Saturday Morning (May 17, 2025)~Gathering up the Fragments

Carl Hiaasen, John McPhee, Migration, Ordinations, and United Methodist Night with the Hickory Crawdads

Good morning friends. We are moving through the month of May. We have had beautiful weather here, with lots of rain in places. I hope today is one of rest and renewal for you. That is my plan.

There are so many “things” floating around that it is difficult to know how to bring them together, or if that makes sense. So here’s to gathering up the fragments.

Since Merlefest I have been “knee-deep in bluegrass”. I recommend that site. It seems like “we’re all living in a Carl Hiaasen novel” (Atlantic). The NBA Playoffs have disrupted my watching Brokenwood Mysteries. Steph Curry, injured, is out. Jayson Tatum, injured, is out. The youth movement is coming, Oklahoma City or Minnesota. Reading “All The Billionaires’ Men” (New Yorker) reminded me of why I left the Washington Post. Both “Fargo” and “The Big Lebowski” are streaming on Prime. And I listened to a podcast of David Remnick talking about John McPhee, the author. If you have not read McPhee, I commend his books on Bill Bradley or Arthur Ashe, his book on the Orange (which is really a great history of Florida) and his profile of the environmentalist David Brower (Encounters with the Archdruid). McPhee, who is 94, is still writing for the New Yorker and only last year ended his teaching at Princeton, where his class on non-fiction writing was legendary. You can often find McPhee’s works in used bookstores. I highly recommend them.

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My week included the graduation at Duke Divinity School, some work in the library on Monday, preparing for the ordination retreat and annual conferences, and then our United Methodist-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops dialogue. We meet once a year in person and once a year online. Our focus is on “Baptism and Migration”. Our group includes scholars, ministers and practice ones who are deeply engaged in this work. One of the members is Daniel Groody, who teaches at Notre Dame and is author of “A Theology of Migration”, which includes a preface by Pope Francis. Our final resource, which will be circulated with Roman Catholic and United Methodist Churches, should be public within the next 18 months.

On Thursday I was blessed to spend the day with a group of twenty persons who (God willing) I will have the honor of ordaining next month at Annual Conference. It was a time to hear their conversation and call stories, and we concluded the day with a service of hand washing and holy communion.

Speaking of Annual Conference, our preachers and teachers will be Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, Dr. Sam Moore, Bishop Jose McLaughlin and I will offer the closing message. The theme is unity, healing and new creation.

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I am grateful for the 7-2 Supreme Court decision yesterday. I believe in checks and balances, separation of powers, due process under law, innocent until proven guilty. I am for the preservation of Medicaid and Supplement Nutrition for Children (SNAP). I am for governmental bodies that prepare us for natural disasters (like the coming hurricane season) and floods. Our focus is on policies and not personalities, compassion and not cruelty.

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I have done some work with the calendar over the next three years. Sometimes it helps to take the longer view. All of this is in pencil, to be sure. We will take groups with ordinands and interested persons to the Wesley sites in England in May of 2026 and May of 2028. We will take two pilgrimages to Belfast, Northern Ireland to work on peace-building, sectarian and non-violence, in July 2026 and April 2028. If you are interested in journeying with us please let us know. I have writing projects in 2026 and 2027 with Abingdon and the Upper Room. And about writing, I am delighted that this community of readers passed the 1000 person threshold over the past few days.

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In the coming week, I will preach the homecoming service at Salem UMC in Morganton, NC, attend a part of the Black Pastors’ of the Carolinas Retreat at Myrtle Beach, SC, and meet with a small group of colleagues, led by Gil Rendle, through the Texas Methodist Foundation in Dallas. On Friday night I be there for United Methodist Night with the Hickory Crawdads. I have thrown out the first pitch the last two years but I am trying to give that honor to David Christy and Sally Queen! If you are in the area, come out and join us!

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That seems to be enough for now. I am grinding the beans, walking and stretching, reading scripture and praying in the morning and evening. My mind is increasingly oriented toward annual conference and then the summer, and more connections with family and friends.

Thanks for reading these reflections, for sharing and subscribing. Mostly thanks for your friendship and the connection.