"I say old chap," I announced breezily to the Crucifer as we were getting ready for Mass at Mission #2, "Did you know the gerontocrat in nominal charge of our country has promised us a green, electric military by 2030?"
"No, I did not know that," replied the Crucifer, a retired artillery Captain (Vietnam) and active oil and gas analyst. "Well he has, said so in April on Earth Day. And it's all well and good until they run out of charging stations, what?"
My friend, a practical man who went to Yale when it was still a university, frowned and thought for a moment, "That's easy, they'll just bring up charging trucks with generators. Yes, generators running on gasoline." We chuckled, said our prayers and the Sacred Mysteries were celebrated in good order.
You know, not so long ago, back in the aughts, I'd have raised an eyebrow if you'd told me I'd be with a couple of mission churches in rural Texas. But I tell you what, it's been a real blessing and, curiously enough, by far and away the most diverse congregation(s) I've served, certainly the most intellectual.
What a blessing, farmers and ranchers, rodeo stars even, to people who make a living from the life of the mind, who write books as if by muscle memory. And all coming together to worship God as one.
I love that,
LSP
You are blessed man LSP!
ReplyDeleteYou're truly blessed, Parson, and so is your community.
ReplyDeleteYou all be safe and God bless. Thank you, Parson.
ReplyDeleteI've known a couple of "real" writers. Real writers are compelled to write. You could amputate their fingers and they'd peck out their work on their keyboards with their noses. A couple of you know what that feels like. I don't have that compulsion. I'm a pretty good technical writer who has piddled around with some short stories and got the start of a novel around here someplace, but I don't have it in me to be a "real" writer in the style of Richard McKenna or one Larry Lambert.
ReplyDeleteMcKenna left us one good novel (The Sand Pebbles) before he checked out way too soon and several articles/stories/speeches about how he transitioned from China sailor to "real" writer, and how he fought out that transition is fascinating. But that ain't me, babe, and I know it.
There is no Christian virtue to be found in suffering fools in your midst.
ReplyDeleteLL, the Savior would agree, the very person who suffered demonic fools upon the Cross.
ReplyDeleteBut to your point, caritas doesn't amount to idiocy.
Wild, for a time I was a religious journalist, albeit niche, and the stories became automatic, muscle memory.
ReplyDeleteToday?
I'd like to write fiction but haven't. Maybe I should sort that out? Or not. Most definitely not quitting day job in favor of it.
Part of the deal, I think, is, can you put together a good story. Easier said than done, eh?
Bless you too Linda, as always.
ReplyDeleteThank you, drjim, I appreciate that.
ReplyDeleteDOS, God's been remarkably merciful.
ReplyDelete