PeaceBang
The manic mind of the minister -- Auntie Mame Meets Cotton Mather. Blogging about Unitarian Universalism, UU Christian spiritual practice, occasional cultural and political ravings, and the inner life of ministry. PeaceBang is the alter ego of a small town pastor serving an historic New England Unitarian Universalist congregation.
Thanks, Philip Gulley
October 6, 2007 on 10:03 am | In Mind of the Minister, Shout-Outs, TV/Movies/Theatre/Book Reviews |Last night I was on my way into the city to meet a pal for his birthday dinner when the T train stopped cold. No problem; that happens. I still figured I’d make it to Cambridge a lot earlier than I would have had I been driving, and I’d even have some time to shop for a sock monkey for my friend before dinner. The train was air-conditioned, so I was comfortable and fine.
After about fifteen minutes, the other passengers and I started to realize something was seriously wrong. Finally the conductor’s voice came on the PA, apologizing for the delay and announcing a FIRE between Park and Downtown Crossing stations.
Oh. Oh.
Suddenly I was not so okay. A FIRE?
See, I have a tendency to get panic attacks when stuck in enclosed places LIKE THE SUBWAY TRAIN BURIED FAR UNDERNEATH THE WORLD IN THE COLD, RAT-INFESTED DARK.
I knew I didn’t have a stray Ativan or Valium in my bag, ’cause I only get those from my doctor when I’m flying somewhere and would rather not break into a heart-pounding, terrified sweat three miles in the air over Topeka, Kansas.
I knew that I could let my mind start racing (”Oh my God, a FIRE? What happened? Was there a BOMB? Are there TERRORISTS in Boston? How about ARSON? Is MARVIN THE TORCH running around setting fire to T stations? Why don’t they let us out at South Station and put us on a shuttle, or let us get a cab or a bus, or WALK to where we need to go? I could walk to Cambridge! At least I wouldn’t be stuck in the dark underground in this freezing cold airless CASKET with all these nice, calm Bostonians who don’t know we’re all going to DIE!), or I could let go of control, turn off my monkey thoughts, and read the nice book I had just checked out of the library.
I opted for the latter. Especially since, as I said, everyone was being so gracious and nice and patient and I didn’t want to cause a scene. In fact, I’d like to mention here that Boston folks have really impressed me lately. I’ve been attending some big, rowdy Red Sox-related events in the city and have found people to be fun, friendly and really delightful, whereas in the past the crowds seemed more like those guys in the ad for the movie “300″ — you know, the ones who all look like WWF champs and like they don’t know how to use a knife and fork?
Anyway, I decided to do some deep breathing and to read the book I had just found at the library called Porch Talk by Philip Gulley, a Quaker pastor from Indiana. The book is hilariously funny, charming and extremely endearing. Gulley writes like I wish I could : he’s wickedly sarcastic but manages to be so in a way that’s homey, sweet and sly and never snarly or caustic . I suppose that’s the difference between a small-town Indiana boy and a girl who was raised by drama queen parents (I mean that with love, Mom and Dad) and New York Jews.
I’m so grateful I just happened to have this book in my purse — I usually don’t bring reading material on the subway with me because reading and riding makes me nauseous — but it kept me from having a nervous breakdown during the hour we were trapped underground, and I now have a huge crush on Philip Gulley. I mean, he’s a great writer, a faithful Universalist Quaker, and extremely CUTE. Bless your heart, Pastor Gulley. C’mon, is this guy swoon-worthy or what?
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A year or two ago, I signed up for an online discussion group with Gulley on Beliefnet.com, to discuss the book he had just written with Jim Mulholland, If Grace is True: Why God Will Save Every Person. As you might guess, it’s about universal salvation, and they’re for it.
Well anyway, as it turned out, Gulley had a conflict so Mulholland led the discussion. It was sounding a little as though the two of them thought they had worked out this position on their own from scratch, so I started talking a bit about the historic Universalist Church and what we UUs understand and preserve from our heritage. All of a sudden, instead of Mulholland teaching everybody else, the discussion seemed to morph into, “Oh wow, how cool is that, you’re a real Universalist? Did I get it right?”
To which I had to respond, “Dude, you’re asking me? You’re the trained theologian in the room,” or words to that effect.
But yeah, I think he and Gullley do pretty much get it right.
Comment by fausto — October 6, 2007 #
I think my number one most dreaded phobia is being stuck in an elevator. Although, being stuck in a dark tunnel has got to be a close second.
Comment by Comrade Kevin — October 6, 2007 #
Phil is an awesome pastor, and all around good guy. He pastors a Friends meeting near the one where I serve as pastor. Your readers should know, however, that his Universalist Christianity and his outspoken advocacy for the inclusion of gays and lesbians in the Church has not come without a price. The conservative leaning Western Yearly Meeting of Friends (it is like a diocese for Quakers) has been trying to pressure Phil into leaving the ministry, has tried to pressure his congregation into getting rid of him, and failing that is trying to pressure his congregation to leave this yearly meeting.
A witness like his does not come without a price.
Comment by Derek — October 7, 2007 #
Derek, thanks for letting us know. Now my crush is even deeper and more serious.
Comment by PeaceBang — October 7, 2007 #
Like you, Peacebang, I picked up “Porch Talk” at the library (because I love his fiction) — but on the same day I also checked out Robert Fulghum’s new book, “What on Earth Have I Done?” I went home with these two books of essays, each written by a liberal minister, famous in his own right for the warm, avuncular voice of wisdom behind the text.
I can report that Gulley’s book blows Fulghum’s out of the water.
Reading these books side-by-side made me wish for someone like Gulley in our movement — although our colleague Kate Braestrup’s memoir “Here If You Need Me” shines with brilliance (it’s just an altogether different genre).
It might not be charitable to say this, but I’m sad that Fulghum — a reluctant UU evangelist if there ever was one — has about two decent essays in his new book, and just a handful of laughs. The rest of it is a dottering skeleton of a book.
I’m with Peacebang: Ga-ga for Gulley!
Comment by Erika — October 8, 2007 #
I started reading Gulley’s works a few years ago after a friend gave me his first books. I read “Front Porch Tales” and later “Hometown Tales” and they were followed by Gulley’s Harmony series of books.
Being from a small town myself (Edgerton MN pop. 1,033) I can relate to much of what Gulley writes about, especially in his Harmony series books.
I look forward to his next book, which is due to be released next month.
Comment by Mike Drooger — December 17, 2007 #
If Grace is True: Why God Will Save Every Person
I’m still working on the above book, and since I’m no Bible scholar, I keep coming up with two questions. One: how can a gift be a gift when it isn’t received? and two, how much of the Bible do we discount as being untrue before we finally conclude that it is only a book of literature with a good story line?
Comment by Betty Whitworth — February 12, 2008 #