From the Creepy Letter Files

Today in my seminary mail I received an anonymous letter, handwritten but not signed, no return address, postmark from St. Cloud.  It was some form of a sinner's prayer and then a passage from Ezekiel about receiving a new heart.  Not clear if this is someone who feels the need to confess these things to me, or if they are implying I need to pray them myself.  If the latter (more likely, the way these things typically go), not clear what particular sins I've committed lately to bring this on - by simply being a PhD student, or by something I have written or spoken publicly, or what.

But since I don't tolerate passive aggression any better now than I did in the parish, let me tell you what I think of anonymous letters: people who truly hold a conviction are willing to put their name behind it.  

That's why this blog has never been anonymous, even though I'm certain not everyone will like or agree with some of the things I have written here.

That is all I have to say about that.

And if you want to know the prayer I actually prayed in response to this: Jesus, I love you, but please save me from your followers.

Good Thoughts in a Polarized Political World

Two different college friends both happened to post some excellent thoughts recently.  Both ultimately long for real conversation amongst and between all of us, instead of conversation only with ourselves (or those very much like ourselves).

To which I can only say: Amen.

Here is Erica.

Here is Josh.

Thank you, friends.

Every Day I'm Pastorin'

Whoa, has it really been December since I last posted on here?  Yikes.

Life has been busy.  PhDland has been kicking my academic rump up one curb and down another.  And I no longer have much spare time or money to do things like watch a movie or read a book for fun or buy 10 new CDs, which was part of what provided grist for this mill.

Also, I've found myself increasingly tongue-tied this year.  Some of that is feeling caught in this no-woman's land between normal everyday speech and academese.  And some of it is inherent perfectionism - the more I know that I don't know, the less I feel I have to say.

This tumblr, however, is hilarious, so I felt the need to share it.  With all three of you who might still be checking this page once in a while.

I will try not to take such an extended hiatus this time.

Peace,
C