2013 Retrospective

2013 in Retrospect...some things to remember



FEBRUARY TO JUNE...
I TAUGHT PHILOSOPHY AT CRANBROOK SCHOOL, which was both a challenge and fun. I enjoyed inventing exam questions like the following...

___________>"I can't seem to remember how this goes... Let's see, "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then He is... uh, what's the word I like to use? __________? Is He able, but not willing? Then He is ... I can't think of that one either _________. Is He both able and willing? Whence then is ... I can't believe I would forget things like this_______?"

                                                             The blanks above, fill in as able you are.

ALL YEAR I have enjoyed the opportunity to minister part-time at CHRIST CHURCH CRANBROOK, working with RON POGUE, a gifted and thick-skinned priest who, as Interim Rector at Christ Church Cranbrook, has been both insightful mentor and supportive boss. He and his icon-writing spouse, Gay, will continue as our friends wherever our future paths my take us.

                                                    Gay's Icon of Mary Magdalene in
                                                     St. Paul's Chapel at Christ Church

 ONE OF RON'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS at Christ Church was to facilitate the use of a free-standing altar, a somewhat controversial measure that has deepened the experience of worship without sacrificing anything of the solemnity and dignity that are part of the tradition of this historic church.

                                            Shown here with me are the two very gifted full time associates
                                                  with whom I serve at Christ Church Cranbrook

IN JUNE WE HAD ALL OUR CHILDREN TOGETHER at home, and nobody had to get born, get   married, or die in order to accomplish it...

IN LATE JULY WE WENT BACK TO VERMONT, and were joined there by Zak, with whom I shared the unique experience of catching two bass on simultaneous strikes on surface lures only a few feet apart.

 ON OUR WAY HOME FROM VERMONT WE SAW OUR DAUGHTER CAITLIN PLAY THE
       LEAD ROLE IN "THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG" AT THE THEATER BARN IN
                                                       New Lebanon, New York

 IN EARLY SEPTEMBER NANCY AND I WENT ON OUR LONG-ANTICIPATED PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY ISLAND and other parts of the British Isles.

 An experience it will take the rest of our lives to describe.
              
      LATER IN THE FALL OUR SPIRIT CAT, BELLA, RAN AWAY FOR WHAT SEEMS
               to be the final time, since she has been gone for several months now.
                 Since 2005, when she appeared on our front porch, she has been
                     our healer and companion, as well as occasional tormentor.

                                    IN DECEMBER, OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER KATIE
                                    GRADUATED FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY,
                                                        with a B.A. in Psychology.
                                                 

                                                      That's Katie receiving her degree from the
                                                               President of the University

                                                                HAPPY NEW YEAR