This came to our attention this morning. As the proud father of a gay son and as a pastor now free to officiate at same-sex weddings, this Comedy Central video had me doubled over. Enjoy.
Gay Wedding Q and A
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Category Archives: Life
If I second guessed
the decision to retire November 7, this sermon by guest preacher Tabitha Isner last Sunday at Shepherd of the Hill convinced me my time is up. Wonderful sermon.
Verse – The Face of Baseball
The football guys wear yoga pants,
The B-ball boys show skin and tats,
We each comb out our beard,
Or grow mustaches weird,
So women know we’re such cool cats.
– Steve Shoemaker, October 16, 2014
For World Refugees
“How can we sing the Lord’s song
in a strange land?” Psalm 137:4
This is not our city
This is not our land
These are not our people
Those are not our words
Your songs are not our songs
Your food is not ours
These clothes do not fit us
Those trees have strange shapes
This water has an odd taste
This dirt is not good soil
Our families are far away
Is God still with us
– Steve Shoemaker, October 15, 2014
Verse – A Dream of True Communion
It may have been the National
Cathedral–it was some great pile
of stones, some high Episcopal
Church where little me was the pale
imitation of a real Priest
for the day. I could not find pants,
or robe, and that was just the least
fatal of my embarrassments.
I did not have the words to say
for Mass, for Holy Communion —
my mind had left to go and play
in some old grade school reunion.
“Just take this bread,” I said, “and eat.
Remember Jesus–have a treat!”
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, October 14, 2014
Lake Superior Shoreline
“push, splash, gurgle, pull
push, splash, gurgle, pull
pull, push, splash, gurgle
pull, push, splash, gurgle
gurgle, pull, push, splash
gurgle, pull, push, splash
splash, gurgle, pull, push
splash, gurgle, pull, push”
say the waves lapping the
rocks at water’s edge
– Gordon C. Stewart, Encampment, North Shore of Lake Superior, October 8, 2014.
Boyhood Transportation
You take a playing card and steal
a clothes pin from the hanging bag
on the green line in the back yard.
The jack of spades looks best, you feel,
against the spokes of your old bike
and adds a clatter as you ride.
Behind you flies a pirate flag,
a decal shows the team you like
upon the bumper: the White Sox!
The squeegee horn is close at hand.
The noises really help the bike
since Dad has never fixed the brakes!
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Oct. 6, 2014
Fall Football in South Bend
Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
Those brats were the best tailgate food,
And the cobbler sure lightened our mood,
But the flush on our faces,
And our staggering paces,
Proves the whiskey from Ireland was good!– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, October 2, 2014
Editor’s Note: This is the second of four pieces sent to Views from the Edge this morning. South Bend, Indiana is the home of the “Fightin’ Irish” of Notre Dame. Tailgate parties in the parking lots of football stadia have become a tradition before American football games.
Home
they may not take you in
if you’re drunk again
even mom says get a rental
when you’re mental
dad thinks it’s funny
when you ask for money
The cleaners have a key to the lock
but you need to knock
your room has nice sheets
but you’re on the streets
You want to be cleaner
but have no shower
jobs ask for an address
but you’re homeless
– Verse by Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Oct. 2, 2014
Editor’s Note: Steve was prolific early this morning. “Home” is one of FOUR composed on his iPhone in the wee hours of the morning. He appears to have been sleepless in Urbana, without a job – he’s retired – but not homeless, showered, lying awake with his back to Nadja on clean sheets at the address they joyfully share with those in need.
Remember pen and paper?
Pen & Paper
Both my gizmos, as she calls them,
iPad and my precious iPhone,
are updating and recharging,
unavailable for writing,
FaceBooking, emailing, texting,
or for playing on-line Scrabble.
I have looked and found a grey pen
that writes even held upside-down.
Only one lined pad for writing
was discovered after searching
through the cabinets, closets, shelving.
When did I last try to scribble
words on paper? I lie back, then
face empty space above the line–
fingers, thumbs, want to be typing…
Will the gizmos still be waiting
when these words I will be adding
to the electronic babble?
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, September 27, 2014
Views from the Edge 