☊ My sister recently bought a cabin near the Buffalo River outside the town of Gilbert. It’s in a gorgeous location, perched on the banks of Tomahawk Creek in Mud Hollow, nestled in a maze of hills and cut off from the rest of the world–a classic Ozark landscape. Every time I’ve gone up for a visit and passed the Gilbert General Store and canoe launch, I’ve dreamed about how great it would be to float the Buffalo from there, down to the mouth of Tomahawk Creek and walk up through the hollows to the cabin....

☊ Recently my son ranked up in his martial arts class. It was a big deal. He’s been a student of Coung Nhu for seven years, and by passing this latest test, he has graduated into the more advanced classes with the adults. Coung Nhu is a branch of karate that combines both quick, explosive movement with a softer, more contemplative, flowing style similar to Tai Chi. Luke did a fantastic job during the test....

☊ There is a priest in this diocese who was once a regular on the supply circuit, and I could always count on him to get along well with the members of whatever congregation he was serving. Whenever I would call him up and ask him to preside at Sunday services in Stuttgart, Helena, Marianna, or any number of congregations across the diocese, his response was almost always something like, “Sure!...

Imagine, if you will, a group of Episcopalians standing together and talking just before the start of the Pentecost service. It’s the annual bishop’s visit and last minute preparations are being made. The acolyte master says, “Eucharistic minster, the verger will meet you in the narthex.” And the lector adds, “right near the acolytes and the thurifer.” The curate then says, “Anyone seen the canon to the ordinary?” and the associate rector replies, “I saw him talking to the suffragan near the sacristy....

◉ Good morning! Now, to be clear, I’m not Thomas Alexander, your curate coming later this summer. I am Jason Alexander, who was your curate about 17 years ago. And it’s good to be back. Thanks, Dean Meaux, for inviting me to preach here at Trinity today. To catch you up, since I left the cathedral I’ve been down the hall in the bishop’s office serving as the Canon to the Ordinary, working with our 54 congregations from the Ozarks to the Delta–facilitating clergy transitions, troubleshooting, and helping our bishop be the bishop....