More on Oscar, and Marmots

Follow Up on Oscar Romero

I’m still doing my deep dive into Oscar Romero. Found this sermon from I don’t know how many years ago, preached at the church I used to serve. It tells Oscar’s story, and about conversion of heart, and being scratchy in the world.

Also, there’s a great movie about his life that first got me interested in him. Still holds up.

So This Is Helping

I’ve been trying to figure out what is my particular slice, and this little (what are these things called anyway?) box of words helped clarify for me how I can use this substack. I’m a preacher, without a pulpit. Trying to live gratefully hopefully usefully. I’m not a news outlet. I don’t need to list the latest horrors. You can find that elsewhere. Going forward I will try harder to help us all, me included, grounded, calm, discerning, hopeful, wise.

What’s Helping These Days

I live in an almost-too-cute-for-itself liberal enclave, pocketed right between St Paul and Minneapolis. We neighbors know each other mostly through the listserve - yes, those old email list serves you thought died out when facebook came. Not here. The digest version shows up in my inbox several times a day, with long posts offering curb alerts for half full bottles of Canola oil or used furniture next to requests for a good plumber to sightings of the recently arrived wolves to the perennial ‘I just saw someone not pick up their dog poop, can we all agree this is really really terrible’. It’s very entertaining actually.

Last week a spin-off of our listserve was created for those wanting to do something about the dismantling of our democracy. We’ll see how it shakes out, but so far it’s been practical things like ‘there is a vote today on this, here is the number to call Amy Klobuchar’.

It’s helping because it’s checking all the boxes of things that I think will help us - help me - in these times. Extremely local. Building relationships with neighbors. Doing something - anything - practical. No big leader directing anything. Who knows, maybe there will even be a potluck with tater tot hot dish. Feels hopeful.

This is Helping . .

I’m kind of wanting a marmot . . .

(I spend a lot of time watching marmot videos . . . maybe too much time . . . )

Just a Reminder . . .

If you expected regularity in these posts, you haven’t met me. Ha. Inspiration comes and goes like the wind.

Be well dear ones. Find your slice.