Wine, Eating, Girls and Sloth

Isn’t that a great title for a blog? So why title tonight’s rendering ‘Wine, Eating, Girls, and Sloth? It is inspired by this unbelievably protracted pain that is radiating anguish into my ankle from the side of my foot. It turns out that one of the great joys of George-dom is high uric acid, which usually leads to tortuous torment of kidney stones or the persecution of gout. So painful are these things that Mary Worley Montagu wrote, "People wish their enemies dead, but I do not; I say give them the gout, give them the stone!" All but one of the six boy George’s (including my Dad here) have had one of these afflictions.

The last time I had this problem was about four years ago – so I have had a good run. But yesterday my frightful friend returned. From a distance I could feel grisly growl and groan of gout coming alongside hoping to tie on for a spell. Gout arrived and tied a half-hitch around my ankle firm and tight at about 3 AM. Since that time I have been pretty stationary, and since she has tied on, whatever small distance I have drifted this ghastly gondola called gout has travelled alongside.

Benjamin Franklin said, "Be temperate in wine, in eating, girls, and sloth; or the gout will seize you and plague you both" What does that say about the George boys, apart from one brother that is? This gruesome gout is from eating, wine, sloth … and girls? Wow! I had no idea my life was that interesting really. I have been seized and plagued today for sure. One of the George boys tells me that the best cure for gout is half a bottle of Lamb’s Palm Breeze Rum. While my doctor might disagree, if this pain persists much longer, I may try Robert’s rich remedy. At least I would get some sleep.

On the upside, I can’t remember the last time I spent a full day at home. The weekend was tremendous and tiring so a day home was probably needed. I am so glad that I did not get this affliction on Saturday. The concert on Friday was a GREAT SUCCESS. The choir was outstanding and thrilled the more than 220 guests. Also outstanding was the Windsor Youth Choir. Another great highlight of the night was the band anonymous. Rob Agnew Jr. and Mitchell Shields brought the house down with their original song ‘As the Days Pass’ (you can see their original video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWSCu3jwjws).

Also wonderful and house stirring was Arla Peters and Christian Paulton’s stirring rendition of ‘The Prayer.’ It was an excellent evening. Stay tuned to the parish webpage at www.stmarkschurch.net for a video highlight’s by week’s end.

Our Mass of Rededication was a great celebration of all that is good about past and present ministry at St. Mark’s by-the-Lake. We have over 240 people at our liturgy including a number of visitors from the business and building community as well as visiting clergy from the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. It was great time of celebration and we give thanks to our Bishop Bob Bennett for his kindness on the weekend.

It was good to see Minnie Heeley and Lee Paprosky receive their award for excellence in ministry was a great moment. But having opportunity to pray in thanksgiving for all that God has done with the hands of people like Fausto Volpatti, his many subcontractors and Dr. Norm Becker his engineers Bill Lebel and Donato DiGiovanni as well as HryCay Engineering. It was as well a great day at church and a great day in the church’s history.

Sunday saw two baptisms take place at the church. It was wonderful to welcome Gareth and Peyton into the community of God. Also had opportunity on Sunday to visit one Godchild playing baseball and another swim in a pool – the heart is lifted in being with children. It was a good day indeed.

So I got lots of activity in before this long day of inactivity – feels sort of like sloth…

"Doing nothing gets pretty tiresome because you can’t stop and rest!" – Author unknown.