Some masks are going on; Other masks are coming off: The struggle of living in community Pentecost 2020 Stuart Higginbotham Last week, I made my first pastoral visit in two months. Two months. I had to get special permission from the bishop to go and visit Ann Beadling in the nursing home wing of... Continue Reading →
A Year of Seeing: May 21: “Stone and Water”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clh8odj0Iiw Stone and Water Be a stone, planted firm as a cliff, on which the waves of reaction are exhausted and eventually settle and gently lap the sandy shore. Be a stream of water, a river, whose persistent flow and presence crosses the rigid boundary of the stone by passing through it--and beyond. ... Continue Reading →
A Year of Seeing: May 20: “Master of Divinity”
Master of Divinity Months back I took all my diplomas off my office wall and replaced them with paintings and icons that I swapped out from time to time to see how a change in the sunlight would catch an eye. I could not help but laugh out loud when I lifted one particular... Continue Reading →
“A Community with Good Bones,” A Sermon (6th Sunday of Easter)
A Community with Good Bones The Sixth Sunday of Easter The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham When we were looking for a new house early last year, we worked with a realtor and gave him a random mixture of qualities and items that we were looking for. I wanted a fireplace, Lisa wanted it not to... Continue Reading →
A Year of Seeing: May 13: “Heart-shaped rocks”
Heart-shaped rocks I don’t know if heart-shaped rocks are rare, but I know it is rare that I see one on a walk. Maybe it’s because I don’t pay attention, but today I saw these two stones lying beside each other, so I brought them home to teach me. SH 5/13/2020
A Year of Seeing: May 12: “Like children running”
Like children running The dappled rays of light squeeze through the branches like children running through their parents’ legs to go outside and play in the grass. They almost giggle as they launch out into the day and join the swallows who greet them there. SH 5/12/2020
A Year of Seeing: May 9: “Sanctuary Light”
Sanctuary Light I slip into the nave for a moment of prayer, which, while it makes my soul sing, also stokes heaviness in my heart that I am sitting here alone, with teary eyes. The light streams through stained glass like it always does this time of day and year, yet never so wonderfully... Continue Reading →
A Year of Seeing: May 8: “Grandfather Flame”
Grandfather Flame The metal doors on the black fireplace in my grandparents’ house had glass windows that glowed orange and bathed the whole room in a warm light as the sun set and I snuggled in her lap while she rocked me. He would let me add logs to the fire, showing me... Continue Reading →
A Year of Seeing: May 7: “Roots”
Roots The winds blew strong yesterday and the shrubs, newly planted, were whipped to and fro, so this morning I replanted them and packed the dirt tighter around their roots so that perhaps now they can stand stronger. Because the winds will come again. SH 5/7/2020
