STOW
Greetings from 32,000 feet!
It’s Brooks with some occasional reflections from the sabbatical road. I miss writing and am missing you too, so I sincerely hope these brief thoughts connect us across miles and daily circumstance.
The now familiar pre-flight narrative is ringing in my ears…”and please stow all carry-on luggage either in the overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you..” The normal usage of the English “stow” means to secure, confine, or arrange, but there is another slang meaning of stow, which means to stop. We are forewarned that the luggage in the overhead bins has a tendency to shift during flight while the personal carry-on underneath the seat in front of us need not. Isn’t there a sermon somewhere in there?! So much of my life has shifted literally over my head during the turbulence of these past several years. The more I’ve tried to secure and arrange it, the less successful I’ve been! So as that part of my life bangs around rather noisily, this sabbatical journey is already focusing me on carry-on personal items, the very few and very precious items I need to enjoy everyday life. And all the rest can simply, mercifully, just stop! Every journey reminds of us of what we need, and what we may once have needed but no longer require. I cannot wait to lighten my lifetime carry-on items and compact my life these next few months. And you?
P.S. I note Southwest has changed their pre-flight narrative to exchange the term “stow” with the simpler English “place.” Really?!!
Contact Information
970.476.0618
office@episcopalvail.com
The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
PO BOX 1000
19 Vail Road
Vail, CO 81658
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