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.
Tag Archives: New York
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.
Perspective
It is hot. There is no doubt whatever about that. Marley is dead. And it is hot.
By some form of warped, interior, illogic, I believe that my refusal to complain about the cold entitles me to whine when it is hot. And it is hot.
My friend Laura asserts that it is “hotter than two hamsters fartin’ in a wool sock.” I do not know how she knows that. I do not want to know. I don’t even want to ponder any possibilities. I take her at her word. It is hot.
As I began to work up a privileged rant, friends intervened to provide perspective. Nancy welcomed me to her former world pointing out that such heat is the norm where she lives (until she moves – and the truck was there today). Lloyd approached the issue in another way. His Facebook post reminded me that, as hot as it may be here in New York:
It is not 120 degrees.
I am not 5700 miles from home.
I am not dressed in a full combat uniform.
I am not carrying a pack weighing 70 pounds or more.
And it is very unlikely that I will encounter a bomb.
Reflecting on Lloyd’s post reminded me that there is more to it than that:
I have shelter.
That shelter has air conditioning. And a fan.
The air conditioning in my apartment and my office works (sorry, Ryan).
I have water – as much water as I need to stay hydrated.
Most subway cars are conditioned. Most times it works. I can find another one if it doesn’t.
Many folks – too many folks – some of them here in New York – do not have all those things. Many folks – too many folks – some of them here in New York – do not have any of those things.
Perspective.
It does nothing about the heat.
But it reminds me of who I am and what I have. And, hopefully, it shapes what I say and what I do.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Current Events, Friends, New York
Why I like New York 6 – Learning Opportunities
It amazes me what I can learn and where I can learn it in New York.
On the Uptown 1 this evening, I noticed a guy who sat reading his iPad and massaging his gums with his finger. I did not watch long. Not a pretty sight.
As I turned away, I realized how foolish I had been.
I had always seen the subway as a means of transportation.
Silly me.
It is actually a moving self-care-based dental facility.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Travel
An ancient message
Walking to the office yesterday from Grand Central,
I chose to use 43rd Street
where I viewed again
an ancient message of
possibility
hope
vision
&
promise.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Photo
Why I like New York 5 – Tubas, ‘bones and baritones
The sun shone as I crested the top of the stairs from the subway station at 125th and St. Nicholas. I had taken but a few steps when I heard drums. Cadenced drums. A drum line.
At 124th and St. Nicholas I saw them, waiting for the light. Drummers, young women with batons, and a band. When they started to play, I realized all the instruments were brass. When they began to march, I saw they were all low brass – tubas, trombones, and baritones.
I have no idea of who they were or what they were doing, but memories of the Grove City High School marching band washed over this old baritone player as the band marched me to Morningside Avenue.
See you along the Trail.
Why I like New York 4 – Steel drums
At any given moment, somewhere in the city, someone plays a steel drum. Probably several people playing in several places. Every now and then, I stumble across one of those players.
As I passed through Penn Station today, I heard him play.
“Lara’s Theme” from Dr. Zhivago slowly segued to “My Favorite Things” before the train arrived.
See you along the Trail.
79th Street smile
Headphones surrounding her ears
like metal rubber earmuffs,
she leaned her head against the car wall,
eyes securely shut.
Seeking sleep?
Pursuing escape from the noise of the 1 train?
Concentrating?
The train jerked to a stop at 79th;
her eyes fluttered and opened.
For an instant, our eyes connected.
I smiled.
I always smile.
For an instant,
an even briefer instant,
a nano-instant?
a tiny smile danced across her face until,
as if she realized what she was doing,
the smile turned wry,
she squeezed her eyes tightly shut,
and sank further into her seat.
I looked away as the train pulled from the station.
3 February 2012
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Poem
Why I like New York City 2 – Bright city lights
Bright city lights.
The Chrysler Building.
In real-time
and
reflected off the
Mission of India to the United Nations.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Photo
Along the Graybeard Trail 