Brian’s Reflection: Thursday, Jan 22, 2009


Great events make me quiet and calm;
it is only trifles that irritate my nerves.

I think people really marry far too much;
it is such a lottery after all, and for a poor
woman a very doubtful happiness.

- Queen Empress Victoria, who died on
this day, 1901, after 63 years on the throne
of Great Britain


Boy, can I testify to the business about trifles “irritating the nerves”! Every year, when I was in a member of the Order of the Holy Cross, we would hold “Chapter”. All or most of the Life Professed would get together to discuss “business” and the life of the community. Huge issues would come up – involving the survival of the Order, or the founding of a new ministry and house, or giving up of a long-held one. Usually the discussion was calm, profound, quiet, and prayerful.

But! Change the Calendar that we followed?? Pandemonium!! I remember the time we had to decide to add (the Episcopal Church having done so) Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley (bishop martyrs “murdered” by Queen Mary) to the Calendar for commemoration. A huge fight erupted between the Anglo-Catholics and the Anglo-Romans in the community. In the end, after rancorous discussion, we had to compromise by adding a feast day for a Roman Catholic someone “martyred” by the Reformers. People on both sides didn’t speak to each other for months!!

My point? Don’t sweat the Small Stuff. And most of it is Small Stuff. Oh, we think most of the issues in World are “great events”. They aren’t. They are just petty tribal or cultural issues. Issues about dominance and power. It’s the issues about Love and Respect and Honour that we should be paying quiet and calm attention to.

As to Her Britannic Imperial Majesty’s views on Marriage? One hundred and fifty years later, I agree with her! Let’s have a half-century of re-thinking!

Brian+