Never thought I'd do it

Hello, everyone! I swore I never would have a blog. Seems too narcissistic to me. But I have to admit that I love to communicate and a blog seems a good way to do that.

Today, Tuesday, September 22, 2009, the first official day of autumn and in Portland OR where I live it is very warm. It has been a good day, too - the sky is clear, there's a breeze from the east (maybe from "The Gorge" on the Columbia River) to cool us down a bit, psyches are cordial, the cat, Maggie (for "MagnifiCat"), is sprawled out on the lawn or driveway, probably contemplating her last days. She's somewhat eschatalogical, I guess.

Tonight I was going to attend an informal meeting of mostly "younger" (than I!) people who are committed to practicing and living-out an "emerging" sort of Christian life. My parish, Saints Peter & Paul, is given to a Celtic model, due mostly to our creative and very Celtic priest, Kurt Neilson. Emerging from that has been this emerging stuff which I do not in the least purport to understand. I would like to have gone, had a nice pint, eaten some pub grub, and listened in to the various conversations and maybe added my two bits. But I sha'nt be there, alas.

My duty now is to "de-clutter" my commitments and to pare down to essentials what I do in my retirement years, keeping in mind my marriage vows, my priesthood (it's not mine, of course, but God's), and how I might assist in the parish and diocese. I also am something of a singer/musician and want to keep my voice, becoming a bit more wobbly with my years, active.

So, I've decided to pare down a few things. Not ready, quite, to make an announcement for all and sundry to ooh and aah at, but tune in later and I'll share it.
Meanwhile, I'd like to hear from anyone who: is in his sixties, retired, is a more-or-less liberal and progressive Christian and might be struggling from time to time, as I do, with the lack of structure that retirement puts before us.