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May 24, 2025 – The next major feast days are Ascension Day – this year on Thursday, May 29 – and two days later comes the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin. (Mary’s visit to the expectant mother of John the Baptist.) I’ll cover those later, but first I’ll review just getting back from two weeks in England – and visiting four famous churches. (Foreshadowed in the last post.)

But before that: The Daily Office Gospel reading for Friday, May 23. Luke 8:40-56 tells the story of the Raising of Jairus’ daughter. It has lots of weeping and wailing – on the apparent death of the 12-year-old daughter of the leader of a synagogue – followed by (nervous?) laughter when Jesus tells mourners the girl is “not dead but sleeping.” Then came (for me) the really intriguing part; Luke 8:55, where – after He held her hand and told her to get up – “her spirit returned.”

Which in the past led me to ask, “Where the heck did her spirit go?”

That is, where did her spirit go between when she died and Jesus brought her back to life? Put another way, “Where did her soul go?” (Is there an appreciable difference between soul and spirit?) And how does all that relate to the concepts of Ensoulment and “life after life,” not to mention the First law of thermodynamics. (Which “First Law” says energy is neither created nor destroyed, “it simply changes form.” Which in turn means if a human soul is a form of energy, it too is neither created at the moment of conception, nor destroyed at the moment of death. For another view see Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”)

Of course none of that parenthetic stuff answers the question, “Where the heck did her spirit go?” But here’s a thought: Maybe it’s something like leaving your home country to spend two weeks in the UK. (How’s that for a segue?) And maybe seeing four famous churches?

As indicated in the last post, late last Wednesday, May 7, I took a red-eye flight over to London. After spending May 8 recovering from jet lag, my travel partner and I took BritRail to Liverpool and Stratford-on-Avon. (Then came back to London for nine days before heading home.) And on the ride back to London – from Stratford – we visited the first of the four churches mentioned, “Shakespeare’s church,” officially known as Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Now for some background. From London we took the train to Liverpool’s Lime Street Station, with its association to Brian Epstein and the Beatles. Next morning I fulfilled a life-long dream, taking the “Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey.” (Or at least a dream since 1964 when I first heard the Gerry and the Pacemakers’ song.) Later that afternoon we took a change-of-trains trip – halfway back – to Stratford, where I re-learned an English phrase, “What a cock-up!”

It had to do with a reservation problem, as in a reservation to an apartment right next door to Holy Trinity, which would have been really convenient for getting to church next morning. But the “cock-up” later worked out, as will be described in greater detail in my companion blog. (We ended up in what seemed to be a “Better Place,” spiritual metaphor intended.)

This post will (briefly) detail that Sunday morning visit to Shakespeare’s church.

First off I noted some similarities but also some differences with my church back home. For example, unlike back home (with none), Holy Trinity had four large video screens, each showing the words to each hymn and also a view of the Celebrant as he gave his sermon. (In part because the place was pretty big and also had side sections, where we ended up having to sit.) Plus images like a shepherd carrying a lamb to fit in with the Gospel reading.

Also, as I found out in the basement men’s room, Holy Trinity takes part in Twinning. That concept “links a toilet in the UK with a toilet in a developing country. By twinning a loo, you can raise funds to provide safe and hygienic toilets, education and support to communities in need.” And why? Because four and a half billion people across the world “do not have access to a safe toilet even though clean water and sanitation are basic human rights.” All of which gives a prime example of how travel broadens the mind. (Learning things you had no idea existed.)

I’ll write more on the other three churches in a bit, mostly because this post got side-tracked by all that about “spirits returning” and other such out-of-body or near-death experiences. Next up? Reflections on Ascension Day and Mary’s Visitation to the mother of John the Baptist.

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The upper image is courtesy of my traveling companion. See also Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon – Wikipedia. The other churches – discussed in a later post or two – were Winchester Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, and St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

The Book of Common Prayer reference: The “corporate-mystical” prayer is on page 339, the post-communion prayer for Holy Eucharist, Rite I.

Feast days are designated days on the liturgical (church) calendar “set aside to commemorate events, saints, or doctrines that are important in the life of the Church. These can range from Solemnities, which are the highest-ranking feast days like Easter and Christmas, to optional memorials that celebrate lesser-known saints.” Feast Days: Celebrating the Church’s Calendar.

For this post I borrowed from “Her spirit returned” – and Ascension Day (May 2023). On the May 23 ’25 Gospel see The Lectionary – Satucket, for more information. The link NRSV takes you to the full readings for the week of May 18-24, including the Friday Gospel reading from Luke 8:40-56.

A segue is “a transition from one topic or section to the next.” Wikipedia.

In an out-of-body experience (OBE) a person “perceives the world as if from a location outside their physical body.” Wikipedia. See also Near-death experience – Wikipedia. Some say Paul had such an experience in 2d Corinthians 12; specifically verse 12. The NIV: “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know – God knows.” The New Living Translation reads, “I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago…” See also Third Heaven: Near Death Experience of Paul? (Definitely a Rabbit Trail – see the last post-notes – but it leads to a good question: Did the daughter say something at the time on being “out of body,” but no one thought to write it down? On the other hand there’s Luke 8:56, “Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.”)

See also Mersey Ferries | Liverpool Ferry.

Re: Companion blog, The Georgia Wasp | A blog of life-reviews by an old guy who still gets a kick out of life. (But give me a day or three to get back up to speed on Liverpool and Stratford.)

Re: “Better place.” See ‘They’re In A Better Place” And The Christian White-Washing of Grief: “They may be well-meaning, but phrases like, ‘They’re in a better place’ or ‘It’s part of God’s plan’ can come across as either hollow or insensitive.” As one grieving person said, “At the time, all I really wanted to hear was ‘I’m here for you.’” (Something to keep in mind.)

Links to “twinning” include How twinning your toilet is a lifesaver – BBC, Toilet Twinning – Wikipedia, Home – Toilet Twinning.

Links to mind-broadening travel include Why travel broadens the mind, Traveling Opens Your Mind: Here’s How | GoAbroad.com, and How Does Travel Broaden the Mind? – Mindful Wonderer. The latter included the thought, “Discover the benefits of leaving your comfort zone,” a main theme of this blog, as in the July 2017 post, On “Comfort Zone Christians.”

The lower image is courtesy of The Raising of the Daughter of Jairus, 1881 – Gabriel von Max.

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May 3, 2025 – Next Wednesday I’ll fly to London. After a day recovering from jet lag I’ll visit Stratford-on-Avon and Liverpool, then come back to London for some sightseeing. (And hope I don’t get bored?) Meaning this will be my last post until I get home near the end of May.

So for this post I’ll talk about this week’s Old Testament readings in the Daily Office. (On Shadrach, his two buddies and a threat of being burned alive.) And about how hard it can be to Get Good Stuff From God. Which brings up Magoo, a Hell’s Angel from the ‘Frisco chapter.

Hunter Thompson wrote about Magoo in his 1967 book, Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga. Aside from being an Angel, the 26-year-old Magoo – so called because of his thick glasses – worked as a teamster. (Which gave him a decent income.) Thompson went on:

One night in Oakland, Magoo and I got into a long conversation about guns. I expected the usual [talk about] “shoot-outs” and “cooling guys with a rod,” but Magoo talked more like a candidate for the Olympic pistol team. When I casually mentioned man-sized targets, he snapped, “Don’t tell me about shooting at people.  I’m talking about match sticks.” And he was. He shoots a Ruger .22 revolver, an expensive, long-barreled, precision-made gun that no hood would ever consider. And on days when he isn’t working, he goes out to the dump and tries to shoot the heads off match sticks. “It’s hard as hell,” he said. “But now and then I’ll do it just right, and light one.”

(Emphasis added.) But now for the really strange thing. The really strange thing is the way too many people think that getting good stuff from God – the Force that Created the Universe – should somehow be easier than trying to shoot the head off a match stick…

All of which is another way of saying that in his pursuit, Magoo didn’t have ulterior motives. He wasn’t trying to weasel something good out of anyone. And he wasn’t trying to keep something bad from happening. He was just trying something extremely difficult  – if not impossible – on the off chance that every once in a long while he’d “do it just right…”

All of which reminded me once of what a female Muslim mystic once said:

O God, if I worship Thee in fear of hell, burn me in hell;  if I worship Thee in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise;  but if I worship Thee for Thine own sake, withhold not Thine everlasting beauty.

In other words, in trying to shoot the head off a matchstick – and on rare occasions even lighting one – Magoo wasn’t going for a prize. (A bribe, if you will.) He was doing it “for it’s own sake.” He was doing it for the sheer joy, and he wasn’t expecting anything in return.

My point is that maybe we practicing Christians would be better off trying to approach God in the same way. (With a lot more respect and a lot less greed.) Maybe we shouldn’t expect God to cater to our every whim. Maybe we shouldn’t get so angry when things don’t turn out exactly how we want. Maybe we should take a pure and simple joy in the off chance that the Force That Created the Universe even knows we exist. (And is willing to help out once in a while.)

Which brings up this week’s Old Testament readings in the Daily Office. They too have a bearing on things like when you get mad because the Lord didn’t buy you a Mercedes Benz. For one thing, “things could be worse. A lot worse!” Like the threat of being burned alive in a Fiery Furnace.

Starting last Monday, April 28, the Daily Office Old Testament Readings have been from the Book of Daniel. It’s best known for Daniel getting thrown into a lion’s den – and surviving – but it has lots of other good stuff too, including an early apocalypse. (A better-known apocalypse is Revelation, the last book in the Bible.) But now the readings have moved to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Daniel 3:1-18, and 3:19-30.)

It all started when Daniel and his three friends were among the “handsome young men” from Judah who got deported to Babylon – in the Babylonian captivity – but eventually were taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The three friends were originally Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, but by royal decree their Hebrew names were changed, to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. (Daniel’s name was changed to Belteshazzar.) In turn King Nebuchadnezzar gave them prominent positions within his administration. (They were made “administrators over the province of Babylon.” Daniel 2:49.)  But there’s always a catch…

In this case the catch was that King Nebuchadnezzer had a giant golden statue of himself built.  Then he ordered that all his subjects bow down and worship it – him – whenever they heard “the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble.” (Daniel 3:5,7.) The king further ordered that “whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.” (Daniel 3:6.) And so – to make a long story short – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to fall down and worship an earthly “god,” especially because Nebuchadnezzar was a mere man himself, like them.

As a result they got thrown into the burning fiery furnace, just as the king had threatened.  But the real kicker in the story comes at Daniel 3:16-18.  There the three men – about to be thrown into the burning, fiery furnace – gave their answer to King Nebuchadnezzer:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defence to you in this matter.  If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, he will deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”

Note the emphasized “But if not…”  So what the three men were really saying was something like this:  “O Nebuchadnezzar, it’s up to God Himself to decide if He’ll deliver us out of your hands from this dreadful, painful and agonizing death. God certainly has the power to save us, but even if He decides not to, we will still believe in and follow Him.”

Some lessons to learn? Like how we should resist an earthly king’s tyrannical demands? Like how we should keep the faith, whatever the mortal challenge? Like how we should remember that it can be hard to keep the necessary patience to get good things from God, or wait for Him to deliver us from some ordeal we’re going through? And how it’s sometimes as hard as shooting the head off a matchstick from 100 yards. Keeping that patience can be hard as hell, but now and then we’ll “do it just right.” Like it says in the King James Version of Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.”

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The upper image is courtesy of Shadrach Meshach And Abednego – Image Results.

The Book of Common Prayer reference: The “corporate-mystical” prayer is on page 339, the post-communion prayer for Holy Eucharist, Rite I.

Feast days are designated days on the liturgical (church) calendar “set aside to commemorate events, saints, or doctrines that are important in the life of the Church. These can range from Solemnities, which are the highest-ranking feast days like Easter and Christmas, to optional memorials that celebrate lesser-known saints.” Feast Days: Celebrating the Church’s Calendar.

For this post I borrowed from the April 2015 post, Shadrach “et al.” and the Fiery Furnace, and the June 2015 post, On the wisdom of Virgil – and an “Angel.” The June post noted the Roman poet Virgil’s “peculiar way of looking at things,” in that most people – today and throughout history – have seen religious matters in terms of black or white:  “our attitude toward the possibility of divine control of things tends to be all or nothing.” And how our puny human minds are as incapable of fully understanding as a “cat trying to understand calculus.”

Re: Stratford-on-Avon. Technically it’s Stratford-upon-Avon, but I shortened it. Fewer syllables…

Hunter Thompson book. The link in the text is to Amazon Books, indicating “1996.” See also Hell’s Angels (book) – Wikipedia, showing the original publishing date 1967. The passage I used was from page 182 of the Ballantine Trade Edition, published in 1996. (In Chapter 16, part of Thompson’s account of the “Hoodlum Circus and The Statutory Rape of Bass Lake.”) The book includes this insight: “Despite his Cro-Magnon appearance, [Magoo] has a peculiar dignity that can only be dealt with on its own terms… His opinions are flavored with a morality that seems more instinctive than learned.” See also Hunter S. Thompson – New World Encyclopedia.

Re: The female Muslim mystic. See Rabia Basri – Wikipedia. See also Page : Book of common prayer (TEC, 1979).pdf/857, on the Prayer of Adoration: ” Adoration is the lifting up of the heart and mind to God, asking nothing but to enjoy God’s presence.”

Re: Mercedes Benz. The link Janis Joplin – Mercedes Benz Lyrics – Genius: The song is a “blues tune about the search for happiness by the pursuit of worldly goods.”

Re: Fiery furnace. For a learned discussion see A Summary and Analysis of the Story of Shadrach and the Fiery Furnace, which included this: “The Book of Daniel deals with the Jews deported from Judah to Babylon in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, and shows Daniel and his co-religionists resisting the Babylonian king’s tyrannical demands that they leave aside their religious devotion to God.”

The lower image is courtesy of Charles Joseph Tinsley (1937-1971) – Find a Grave Memorial: “Charles Tinsley was known as Charlie Magoo, and was a very famous member of the Oakland California charter of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club. He had a featured part in the movie Hell’s Angels 1969, and was written about extensively in books by Hunter Thompson, and Sonny Barger.” (As originally written the piece noted “Hells.” I added the Plural Possessive rule to make it “Hell’s.”) Tinsley died in 1971, at age 33. See also Hell’s Angels – Wikipedia, which added some interesting updates. Like the fact that they incorporated in 1966, have filed numerous lawsuits to protect that status, and that to become a Hell’s Angels “prospect,” candidates must have “a valid driver’s license, a motorcycle over 750cc (46 cu in), and the right combination of personal qualities.” It is said the club excludes child molesters and people who have applied to become police or prison officers.”

(On that note. That’s why I love blogging. So many Rabbit Trails to follow. And about those rabbit trails, a fellow-blogger said while going down rabbit trails in “can be fun and interesting,” they can also interfere with resolving the topic at hand. But also noted this distinction:)

You would never use that phrase to describe a leisurely trip when you explored a side path and had an interesting adventure. That’s more like taking the road less traveled[,] which is a literary reference to a poem by Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken.”

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