...and still I pray

The trees are beginning to think there will be a fall.  The ones that have escaped the scourge of the spotted lantern fly are changing into their plaid fall shirts.  Some of the plaids are spectacular and some trees haven't quite got the meaning of turning colors, they just turn brown and then let go. Some of the humans I know are brown and letting go as well.  The extroverts among us are trying awfully hard to find ways of turning colors when we humans are asked not to this year.  They gather in groups they want to believe are safe, they call me at strange hours of the night looking for companionship, they look hollow-eyed from searching out those of their ilk who might also want to make COVID mischief, For myself, I am content to be my solitary cantankerous self: writing, watching YouTube or reruns of The West Wing, wondering why the fridge looks so empty but having no earthly urge to go shopping. I guess the world is built on different types but we also exist for different times

No, you didn't go to sleep and miss lent. It is forty days until the election but I am treating it as lent. I am praying steadfastly. I am abstaining from news overload. I am participating in good works. I want this to come out right. What is that? A resurrection, of course.

Recently I read a lovely newsletter from a diocese about the ministry of deacons.   I was asked the questions: "... what we can do to identify deacons in our midst? How might we encourage younger vocations? deacons from underrepresented communities?" These are all very important tasks but I contend that some of these tasks have been hindered by a missing component in the process, namely participation on the part of bishops and priests in encouraging and educating their parishes. I think it is important for deacons to model their ministries in the parish, not only to potential deacons but to everyone in the parish. But it is here we get into a chicken and egg situation. In order to enable deacons to functionally model their ministry to a parish, there must actually be deacons in a parish. Secondarily there must be support at the parish level from the priest. Thirdly there must be support at the diocesan level by the bishop. Finally there must be support from diocesan and n