Yesterday was my “day off,” which meant I worked on Sunday’s sermon and ran a few personal errands before driving down to Providence to meet with the president and then attend the PruComm meeting, First U’s Board of Trustees.
What a great crowd! They’ve been doing interesting things governance-wise & to me it all feels right for a congregation of their size. They talked about their various areas of responsibility, hopes for the near future and asked about me and my dreams. I spilled my guts as best I could and it seems, as it seemed in my researches, that this is a fit.
Discussion turned to this coming Sunday. We talked about the mechanisms of the process for the vote and then they very, very politely asked about what was an acceptable vote on my side. I told ’em. When I asked if there were any concerns that had arisen so far within the community, I was told only my age…
For some reason that sent my thoughts toward old Han Shan, Cold Mountain, the Chinese poet claimed by both Buddhists and Taoists, but actually he belongs to everyone on the spiritual path…
I wanted a good place to settle:
Cold Mountain would be safe.
Light wind in a hidden pine –
Listen close – the sound gets better.
Under it a gray haired man
Mumbles along reading Huang and Lao.
for ten years I haven’t gone back home
I’ve even forgotten the way by which I came.
(Translated here by Gary Snyder.)
Today will be a long one with opportunities for those who wish to meet with me individually before a batch of meetings…
So, time to turn my attention…
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