October 24, 2009

Bob’s Sabbatical

October 24, 2009

 

            Further
note on Assisi – it seemed that at least one half of all the visitors @ San
Francesco were religious (monks, nuns, clergy). 
The “PAX” on the lawn out front is a sign that St. Francis’ ministry of
peace-making with all of God’s creation continues to influence all of the
Church, lay and clergy.

 

            Lesson of
the day (which probably goes for preaching, as well as what happens in a
country where I do not speak the language): 
“Just because I think I have made something clear does not make it so.”  I know this because when I went to pick up
the laundry we left to be washed and folded the other day, the bill was 35 Euros!  I came back with shirts, socks and underwear
that had all been dry-cleaned, carefully ironed, folded and either put
in plastic bags sealed with tape or hung on hangers.  The smell of dry-cleaning fluid was so bad, we
spread everything out in the room and left the windows open overnight.  I repeat, “Just because I think I have made
something clear does not make it so.”

 

Saturday, Oct. 24^th.

            We wake
to a continuing drizzle, but reports are that the weather is supposed to clear
up.  As we head toward Siena, the sky
does begin to brighten.  We arrived at
Montestigliano, about 20 kms southwest of Siena.  It is a working olive farm on a hill with
views of a valley and towns in the distance. 
Susan (a Brit) and her husband own/manage the farm and the guest
business.  She sends us down the road to
a family-run restaurant for lunch. 
Wonderful food – this is what we love about Tuscany. 

            After
lunch we head to town for supplies for breakfast, lunch and dinner the next
couple days.  Check back in with Susan,
who is going to try to set up a cooking class for us one day this week.  She is also going to let us sit in the office
at 8:00pm to watch the web-cast of Bob Park’s funeral from Trinity Parish, New
York (WIFI does work at our cottage, but signal is weak and we don’t want to
lose it in the middle of the service).  Christopher,
who has known the Parks’ since he was 5 years-old has gone to NY to represent
our family.

            As I
knew from the beginning, this was going to be the hard part of sabbatical for
me.  I don’t know what is going on with
folks at St. Paul’s or Franklin, and with things like Bob Parks’ death, we
cannot do anything.  Every day I pray for
whoever may be sick, suffering, or may have died.  The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

            Bob