The Post Modern Preacher

It is a bittersweet thing, the summer ending and the fall encroaching. Boston cools from the summer heat and today I wore a hoodie as I biked to and from work. Summer has never been my favorate season. I don't sleep well in the oppression of heat and humidty. They weigh upon me in almost spiritual ways, with clawing discomfort and unshakeable perturbation. Fall brings about renewal. Fall gives hope. Fall means more work, with the district, with class, with my job, and perhaps with ASC.

Tonight I had dinner with my classmate who is the most catholic Catholic I know. He's preaching at Cambridge Unitarian Universalist the week from Sunday on Interfaith Worker Justice. I was able to show him some of the nuances to our particular style of worship, and through some of my sermons illustrate what we do, and the problems of worship sans a single truth. In his first life, he was an editor with an education from Cornell. Perhaps I put too much stock in names, but having him read and approve of my sermons reassured me. I struggle and doubt a lot that I am playing at things far greater than I will ever understand when I lead congregations in worship. The word in the sermon is our form of communion where each has the chance to be invited to a sacred place or turned away with boredom as the preacher prattles on.

I've been jamming again of late. Since much of my summer took creative juices to keep up with the sermon writing while keeping full time hours at BU, I had my guitar collect dust for the better part of July and August. With writing put aside for a time, I am able to play again. The calluses on my left hand had died down so I get the hot sharp pain after an hour strumming but it feels good as accomplishment. Belting out some Johnny Cash or some Richard Shindell or some Gary Jules feels cathartic. It touches that special place inside where I find calm and solace. Music with song and strum becomes prayer, more reverent than the kneeling with my prayer beads and for a moment I am become Elohim, creator of worlds.