Open road. Hot wind in your face. Thin Lizzy on the radio.

Laundry hanging on the clothesline, way better than the dryer.

I’m doing a little work to recreate and refocus this blog so hang in there with me. My hope is to have this blog become more autobiographical, more focused on reflection and writing and moving the comments about the greater culture to another blog OrthodoxRevolution. Stay tuned.

An AP article about the world being out of control brings two things to mind.

First, I’m not sure that the world is worse then its ever been, its just that with modern media we know more about it, in fact we’re immersed in it. 500 years ago there were wars and famines and all kinds of nasty stuff happening all over the world, just no TV cameras. Remember folks, media is not about the truth, its about getting you to look so they can sell commercials and disasters make you look.

Second, the world is only coming apart if your only hope is in this world. If you were counting on humans things to save you then when they fail so does your heart because, as Jesus said, where your treasure is there will you heart be as well. People of faith need to see hard times as a reminder to put ultimate trust in God and a call, not to panic, but to do whatever is possible to alleviate human suffering.

Opening the car window on a hot day, sitting forward, and letting the breeze dry out the back of your shirt.

Politicians are the only folks who can mess things up and then campaign against their own mistake.

If they have to advertise, they’re not really a psychic. A real psychic would be calling you.

A simple rule: If you want less of something tax it, if you want more subsidize it.

The simplest diet costs nothing: eat less, move more.

I recently had a Priest from Ohio write after he learned that I traveled over a thousand miles per month back and forth to St. Elias and tell me he’ll never again complain about his 50 mile commute. It brings up a good point.

Every parish, every assignment, has its strengths and weaknesses. Because we Priests are often the only ones of our kind for miles and because we largely work alone the struggles of our tasks often feel more significant because we have little to which they can be compared. Our problems are our own in a unique way and our isolation magnifies their significance. Everything has to be seen in balance.

I drive a lot but at the same time I work with a dynamic, proactive, and solid Parish Council. There are other Priests who have larger churches and higher incomes but their parishes are in conflict. What can you say? To survive in ministry you have to see the larger picture, not in a dreamy idealistic way, but with reality tempered by hope. You’re not perfect, your Parish isn’t either. You’ll have problems, but then so does the Priest up the highway.

Sometimes realizing this just takes an email from Ohio.

One of the great simple pleasures of life, taking off your shoes and socks at home after a long day of work. Ahhhhhhh!

I’m looking for writers and thinkers for a new site called Orthodox Revolution…