Via Beatta--the Blessed Way

A silver Lexus disabled in construction zone on shoulder near Barrington Road....tow needed for a flat tire--shoulder is too short for safe tire change...Cadillac stalled in center lane...Toyota... Jeep....It was a busy Thursday rush hour on i90.  You might ask why I know this.      Well....one learns a lot listening to dispatcher chatter from the high passenger seat in a tow truck.      Now, before anyone starts in on my little car, let me just say this: it likely all started because of a squealy belt that I ignored.  Just sayin'.      So, now, I am enjoying the waiting game.  The idea was to make a quick trip to Chicago for dinner with a visiting friend from California.  That did happen, but a little later than planned.  And now, I wait, wait, wait for word from the auto shop about the extent of the damage due to the fact that I had to continue driving when the smoke and stink poured out from under the hood.  I was in the middle of a construction zone, just a mile fro

The BIG snow storm ended during the night, so this day is brilliant and cold, the blinding sunlight glimmering off the mounds of fresh, clean snow that looks like tiny diamonds have been sprinkled by some playful hand.  There have been birds this morning--two different kinds of woodpecker, a female Cardinal, some tiny finches, and a tufted titmouse. They have formed an unconscious partnership:  the woodpeckers land on the narrow ledge of the feeder and help themselves while raining seed down to the ground where the little birds snatch it.   There has been a larger beast, too--a raccoon, maybe, or a groundhog.  Its messy footprints track along the side of the house to the leftover hulls of birdseed, then across the patio and up the hill into the woods.  I can't tell because the footprints are submerged and blurred.  It looks like a chubby belly was dragging along.  Though the wind has calmed, occasional large puffs of snow drop from the trees--usually signaling the presence of a

The past few days, my Facebook page has overflowed with sadness and tributes to a theologian and New Testament scholar who died on Wednesday--Marcus Borg.  Borg was Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, and prior to retirement was Chair of Religion and Culture at Oregon State University.     He was a prolific author, teacher, and speaker.  I have read most of his books and used them in adult formation through the years. His work was not without controversy. Those Christians who hold closely to the traditions of the church as well as evangelicals who interpret scripture in a literal fashion, have discounted Borg's progressive views, including his work with the Jesus Seminar that involved the "search for the historical Jesus."     I was fortunate to attend one of his workshops.  I found him to be a gracious man whose faith shone through all of his work.  I believe that those who most vehemently disagreed with him did not engage his teachings thoroug