Tag Archives: New York

September 11, 2021 · 11:33 am

A prayer, September 11, 2021

Gracious God,
twenty years on
we remember.

We remember
your precious children killed in
New York
Washington, DC,
Shanksville.

We remember
your precious children killed in
Afghanistan
Iraq
and around the world.

We remember
death
wounded bodies
wounded spirits
wounded souls.

We remember
acts of terror
acts of valor
acts of violence
acts of peace.

We remember
fear
anger
hate
prejudice.

We remember
kindness
courage
grace
generosity.

We remember
people coming together to
reach out
weep
sing
embrace
care.

We remember
songs ended
songs gone
songs created
songs begun
songs lived
songs shared.

Remembering,
may we take bold, faith-filled, hopeful steps
to unlearn the ways of war and
turn to ways that might make peace between people;
to overcome fear of one another
and recognize the dignity and value of every person;
to seek understanding of suffering
and nurture the empathy needed to work to alleviate it; and
to walk the paths of love
that leads to peace and justice.

Remembering Jesus,
in response to your Holy Spirit,
we pray. Amen.

with thanks to Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Chris Shelton, leaders of the United Church of Christ and Come from Away

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December 31, 2013 · 8:12 pm

Home

This originally appeared on Facebook as a response to a friend who asked:

What is home? How do you create a sense of home inside you?

After some reflection, I respond:

Home is the place where I belong, truly belong. I may find myself belonging in several places: Pittsburgh, where I grew up; Cleveland Heights where my wife lives and my children grew up; New York, where I live now. But home is the place (and it is not on that list) where my sense of belonging is strongest and most clear. It is the place I yearn for in times of stress and sorrow; it is the place that feeds my spirit and my soul even when I am not there. For me, I knew it was home the first time I arrived there.

Home are the people, past and present, who nurture and mentor me; challenge and infuriate me; love me.

Home is the place that awaits me.

Home is the journey. It is the Trail, in the language of this blog.

Home is a gift.

How would you answer?

See you along the Trail.

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October 24, 2013 · 10:57 pm

Choosing words

While waiting for a cab, I made the following observation:

I’m a New Yorker,
do y’all take plastic
to pay for cabs here?

An interesting choice of words, for one who bleeds black and gold.

See you along the Trail.

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April 15, 2013 · 7:00 pm

Purple flowers, Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church 3

15 June 2012 Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church 1

A ball of purple
waits in the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church garden
for the game to begin.

Brooklyn, New York
15 June 2012

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April 1, 2013 · 11:04 pm

Why I like New York 29: The High Line

IMG_1208 (768x1024)A diverse community calls New York home. Interesting, unique opportunities lie around almost every corner.

The High Line is one of them. Located on Manhattan’s West Side, this public park is build on a freight rail  line elevated above the streets. The High Line runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues.

A path follows the old tracks: sometimes on them, sometimes above them, sometimes beside them. Trees, grass, and flowers (watch for some purple flower photos in a few months – I am still catching up)  line the sides. Art shows up every now and then. The vibrant life of the city surrounds the path, enhancing the experience.

Several friends had recommended the High Line. Today, with Tricia, I finally followed their advice. I should have done so sooner. I will do so again.

See you along the Trail.

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January 8, 2013 · 10:39 pm

Thank you, US Airways

Today’s travel took me from New York to Louisville – an oft-made trip. The airlines, chosen due to price, was US Airways.

This is neither my preferred or favorite airline. It pains me a bit to say that. Allegheny Airline lies in the past of US Airways. Based in Pittsburgh, Allegheny was the first airline I ever used. My love for all things Pittsburgh lasted through a number of mergers.

In recent years, I have experienced problems on US Airways – cancelled flights, rebooking issues, and delayed luggage. I have not kept score of my travel woes. I have no documentation. But it feels like US Airways has been especially problematic.

Today, they did well by me and so I need to say: Thank you, US Airways.

The plane from LaGuardia landed in Philadelphia. The layover came to an end and I made my way to the gate for the Philadelphia to Louisville flight. The announcement came that boarding would begin shortly.

I opened my bag and discovered two items missing. I checked again and confirmed my first impression. A moment’s thought led to the realization that I had left them behind on the plane from New York.

Disappointed, I wandered to the bathroom, planning how I would deal with this. A call to the airline upon arrival in Louisville seemed the first step. I held out little hope. Actually, I held out no hope.

As I neared the gate for the plane to Louisville, a US Airways staff person said, “Is there a Mr. Ko-nig in the gate area?” She mispronounced the name. Many folks do.

“Is there a Mr. William Ko-nig in the gate area?”

I waved my boarding pass and made my way to the podium. She moved to meet me.

She held out her hand in which she held my items. “Do these belong to you?” she asked.

I smiled and replied, “They do. Thank you very much.”

“You are welcome,” she responded. She smiled and went on her way. I got in line to board.

Again I say: Thank you US Airways.

See you along the Trail.

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December 22, 2012 · 11:55 am

The trip not taken, part 3

And now I have a boarding pass for tomorrow – Sunday 23 December.

An actual boarding pass.

I have never had one of those for this trip.

It’s a step.

See you along the Trail.

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December 22, 2012 · 9:49 am

The trip not taken part 2

As I suspected yesterday, the piece of paper I was given at the airport did not prove helpful.

At the appointed hour, I attempted to obtain a boarding pass for the flight upon which the piece of paper proclaimed I had a seat.

I did not. My reservation did not show up in the system.

From calling the help desk, I learned that I would be called back in between 28 and 37 minutes.

The call actually came at reasonably close to the 37 minute mark.

But the agent told me that my ticket was cancelled. The frequent flyer miles had been returned to my account.

After several minutes of ranting, I said, “Let’s put aside what happened and why. How can you get me to Cleveland and when?”

No flights were available today. But I was told – and received an email to the effect – that I am on a flight tomorrow.

I prepared to go somewhere for dinner. Before I left, Ryan contacted me and we went and had coffee. Then DeLaina called and we went for dinner. A good evening followed a travel-challenged day.

Now I wait. At 10:50 tomorrow morning I will put this most recent information to the test and see if I can at least print a boarding pass.

See you along the Trail.

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October 27, 2012 · 8:53 pm

Why I like New York 17: two turtles

Across the city, images evoke Tolkien. Two towers abound. Today’s trip to Central Park brought a different image. Look closely. They are there.

See you along the Trail.

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September 29, 2012 · 9:51 pm

Why I like New York 13 – communion at presbytery

Yes.
The Presbytery of New York City has issues.
Presbytery meetings can prove frustrating.
The presbytery experiences
dysfunction
disconnection
disruption
challenges
brokenness.

But …
today as the presbytery gathered one more time,
I had the privilege
to help celebrate communion.

I led the great prayer of thanksgiving
and I helped serve.

I stood there holding the platen
that held the bread
as the members of the presbytery
came forward
to receive the Body of Christ:
people of many races,
people of different ages;
people who walked spryly,
people who used canes;
people I knew well,
people whose names I read from their name tags;
each one my sister, my brother,
all sisters and brothers to each other.

Again and again
my voice cracked,
my tears welled in my eyes
as the wonder
the grace
the love
of it all
near overwhelmed me.

See you along the Trail.

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