Saturday Morning Coffee

Haven't posted in a few weeks . . . it's been a busy Lent! And now preparing for travels the first two weeks of May. But, couple of things . . .

Got out on my NEW bike yesterday for a ride. I finally pulled the trigger and got a Trek Emonda ALR 5. My 30+ year old steel Schwinn will now stay in the basement on my trainer for use there, but I'll ride this one out on the roads. I must say, it is nice! I can actually use the gears properly, which I couldn't really do on my Schwinn anymore. Went for 40 miles yesterday and felt really good. I didn't push too hard for the first outdoor ride of the year, but the bike made it easy. Night and day difference.

The book I'm currently reading is Heretics and Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton. Hard book! His philosophy is hard to slog through. A lot of references I'm not really familiar with. I'm making a first pass through now to get the big picture. Then I'll have to go back through a little more carefully. But one thing he said at the very end of Heretics, as the final sentence, got my attention:

We shall be of those who have seen and yet have believed.

Get the reference? Tomorrow in Church we'll read of "doubting Thomas" and when Jesus said: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Chesterton here has changed that. What's he getting at?

Well, that reminded me of a story by Boccaccio in The Decameron (14th c.), who wrote of

A Jew called Abraham, his curiosity being aroused [by a monk trying in various ways to convert him to Christianity], goes to the court of Rome, and when he sees the depravity of the clergy, he returns to Paris and becomes a Christian.

So what's the real miracle? Not seeing and yet believing? OR seeing and yet believing? Believing despite what we see happening in the world and in the church?

I would have used that in my sermon for tomorrow, but already had it written. But if I remember, I'll use that thought next year.

Now, it's off to get ready for our church picnic today. Hopefully the rain will hold off!