One of my newly discovered blessings of being on extended summer leave is that I dont have to wear real clothes. I spend my days bopping around the B&B or in the garden wearing jeans or shorts, T or polo shirts, with my feet shod in Skechers or flip flops. Though generally a more casual than formal dresser, Ive begun to sense something splendidly spiritual - touching the core of me - about this welcomed sartorial liberty. As a member of the clergy, I (as in the case of innumerable professions) oft am called to don clothing associated with my calling; outer wear that presents me not as I am, but rather identifies me immediately (and perhaps, at first blush, ironically) with the attitudes of the observers based on their experiences - good, bad, and indifferent - with organized religion. In part, as a living and breathing projection screen, I, in role, am not seen as myself - and more to the point, as my self. (As one who, for all sorts of reasons of his upbringing, longs for acknowledgement and acceptance of my self, that I followed a calling that risks so innate a disconnection between doing and being, despite the oft-cited ontological heart and hope implied in ordination, is one of my life-long imponderables!) So, here, now I am a co-B&B owner - shorts, Shechers, and all - presenting and being my self, as the hymn has it, just as I am and, yes, without one plea. And, yes, on occasion, folk will ask, What did you do before this? I tell them. In fact, I also tell them that I always will be a priest whether in active ministry or not. Usually the response is something akin to a fleeting wow followed by questions about the house, how beautiful the decor, and the grounds, how lovely they are (someone referred to the gardens as Edenic, which evoked an immediate wow from me!). At this point of the conversation, I usually turn to Pontheolla, the grand designer and implementer of all that one beholds. And then I sit back, listening quietly, relishing in the moment of being myself.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:28:36 +0000
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