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In the last few weeks I have become particularly aware of a cultural shift.

An atheistic or agnostic society has adopted church type rituals. 

There is now an athiest church.  Celebrations of life at someone’s death.  Midwifery can become a ceremony in itself.  Even destination marriages.

None of these require God.  And all of these contain elements of ritual for which the church is truly suited.

I think we need to be aware of our society’s rituals.  At the same time, is there a way in which our rituals are welcoming for a society lost without God? 

Lost because our pathway ends up going nowhere without God – we live and die . . . and that is it?  What if our society had greater hope than that, and their rituals were from birth to grave and then beyond?

Sounds like the church has all those rituals in place already!

Maybe we just need to tap into the needs of our society and see how we can be of service to them.

These past few months I have been silent on this site. 

• Part of that is moving into retirement – and giving myself space to “do nothing.”  Well, time is up!! 
• Another part is a desire to start writing on a grander scale than just blogging.  That has started to happen. 
• But, I miss the short, pithy pages that outline my life and some of my off the wall thoughts.

So, I’m back.  With a posting on an interesting thought:  “Why do we have things: “

1. Cash – they are a trade commodity. We gain greater (or lose more) money depending on the current value of the commodity. Cash is expected to provide a better life – or at least the option of purchasing better or more enjoyable things.

2. Comfort – there are many aids to our lives which make them easier – drugs, household appliances, paint to highlight walls, desks for writing, beds for sleeping and homes for shelter. At the least these things help us to enjoy our lives by not requiring us to sacrifice or overdo ourselves.

3. Collection – Good art and unusual things are often collected for the sake of cash or comfort. This category goes a bit further, in that aesthetics (the love of the beautiful) plays a part in a collection that does not necessarily provide money or comfort. A collector has a desire to gather around themselves that which is pleasing to them (and perhaps themselves alone!).

4. Creation – Some love to create things that flow from their innermost being. In this case, there is not a particular desire to make money, or to provide a comfortable living situation, or even to keep that which is created (in fact, this may be a point at which the desire is to give to others).

Well, long time no see – or hear – or read!

I began this birthday with a retirement party from our local ministerial.  More like a breakfast out with friends of the last few years.  A great time of blessing each other.  And of course, a bit of hot oatmeal cereal – a real treat.

Then home for a rest – best thing to do when you have a birthday and you are retired!  OK, there are a few other things to be done, but that was a good start.

Some short chats with friends at the post office and grocery store.  And tonight I’m being taken out for supper!

How good is that!

OH, I’m 62 this year and aging well.

Over the past ten years, I have used this blog to post the ordinary in life.  That has included a mouse in the house, sermon inspirations, and even the mundane happenings around me.

This column of thoughts has also strayed into some of my theology and completely “weird” imaginings.  My father used to ask me how I came up with all these blog postings. 

My usual answer?

Give me a phrase, and let me run with it.

I have been known to sit down and just let me mind wander.  Those are good days.  And in the past decade or so, I’m learning that my ability to be creative is a sign of health – both physical, mental and spiritual.

Both the ordinary and the “push past the ordinary” are important in life.

Today, I’m enjoying the ordinary.  This is my day of rest, alongside a day of worship (usually called a Sabbath).  In the midst of our renovations, one side of my mind is still pushing to the next project.  The opposing side of my mind is pushing to rest – my ordinary practice in the weekly cycle of life.

I’m glad this is turning out to be an ordinary day in my week.  My mind is back to it’s wanderings and imaginings.

Not a bad thing.