Bluebird
I’d offered to help him move from his home of many years into assisted living. He pushed boxes onto the porch and I carried them to the van. On the stoop, by the front door, there was a small, ceramic bluebird. I asked him if we ought not pack it. He said, “That bluebird’s always…
Covenant
Before I could rightly claim to be a churchman, a friend asked me to help out at a church supper. This was a sit-down dinner for hungry neighbors. They served good food on china dishes. That evening, I washed all those dishes and stared at the damp walls of my basement bailiwick. On one wall,…
For Sale
Some years ago, looking for a home to call our own, we drove through neighborhoods, scanning the green horizon for any “For Sale” signs. Our youngest, Henry, was five years old and appeared particularly astute in his judgment of various houses. We would pause in front of a house and Henry would say, “That’s nice!”…
Hospital
My wife’s mother was unwell. We took her to the emergency room. With the pandemic, they wouldn’t let me in. One patient, one helper, that’s the rule. Mom was admitted to the hospital. I waited in the parking lot, recollecting the many hours I’d spent over the years in hospital rooms and corridors. There’s always…
Leadership
At a volunteer ministry where I serve weekly, we have a new ministry leader. She is young and new to leadership. On her first day, we hit a few rough spots. The building did not collapse, but it was sagging. I thought to offer advice but, by whatever grace, I held my peace. The following…
Mending the fabric
We start out believing certain things about the world. Then, a few years or a few decades down the road, the world seems different and responds differently to our work in it. When I was young, nothing would do but that I change the systems that seemed so broken. Now, I do what I can…
Alms
Long ago, as a rookie policeman in a village, I did the funerals, escorting the hearse, directing traffic. When the service started, I listened to the hymns and homily from the back of the church. Church was new to me then and I found it quite affecting. One time, the funeral director thanked me and…
Letters
We both had sons living far away. After church, we would ask each other, “How’re your boys doing?” We answered, “OK. They’re alright.” We both wrote to our boys from time to time to say that we are getting along well enough, sometimes to offer words about our own early lives, a subject seldom spoken…
Bags
I see her on my way to work. She walks slowly, hunched over, trundling plastic grocery bags full of dear-knows-what. A few days ago, we arrived together at the crosswalk. It was a slow walk cross. Then she spoke, so quietly I bent to hear, “I want to ask a favor.” I thought she’d ask…
Focus
I had written that lately each day seemed a battle royal. She wrote in reply: “Each day is a mash-up of chance, mischief and opportunity so take care to sort out which is which. Work at a goodly pace, keep things moving, make things happen, but don’t make each day a grand project. Over-planning invites…
Did You Know? – Deacon Josh
The Rev. Josh Butler is a Vocational Deacon in the Diocese of Ohio.
It is the deacon who ends the service, dismissing the congregation to go out in the community to serve. In his Deacon’s Dismissal, Josh offers reflections to strengthen and inspire us in our call to service.
