Exodus, I AM, Narcissus & National Health Care
Current Events, Journey No Comments »Does anyone remember the story of Narcissus? In Greek Mythology, Narcissus was a beautiful youth who was arrogant, cruel and insensitive to the feelings of others. Hearing the prayer of a maiden in distress, an avenging goddess [Aphrodite] decided that Narcissus would come to feel what it was like to love and experience no return of affection. One day, he came upon a clear fountain where he saw his own image reflected upon the water. Fascinated with the image, he fell in love and came to cherish that which he could not possess or control. He became so absorbed in himself that he eventually drowned in his own reflection.
Myths are powerful because they reflect a truth greater than truth itself. Myths, with their vivid images, and extraordinary tales, expose a psychological reflection of our deepest fears, and our own worries about our self, and our place in the world. Myths, according to Joseph Campbell are, “the experience of meaning” the “clues to the potentialities of a spiritual life.” I would argue that we can’t experience the depth of a spiritual life unless we can find meaning found in the realities of the world around us, to see situations from an inward theological perspective, over and above taking in life’s rawness like the passive shutter of a camera lens. Jesus’ parables are forms of crystallized myths centering on a greater truth, exposing life in its rawness leading towards a deeper experience of meaning. Read More
Based on Exodus 3:1-15

I just love facilitating small group discussions. When I thought of starting a weekly small group two years ago at St. George’s held on a weekday, I was not sure if it would take off, but now that I started up again after the Christmas break, it looks as though it is working, and working well.
As is normal, when a decade comes to an end, a review of the past ten years is in order, and being typical, and average, I had to reflect and attempt to come up with a personal theme, a word to encapsulate the last 10 years on earth. If I had to choose a reflective word, the one which comes to mind would be Trans-formative. 
(bidding prayer), I chanted the opening strains from Samuel Barber’s opus,
It was in the year 2004, that I was able to pull together St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church’s first service honoring National Coming Out Day. As one who was always frustrated with Gay Pride celebrations, it seemed logical to choose this day which celebrates a transformation in an individual’s life, a time when a person is re-born into fullness, and authenticity, and to have a church available so that God could participate in this joyous celebration. There are three vivid memories which stand out from this very first service: