Well, in the last few days we’ve found out 2 important bits of news concerning the Archbishop, and they got me thinking.
The first bit of news is that apparently our dear Rowan will spend part of his summertime at Georgetown.
The second part is that he doesn’t drive.
I’m still trying to piece this together, but clearly whatever travel agency he’s using for this trip has failed to serve him well… he’s coming over to the US and staying in Washington, DC. I submit that he’s so far from experiencing the US that we need to assist his plans a bit. I also suddenly understood a little bit of Rowan the academic, who doesn’t even know how to drive… how’s this poor man going to grasp the U.S…. the enormity of the states, the freedom and warmth and wildness of this country along with the civility and coldness of the capitol. I suggest we put together an itinerary for him, and if part of that is in my neighborhood, well, I’ll even drive him around. Oh, and dress casually. You won’t be recognized most of the places we’re going…
First, he needs to visit the Chapel of the Transfiguration in the Grand Teton National Park.
Next, down to Louisiana to have a chat with Mimi.
Possibly to New Mexico next… I’m thinking Santa Fe. Wonderful church there which I went to a couple of years back as a tourist.
I’m looking for your ideas here…
And the point of all this? Well, Rowan, you have the rest of your life to study and pray and meet local leaders. Don’t come to America to hole up someplace… It reminds me of one of the few sermons I remember… it was by Brother Timothy at Holy Cross Monastery maybe 10 or even 15 years ago… he was telling us that as a young man growing up in Tennessee, he got the chance to travel to France, and that had made all the difference in his life direction. Brother Timothy then threw out a question which I think is rather relevant here… if you travel, and that travel does not change you, then in what sense have you really gone somewhere? Okay, probably Brother Timothy said nothing of the sort, but this is what I heard in the sermon. So Rowan, you travel to the US to do pretty much what you do back home. In what way can you honestly say that this trip has changed you? I submit that you need to enter deeper in the U.S. and spend some time with the people, not the local leaders. We’ve a Sunday kitchen for the homeless here that could use an extra hand. New Orleans could use a pair of hands to help. My dear readers, I’d like 10 things for the Archbishop to go to and experience to help him understand the United States, to feel like he’s actually been here, and not there…
Update 1: I’m looking for suggestions of things that would allow him feel that he has a full understanding of what being an Episcopalian in the United States of America in the year 2007 is all about. So, there’s the rules, what are your ideas? Perhaps worship with the folks in Falls Church who meet over in the Presbyterian church now because they’ve lost their property? Maybe we need to send him to some mega-church to see what the American religious climate is like? Ideas wanted!
Update 2: Dostoevsky??? clumber sighs….
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