When You Go Somewhere, You Take A Little Bit of It Home with You...Greiving for Christchurch, New Zealand

I have had the privilege of visiting a few far away places around the world.  Once I have been there, I feel a sort of kinship with the place, the people, the culture. 

There are many beautiful and wonderful things, friendly people, cool accents,  interesting clothing, cultural traditions, tasty foods, coffees, teas, etc.  And many of these things from far, far away...I bring home with me...a new found discovery of something that does not exist in my home country. 

One example was when I went to Greece, I came home with a love for Greek salads, calamari and blue doors.  Many houses in Greece on the islands are painted white and have blue doors.  A beautiful sea blue.

And guess what, I still love to eat Greek salads, calamari and the front door of my house is blue.

From my trips and deployments to the Middle East, I brought home a love for their tea, "shai" it is called in Arabic.   The tea they drink is a spice tea, sometimes with a mint leaf in it.  It is excellent.  And humus, and chicken shawarma and olive oil, and....   

I passed through Christchurch,  New Zealand on my way to Antarctica and back again, staying about 5 days each time last September and November.   I was introduced to a coffee drink there called a "Flat White".   I participated in the Antarctica Ceremony at the Cathedral last September, receiving the Chalice from the Dean (the priest in charge).    I visited the Botanical gardens in November after my return from Antarctica, taking hundreds of photos of the flowers and trees...so colorful after two months of no color, no plants, no flowers and no trees.  I traveled all over the city, and enjoyed many, many flat whites.  I worshiped at the Anglican Cathedral in downtown Christchurch again.   I watched the barista make Flat Whites, so I would know how to make them whe I got home, as they don't have Flat Whites in America!

I still drink Flat Whites.

Trolley with Christchurch Cathedral and tower (photo taken NOV 2010)

Last week, we all heard on the news of the terrible earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.  It just broke my heart.  Many killed, a city in ruins, even the Cathedral toppled.  Unimaginable.  I was just there! 

My camera had many photos on its little camera disk...I almost forgot I had them.  I took these pictures last September and November.  This one I will share.

For the people of Christchurch....

When Life is Like That Music that is Played When Darth Vader is Approaching....

Ever have one of those days when it feels like the "dark side of the Force" is messing with you? 

It all actually began the day before..I was going to drive up to Sedona....when a storm decided to roll through the state.   So I decided to wait until the next morning..and get up extra early for the long drive to make it to the church on time.  It is a two hour drive. 

I was preaching this Sunday...and had toiled all week creating this little sermon.  Seems some come easier than others.    

So, I got up at zero dark thirty and began the long drive up the hill.   I got an hour up the mountains...and there was rain, then snow...then slush everywhere...then fog...and then cars spun out on the banks of the winding mountain road!  

It was still dark as night.

I drove on...and then...as the sky began to get some light to it, red cop lights in my rear view mirror!  Uh!  I was being stopped by a cop!

I pulled over and as I rolled down the window...I could see his smile fade as he looked at my collar.  Yes, I was wearing my clergy collar, as directed by my Bishop.

The cop said I was speeding....and wanted to see my driver's license.  I gave him my license.  He said he just had to check and be sure I didn't have many manslaughter charges.

Manslaughter charges!?

I waited.  He returned my license...and just gave me a warning not to drive so fast.    Whew!  The Bishop saved me.....from getting a traffic ticket!  (Thank you Bishop!)

So, when I got to my church, I was just a little shaken up.  I sat in the early 8 am service up front in my Deacon spot near the altar...and as we began the service, I noticed that the scripture passages were different in the bulletin than what I had prepared my sermon!   Oh my gosh, did I mess up and write a sermon on the wrong Gospel?

This just couldn't be happening!

Beads of sweat developed on my brow as I sat there in my Deacon spot as the first scripture reader was reading.    How am I going to get out this one?    How could I be so stupid?  Should I just resign now? 

The time came for me to read the Gospel passage.  I got up, read the passage.  Then went over to the pulpit.   I opened by telling of my morning...and being stopped by a cop.  I also just 'fessed up, that my sermon was on a different passage.  By the grace of God...amazingly, the sermon actually came out OK.  Thank God for humor.  When I was done...I heaved a sigh of relief. 

For the 10 am later service another priest was supposed to give the sermon.  I was glad.  But of course, the way things were going...was I really going to get off the hook this easily?

Of course not.  The other priest forgot he was supposed to preach.  The Rector asked, can you preach again?  I responded, even though I have the wrong Gospel passage?  Yes.

In the sacristy as I robed, I could not help but think the"dark side" was messing with me.  Blasting in my head was the music that is played in the Star Wars movies when Darth Vader is approaching...da da da, da de da , da de da!!

Fortunately, when I preached again, the "force" (the good Force) was with me.  (Hey, this is Sedona!)   The sermon came out great.  The Holy Spirit was definitely at work.   Thank God.  And especially, for humor.  

I found out later, that I actually did have the correct gospel passage. 

Da da da, da de da, da de da!!