Pilgrimage

 Pilgrimage

Chimayo, New Mexico

"And I blessed God that I was free to wander,

free to hope,

and free to love."

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Resources on Pilgrimage

Life as Pilgrimage with Dean Robert Willis of Canterbury Cathedral and Ed Bacon (2013)

A Pilgrim's Progress sermon by Dean Robert Willis of Canterbury Cathedral (2013)

The English Pilgrimage To Canterbury Cathedral | Pilgrimage With Simon Reeve | Timeline

Pilgrimage With Simon Reeve: Jerusalem | Absolute History

"And I blessed God that I was free to wander,

free to hope,

and free to love."

~Robert Louis Stevenson

If, by Rudyard Kipling

 

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

~Rudyard Kipling

Chimayo in the snow

 

Steven Albert Buffington “Steve”

January 23rd, 2024

It is with great sadness that the family of Steven Albert Buffington (Steve), announce his passing on January 17, 2024, at the age of 79. He was surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor his legacy by leading with kindness and compassion. His battle with serious medical issues in recent years demonstrated his toughness. He confronted them all with a smile on his face, a thumb’s up and with a desire to recover. Despite these difficulties, Steve stayed strong until his last breaths. Steve, the most loving and devoted husband and father, is survived by his wife, Mercedes, and his daughters and their families: Melissa (Jason Marggraf) and granddaughter Maura; Abigail (Matthew York), granddaughters Lucinda and Julia. Preceding Steve in death is their son, Steve Buffington Jr. (Jake). Steve and Mercedes’s love story began as a blind date that blossomed into a marriage lasting 54 years. Steve’s loyalty to his family was unwavering. He was a constant presence at school and sporting events even coaching his son’s little league teams. He never missed a significant milestone in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives. Steve was born on April 12, 1944, to Samuel and Ruth Buffington in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. He spent most of his childhood in Bluefield, West Virginia after his father’s promotional work relocation. Growing up in Bluefield was a source of pride for him where he made lifelong friends. He graduated from the prestigious College of William and Mary with a bachelor’s degree. He continued to support his alma mater through donations and watching all televised sporting events he could. Steve had a strong devotion to God and faith. He served on the Vestry and was a member of the church choir for many years. He also loved to sing, his love of music was boundless. Classic rock gave him endless joy that he passed on to his children (which stayed and comforted him until his last moments). Steve will be remembered as a die-hard Eagles fanatic followed closely by the Phillies and always rooting for our local sports teams, hit em low, hit em high…..Steve dedicated his life to the banking industry spending most of his career at PNC Bank. He was remembered as a hardworking, dependable team player who advocated for every client. He was routinely recognized for his dedication to his client relationships. Steve’s impact in this lifetime is unmeasurable due to his generous spirit and genuine warmth to anyone he encountered. Everyone’s day got a little better when Steve was around. Inspired by Gordon Lightfoot lyrics, Steve was as “fine as fine could be”. Should anyone desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Post-Polio Syndrome Foundation as Steve was a polio survivor and proud of his ability to overcome many of its effects throughout his lifetime, particularly in his final years (https://post-polio.org/support-us/donate/). The family would like to thank the staff at Cathedral Village in Philadelphia for the love and care they showed Steve in his final days. Steve’s life will be celebrated in late Spring with a memorial service. 

I lift up my eyes

 

Santa Croce, Firenze

 

 

A. Dale Davis, 80, of Middlebury

January 3, 2024

A. DALE DAVIS

MIDDLEBURY — Dale Davis leaves behind a legacy of art and love in all who knew him. Dale died suddenly of cardiac arrest on Dec. 13, 2023, in Middlebury. He had been struggling for many years with the effects of Lyme disease.

He was born Alvin Dale Davis, on Nov. 1, 1943, in Chicago, Ill., to Violet L. (Hill) Davis and Alvin W. Davis. Dale’s family moved often, living in Ohio, Illinois, Florida and New Orleans. As a young man, he continued in this travel mode, living in Mexico for three years, California, and back to New Orleans before settling in Austin, Texas, in 1973. He had been learning the construction trade along the way and Austin was a perfect place to land. He met his wife, Pam Haefner, an artist, in the summer of 1976 at Spellman’s, a dive bar with astounding music and people. The friends they made there, including David Bayless and Scott (Catfish) Stephenson, have been lifelong.

In 1977, Dale finished building a house on Lake Travis with partner Hal Chesner. He and Pam married that year at their friends Junius and Malia Johnson’s house. The next year they lived on the bayou in Ocean Springs, Miss., where daughter Katherine Violet Davis was born in 1978. Dale worked for Covacevich Shipyards that year, building the fine woodwork in the galleys of their boats. He had a strong love for the ocean, but they missed Austin and moved back to live there. Pam visited Middlebury in 1977 with her stepfather. He had just bought land there, and she fell in love with Vermont. In May of 1981 they followed Pam’s dream and moved to Middlebury. The move was just in time for the birth of their second child, Nathan Dale Davis.

While Dale was a skilled builder and lover of tools, he also had a passion for painting and sculpting. Pam and Dale’s shared love of art erupted when they founded the Studio Arts Center in Middlebury (behind Greg’s Market) in 1996. There they created a space for young people to tap into their creativity in an afterschool program. As a child of the 1940’s and 1950’s, Dale had struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD. He and Pam had created the kind of safe harbor that he had needed as a child. The studio gave Dale an opportunity to develop his own art and he could be seen during that time sculpting marble pieces in downtown Middlebury on Main Street and near the falls in Frog Hollow. His work was shown in locations throughout Vermont, but Dale often said that the Studio Arts Center was one of the accomplishments that he was most proud of.

He is survived by his wife, Pam Davis; his son, Nathan Davis, of Warren, Vt.;, and daughter, Kate (Davis) Freeman and husband Lee, and his grandchildren, Max Freeman and Sam Freeman of South Burlington, Vt.; also his sister, Linda (Davis) Petrach and her husband Dan of Sarasota, Fla.; and cousin Mary Uhlig, of Spring Branch, Texas. He will be missed by family, Amy (Oliver) and Dan Beaupre of Middlebury, Jill (Oliver) and Mike Rose of California, and Susan Mock and Dan Freeman of Middlebury, as well as Pam’s extended family in Louisiana, the Solars, the Andries, and the Haefners, along with the Bigners of North Carolina, and his many friends and former students.

Dale was predeceased by his parents, Vi and Al Davis.

Dale had a green burial, per his wishes, in Middlebury on a hill in the woods on Dec. 21, attended by family, friends, and a crew from the Art Studio days. The family would like to thank them all for their skills and help to make it happen despite the challenges created by the flood earlier that week.

There will be a celebration of life planned for the Summer Solstice. Details to come.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Turning Point Center in Middlebury or The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center in West Rutland, Vt. 

When Life Feels Far from What You Imagined, by Joshua Becker over at "Becoming Minimalist"

 

When Life Feels Far from What You Imagined

by Joshua Becker

Life never fully goes as planned. In fact, nobody escapes unscathed as the old saying goes.

But sometimes, the trials and pains of life throw us so far from the life we dreamt for ourselves, it is difficult to find our bearings.

For any number of reasons, within or outside our control, life unfolded in ways we never anticipated and we find ourselves navigating through a reality we never desired‚ or in some cases, we'd never even wish upon our worst enemy.

We were unexpectedly given a painful health diagnosis, experienced the loss of a child, lost a marriage we fought hard to save, felt the brunt of an economic downturn, or suffered firsthand the devastation from a natural disaster.

For whatever reason, the life we live today feels far from the life we imagined for ourselves. Maybe, living isn’t even the word we'd use to describe our circumstances—surviving might be the best we can muster.

Sometimes the present trials and circumstances are a result of our actions—but not always. Sometimes our circumstances are no fault of our own. And sometimes they occurred quickly, while other times they slowly built over time.

Regardless, they have become the life we are presently living.

If that is you today, living a life far from what you imagined, I want you to know that you are not alone. You are not the only one suffering. You are not forgotten. I see you and feel for you and love you. And if that is all you need to hear today, then I hope it encourages you.

But I also want you to know that while life might not look like what you imagined, it still holds potential for growth, impact, fulfillment, and meaning.

If you are breathing today, life still holds opportunity. And you need to believe that. Because you’ll never take steps toward joy until you believe they are possible.

No matter your age, your health, your surroundings, or your circumstances, the rest of your life can be lived intentionally for your good and the good of those around you.

I’m not here to tell you the road will be easy. If it was, you would have already found it. But it does exist. So hold your head up high.

If your life feels far from what you imagined, here are some truths and practices to help you reignite hope:

Recognize and Embrace the Now

This present moment, no matter how imperfect, is your life and it is where your life is happening. There’s no joy to be found in thinking it is different than it is. So, embrace it as true. But remember, embracing the now doesn't mean giving up on the future; it only means recognizing the value of today.

Understand the Power of Choice

While we cannot control everything that happens to us, we always have a choice in how we respond. This involves discerning between what is within our power to change and what we must learn to accept. But there are always factors we can control, our attitude for example. And that should never be overlooked.

Seek Joy in Simplicity

In difficult circumstances, the need to find joy in simple, everyday moments is even more important and can be incredibly grounding. Whether it's the warmth of the sun, a conversation with a friend, a pain-free afternoon, the laughter of a child, or a good book, these simple joys remind us of hope and joy.

Cultivate Gratitude and Positivity

There is always, always, always something to be grateful for. Even when life is far from what we envisioned, there are aspects of it for which we can be grateful. Basing our expressions of gratitude on changed circumstances will never bring them about. We must look, purposefully and intently every day, for reasons to be grateful.

Work Harder at Connections

Human relationships are a great resource in times of hardship. Reaching out for support and offering it in return creates a network of empathy and understanding, reminding us that we are not journeying alone. But this is harder for us to do when we feel our life has become something we wish it wasn’t. Humility and love can bring you back. So make that phone call today.

Dissolve Envy with Encouragement

It can be hard to celebrate the successes of others when we feel life has treated us unfairly. Work hard to not allow jealousy or envy to take root in your heart or relationships. Work to dissolve it by cheering and encouraging others instead.

Practice Self-Compassion

Be gentle with yourself. Recognize that feeling overwhelmed or disheartened is a natural response to life's trials. Treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a dear friend.

Try Something New

If the old foundations on which you built your life have fallen away, look for a new foundation. Turn to faith or lean into the support of a close-knit community group, neighborhood, or club.

Pursue Personal Growth

Every remaining day is an opportunity for growth. And while your life may never become what you imagined it to be, engaging in activities that promote self-discovery and personal development will help you begin to re-imagine what the rest of your life can still become.

The world can be cruel. And life will always be unpredictable and complex. Your present journey may not be the one you wanted, but it is yours. And you are still important.

Happy Season of Epiphany at St. Mary's Episcopal Church

 

Five Helps for the New Year given one year by Bishop Michael Ramsey to his clergy

 

Five Helps for the New Year given one year by Bishop Michael Ramsey to his clergy

1. Thank God. Often and always. Thank him carefully and wonderingly for your continuing privileges and for every experience of his goodness. Thankfulness is a soil in which pride does not easily grow.

2. Take care about confession of your sins. As time passes the habit of being critical about people and things grows more than each of us realize. ...[He then gently commends the practice of sacramental confession].

3. Be ready to accept humiliations. They can hurt terribly but they can help to keep you humble. [Whether trivial or big, accept them he says.] All these can be so many chances to be a little nearer to our Lord. There is nothing to fear, if you are near to the Lord and in his hands.

4. Do not worry about status. There is only one status that Our Lord bids us be concerned with, and that is our proximity to Him. "If a man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am there also shall my servant be". (John 12:26) That is our status; to be near our Lord wherever He may ask us to go with him.

5. Use your sense of humour. Laugh at things, laugh at the absurdities of life, laugh at yourself.

Through the year people will thank God for you. And let the reason for their thankfulness be not just that you were a person whom they liked or loved but because you made God real to them.