I find this to be a long nurtured quality of our diocese: the love that allows us to risk disagreeing.  I would not wish you to think that all of our recent convention was about disagreement. quite the contrary.  There is much common mission reflected in the reports heard at convention.  There is much common vision reflected in the Bishop's Address.  There is much common passion found in our worship.  And there is much common agreement about the food necessary to live as a diocese; a steady diet of worship, socializing, studying and work.

    Bishop Taylor continues to call us to be a praying people, a people of deep spiritual practice.  He stated that every Episcopalian ought to have a Prayer Book and ought to be using it daily.  He reminded us of the call to teach each other how to use it and other resources that connect us more deeply to God and each other.  He spoke of a year long process of long range vision creation as a diocese that will engage all congregations, all deaneries and all groups within the diocese.

    In addition, the music of Elizabeth Von Trapp propelled us beyond thinking of her as simply an extension of a beloved movie.  It was clear immediately that her spirit was a deep one informed by rich spiritual yearning.  Yes, we did get to sing Edelweiss, and she offered a rich array of original music and reworking of music that spanned from classical to Procol Harum to Sting.

    A report of resolutions and elections will be found in the next Highland Episcopalian. 

    A committee meeting of which I was part reminded me why I am in this diocese.  The topic engendered much deep and differing passion among the participants.  And the long practiced spirit of this diocese showed up.  I left the meeting tired and yet not lacking hope.  In the spirit of my old friend's notion, we did 'truly love one another' enough to risk our thoughts, feelings, experience and conviction.  There were times when we needed to stop and take a breath.  There were times when we needed to listen, times we needed to speak and times we needed to be silent.  It was demanding work.  And it is supposed to be demanding if it is about something real and life giving.  And it is the demanding work that creates the richest experience of life.

    In a sermon at the ordination of deacons earlier this year, Bishop Taylor reminded us that our call as a faith community is to hold disparate people, disparate groups of people, together.  As we extend our arms to do so, we will find ourselves living cruciform.  I realize in moments such as this meeting, cruciform posture of the heart/soul/body is the only way to find life.  And it is costly.  And it brings life.

    And that is why we have the Eucharist as part of our spiritual practice.  It is there that we are reminded that only things broken give life.  It is there that we find a mystery comprehensive enough to hold all our yearnings, hopes, fears, despair, darkness, hungers and beliefs.  It is only there that hope, belief, finds a true grounding not based in any sense of our ability to accomplish things fully, finally or comprehensively, but a grounding that reminds that only in the mystery of God, the mystery of Word made flesh, the mystery of brokenness leading to life, the mystery that is ever revealing,  will we find something firm enough to hold us and move us.

    We are fortunate to live in a diocese that loves enough to risk disagreement.  We are fortunate to live in a diocese which accepts that this kind of life can only be found in a community immersed in spiritual practices, practices that engender trust, respect and hope.  We are fortunate to live in a diocese that dares to hope, and is willing to do the work through which true hope is found.

Todd Donatelli