults, etc.?

The Anglican Communion has been on the verge of schism because of Bishop Robinson being chosen by his community in New Hampshire; which did not meet with approval from some provinces in the world, especially from many in Africa.

My slant on the issue is, even though I might be looking out from within the fishbowl, all people should be welcome, all people are looking for a relationship with God. Who are the others to judge? Does it not state that judging others in the Bible is wrong? When heterosexual clergy are nominated, are their sexual tastes even questioned? Should that be the criteria? Or does committment and love of the Lord count? Hmmm. I wonder.

I believe that there is room for all points of view in Anglicanism. It has a history of that paradigm. A shame those contrary to an accepting viewpoint cannot see that sometimes a balance is the healthiest.

I'm praying for answers. I continue to question.