The Arrow's Path

I found this quote of the day from my reading of The Letters of C.S. Lewis published by Warren Lewis in 1966. It is addressed to a schoolgirl who had written to request advice on writing. I think it might be some wisdom some of my blog readers may appreciate, especially the ones who are good writers who are told they aren't, and the ones who have too high an opinion of their own writing. "14 Dec 1959 It is very hard to give any general advice about writing. Here's my attempt. 1. Turn off the radio. 2. Read all the good books you can, and avoid nearly all magazines. 3. Always write (and read) with the ear, not the eye. You should hear every sentence you write as if it was being read aloud or spoken. If it does not sound nice, try again. 4. Write about what really interests you whether it is real things or imaginary things, and nothing else. (Notice this means that if you are interested only in writing you will never be a writer, because you will have nothing to write about...

The Archer on a Steam Boat with gadgets. Be Afraid...be very afraid. Luckily the ship was part of a Louis and Clark museum in Sioux City, Iowa.

I left Mission today for the last time. I had to make a courtesy call to the diocesan office of South Dakota today since they paid my summer salary. As I drove away this morning, it was still dark. This was followed by a gorgeous sunrise that I was driving towards. I found that to be an appropriate end to an interesting summer in the West: riding off into the sunset sunrise. Ironically, as I rode off into the sunrise, I had two bishops waiting on me at the other end. The Bishop of South Dakota wanted to meet the intern before I left. They were nice enough to buy me lunch and put me up for the night in downtown Sioux Falls. The hotel has a hottub and a pool...sweet. I have a distinct feeling that I was being recruited as possible future clergy for the diocese. By random chance, I walked into a shop in downtown Sioux Falls which sells Irish goods. The proprietor was Irish and asked if I was Irish. I told him I was going to be in Ireland in a few weeks for a bit of vacation before I head...

For all you amateur photographers out there, I found this interesting website about early photography. It has some interesting early photos and daguerrotypes. In other news, check out this ebay item . I remember going to the Knoxville World's Fair when I was little and seeing these. I didn't buy one. Curses! Also, anyone interested in liturgy, have high speed internet, and have an hour to kill, a pre-Vatican II Latin mass from 1941 is online.

I have been thinking about my top ten, but I have to make a move since the Deaf Jedi released his list. There are so many questions. I have to agree that Texas is still No. 1 since they earned it. That's my operating policy. You da' champ, until you prove otherwise. I think Ohio State will eventually emerge as No. 1. Their defense was quite impressive in the bowl game and I don't see them losing that edge. After that, all bets are off. With Notre Dame being Notre Dame, its hard to tell whether they are worth a hill of beans or not. They have a singular gift for hype. Florida State (or more precisely media darling Bobby Bowden) always get overhyped. They seem to be in or near everyone's top ten, and I have no idea why. On paper they don't look that impressive. USC is in the perfect position to self destruct. West Virginia is always overrated except in the party school rankings, but they have a pitiful schedule other than Louisville. Auburn looks pretty good, but the...

For my last Sunday at Rosebud, we had the service at the Powwow grounds, with some 100+ people showing up. This was phenomenonal, considering it was raining rather heavily. I was awarded this cross that one of the parishioners hand made. Look at the traditional beadwork on this. It is simply stunning.

Must be an ad for Bud Lite 

A microcosm of South Dakota race relations

Bringing new meaning to the term 'Mystery Machine'

No Comment. 

Only you can prevent bad parade floats! 

The veterans were leading the parade. 

Here are some pictures from the grand entry parade for the Rosebud Powwow. This powpow was the biggest on the reservation this summer. Some things to note: Notice the first picture is of the war veterans. Being a warrior tradition, veterans have the highest social standing in the community. Smokey the Bear made an appearance due to the drought and range fires. The one picture with the rug of Our Lady of Guadaloupe is interesting as a cultural phenomenon because Lakota tradition says that the pipe was given to the first Lakota by the White Buffalo Woman. A lot of Catholic Lakota associate that with Our Lady of Guadaloupe. I apologize for having to make each picture its own post, but my blogsite is acting funking.

After my ruminations last time about the dangers of becoming a state church, we were faced with a situation this morning regarding just those sorts of issues. I imagine this is going to open a can worms with some of my Baptist readers, so hang on. A woman and a child had scheduled an appointment to see Father John. The potential godparents to be also showed up. We learned subsequently the woman was the grandmother and guardian of this 4 year old girl. They were both from Phoenix, apparently up for the big Rosebud powwow this weekend. The grandmother, interestingly a niece of a former bishop of this diocese, wanted to have the grandchild baptized. We tried to explain that current diocesan policy frowns but does not prohibit private baptisms. We ultimately did the baptism, but Father John told me afterward he almost refused because there was a strong possibly that this was a "drive-by baptism" and the people involved were likely to walk out the church door and not be back for y...

I was at a Diocesan meeting today which was called for purposes of "restructuring." Since I am only an intern in the diocese, my interest was more on the objective level. Frankly, the diocese is basically broke and having to move to the Mutual Ministry model sooner rather than later. This is an across the board (read: white and native american churches) move. Many churches simply cannot afford a full time priest, or even a half time one for that matter. For those of you not caught up on Episco-speak, Mutual ministry is a system that combines two elements. The first is the creation of lay ministry teams on the parish level. Essentially, the laity have to learn to fend for themselves and raise up local members for facets of the job that a full time priest would otherwise be doing. This element is combined with, for lack of a better term, the old circuit rider method. There would be a seminary trained priest working with a circuit of churches sort of as an overseer to train lay ...

I was honored by receiving a quilt at a giveaway yesterday at the Powwow in White River. There was a naming ceremony, and the recipient was an Episcopalian. Father John was asked to tie on the eagle feather after the naming ceremony. I was also one of the clergy-types who were in attendance for the ceremony, and got this nifty quilt. Notice the compass with the cardinal directions and the color scheme of the native american seal. What a cool gift to end the summer...

No... Really... The Fan ate my sermon. It was fairly warm today in church, seeing as no church around here has air conditioning. Most of the fans were going, except the one box fan next to the pulpit. About two sentences into my sermon today, some moron well meaning parishioner decided the preacher will get hot up there in the pulpit and decided to turn to fan on. It's amazing have powerful they can make box fans these days. I heard the fan come on. This was followed by one of those moments you see in war movies during a battle scene were everything goes silent and turns into slow motion. I looked in mortal terror as the poor pages of my brilliantly crafted sermon flew up into the air only to hang there, suspended like a catepillar in a cocoon. They then proceeded to float down amongst the congregants like the feather in Forest Gump. Having learned to preach without notes in my preaching class this spring, I recovered quickly. I had a good idea of what I needed to say. I may have ...

While I was at the Lay Reader's conference in Martin, SD (population 204), I had an interesting conversation with the priest in charge of clergy deployment for the diocese. She was the initial person I dealt with when setting up this internship, so I know her somewhat. Apparently, the diocese is desperate for clergy. After buttering me up with two pecan brownies and a Dr. Pepper (she knows how to deal with Southerners apparently), She flat up offered me a job if I wanted it. I had to politely decline, seeing as my diocese (Nebraska) is probably going to create a curacy or something for me next year. In fact, I have a meeting with my bishop on the 31st to discuss that very topic (amongst other things). Apparently I am "on the radar" in the South Dakota deployment office. I pass this along in case any of my priest or priest-to-be friends are still looking for work. South Dakota is looking for good clergy.

I was asked to help out at the Lay Readers' Conference tomorrow in Martin, SD. The hope is that it will help develop some reading skills in those laiety who wish to be readers on Sunday morning. I am glad I took the Use of the Voice Class this winter. I think it may come in handy. I was asked to give a little seminar on public reading from a radio perspective. I've worked some in radio over the years, so I have some exercises in reading off a script that I think people might be interested in. Last I heard, we had almost 50 people signed up for it. I think it should be an interesting conference.

You scored as Catholic . You are a Catholic. You believe that the bread and wine are transformed by the priest and become the Body and Blood of Christ. Though the accidents, or appearance, of bread and wine remain, the substance has been changed. The Eucharist remains the Body and Blood of Christ after the celebration, and is reserved in the Tabernacle; Eucharistic devotions are proper. As the whole Christ is present under either species, you partake fully of the Eucharist even if you receive only one. Catholic 88% Luther 69% Calvin 56% Zwingli 13% Unitarian 0% Eucharistic theology created with QuizFarm.com

With my supervisor, we went up to the state prison in Pierre, which is pronounced "pier" unless you want to get a sock in the head. There was lots of barbed wire, and it was not officially visiting hour. Since we were clergy, they gave us a break and let us in. Talking on the phone through glass was an interesting experience. It was interesting that I ended up doing that, considering I was a law student in a former life. They would not let us give him communion, though, which I thought was a bit excessive. Its always a shame to see a young person throw his life away for something stupid. But, what can you do? Visit them and hope they get another chance down the line. After that, we took a tour of the State Capitol. Pierre is about the smallest state capital I have ever seen, less than 10000 people. After the visit The state Capitol building was quite nice. The tour guide showed us all around. Such is life in Pierre, I suppose.

I had to drive down to North Platte, Nebraska, today to jump through another hoop to meet with the Standing Committee of the Diocese. It was mainly just a get to know you session. They were nice enough to meet with me now, as they understood I would be out of the country in the fall. They had to meet with about 3 different people from different parts of the state, so they scheduled it in North Platte, as that town is in the center part of the state, and a reasonable drive for everyone involved. The meeting went just fine. I don't understand why we needed a "get to know the candidate for ordination" session because I knew everyone on the Committee from my intern days. On my way back I drove up 83 toward Rosebud. In between Valentine, NE, and North Platte, there is not a whole lot save some sand hills and cows. The one town on the map was a place called Stapleton, NE. Why it was on the map is anyone's guess. You drove in and read one of those green signs that read ...

It does rain in South Dakota! I had to see it to believe it... 

Please remember my rector, Mother Jane, in your prayers. She had to have some emergency surgery on her heart and there were some complications. She's stable now, but is looking at a long recovery. -The Archer+

I had my final meeting with the psychiatrist today, which is all part of the ordination process in the Episcopal Church. MMPI and all that good stuff. They apparently want to make sure potential clergy are crazy enough but not too crazy. I had a bizarre conversation with the Diocesan psychiatrist about how they try to screen out the nuts but also those who fall into the category of "absolute normal." Apparently being "absolute normal" is abnormal in itself. I have a minor in psychology, and I don't remember ever having heard about that one. I guess you only get to hear about weird stuff like chronic agoraphobic melancholy, and they must save the "absolute normal" discussion for when you get the Captain Sy Kosis secret decoder ring when you you are working on your Ph.D. clinicals. On the long drive back to Rosebud, I began wondering what you would call someone who suffers from it. Do they have an Uber-Abundance of Normalcy? Or are they Abnormal Deficie...

It has been an incredibly long week. I have been house sitting since my supervisor is away. The church nearly caught on fire thanks to someone's careless cigarette butt. 3 funerals we (a semi-retired Lakota priest and I) had to do. Today I had to drive to Omaha to meet with the commission on ministry...and, yes, I am now a candidate for ordination. The bizarre highlight of the year had to be the rattlesnake incident. At the second funeral, the casket was taken to a cemetary up a ridge. The funeral hearse was an SUV extended cab. The undertaker was one from Valentine, NE, who rarely comes up to the reservation as he is a bit pricey. But the family and mourners were mostly white and had at least a little money. When we got up to the grave, we found that in the hole that had been dug for the grave, a rattlesnake had taken up residence. The undertaker took one look and said, "Yup, that's a rattlesnake, alright...you fellers wanna just put the casket in on top or it, or should ...