Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;
parents are the pride of their children (Proverbs 17:6).

Over the last several months Deb and I have received so many words of encouragement and affirmation as we waited and prayed for our daughter and her husband’s (Rebecca and Nate) first child to be born.  “You’ll love it!”  “There is nothing like the joy of holding your first grandchild.”  “Your lives are about to change all over again!”  “This is the best time of all!”  We were intrigued by the ebullient manner in which these sentiments were shared with us.

Now we know why.  Nathaniel Walker Gibson, son of Nate and Rebecca Gibson, was born on Tuesday, July 28 at 8 pounds and 20 inches.

It’s hard to comprehend loving someone as much as your own child, but it becomes immediately possible when you hold your grandchild for the first time. Those curious eyes awaken in you a surprising sense of continuity as you realize the emerging spirit of this child has come from a long line of human living and loving of which you are just one small part.  The parental desire to provide and protect overwhelms you all over again!

The experience of receiving the gift of little Walker into our lives, has left us with a fresh awareness that life, in all its wonder and complexity is (as I am wont to say), a “windfall,” something we did not anticipate or engineer.  It’s the recognition that we would not be who we are or where we are without the love and generosity of others.  It has given me a fuller understanding of the word “stewardship,” and it has given me a renewed sense of partnership with all of you and our participation in God’s mission of healing and reconciliation in the world.

In the midst of our joy, I invite us all to renew our prayers for pregnant mothers within and beyond our reach and for God’s compassion and mercy on those who are mourning the loss of a pregnancy or a child in recent months. May God renew their hopes for the future with quiet confidence and peace.

Rick+

P.S. I like the “crowning glory” of the above verse in Proverbs.  Not quite ready for the “aged” part!

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Several months ago, I came across an arrangement of the theme from the film Schindler’s List, the 1993 American epic film about Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of more than a thousand Polish-Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories.  The arrangement is by the renowned Australian guitarist, John Williams.

I was intrigued by the dropped G & C tuning as well as the Spanish flavor of the transcription and thought I’d give it a try on my new Alhambra 5c cw directly into Logic with the Fishman Prefix pickup system onboard.  If I were to record it again, I would probably add a condenser mic near the sound hole to provide it a bit more “live” touch to the the overall sound.

The Alhambra, which is handmade in Spain,  features a solid cedar top, laminated rosewood back & sides, ebony fingerboard, mahogany neck, wood inlay rosette, wood bindings, gold tuners, lacquer finish.  The icon on my oratory table is a replica of Christ the Pantocrator from the School of Moscow, 16th century.  I’m sure St. Augustine would not mind if I adapted his famous quote to read, “He who plays a stringed instrument prays twice.”

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Summer Break

July 7, 2010

Just a quick post to say that I’m enjoying some sabbath rest – letting my soul catch up with the rest of me.   I’ve been working on some guitar repertoire that I hope to record and post on the music projects page while I’ve got the time.  Look for one later this week.  Thanks for [...]

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The Quest for “Ubuntu”

June 25, 2010

It is an odd word, ubuntu, even difficult to pronounce.  It’s oddness, however, reveals more about our own perceptions and our need to continue to learn and grow, to overcome a propensity to lock down our souls. What is the meaning and significance of ubuntu? It points to a quest of the human heart, to [...]

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Brian McLaren on Catholicity and the Middle Way

June 10, 2010

The blogosphere is once again alive with the latest developments among provinces within the Anglican Communion.  It breaks my heart to see some of my faith heroes backed into defensive corners over institutional matters that I believe are not consonant with their deepest hearts (my humble opinion).  This morning I read an essay by Brian [...]

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You Can Be Spiritual And Religious

June 4, 2010

This week, I came across an article by James Martin, a nationally known Jesuit priest, who spoke to the popular phrase “I’m spiritual, just not religious” and explained that this kind of thinking might be a way of saying that religion means, “abiding by arcane rules and hidebound dogmas, and being the tool of an [...]

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Gathered in One Spirit and Mission

May 28, 2010

Last Sunday was an extraordinary celebration of faith and common mission at Holy Comforter. It doesn’t get much better on Pentecost than having a former Bishop of Jerusalem as your celebrant and preacher.  Bishop Samir Kafity graced us with inspiring and confident words as we renewed our baptismal promises to engage God’s mission in the [...]

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Spirited Christianity

May 22, 2010

Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, the third great feast of the church year after Christmas and Easter for which the Church of the Holy Comforter is named. It reenacts the story of a small group of disciples who were still confused and adrift after the death and resurrection of their Lord. All they [...]

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It’s Pentecost

May 22, 2010

Working Preacher.org sponsored by Luther Seminary offers this Video with insightful commentary that a certain preacher may include in his sermon this Sunday.

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On A Happier Note

May 6, 2010

Two of the most prolific and successful recording artists of all time are close friends and are together again.  To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of a venue that calls itself home to such notables as Elton John, The Eagles, and Joni Mitchell. Carole King and James Taylor performed there together in November of 1970 and [...]

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