No self-respecting computer geek would be without a home computer. For several years, my home system of choice was the Amiga (I couldn't afford my real preference, Multics ) and that contributed to my becoming a co-director of the Amiga users' group of the now-defunct Boston Computer Society . There were never a large number of us Amigoids (about 5 million, world-wide), but we were a loyal (sometimes to a fault) bunch and we were greatly encouraged by the return of our favorite system to the marketplace and Gateway 2000 's plans for the future of the Amiga platform. Alas, that has now passed.
I still have my Amiga 3000 system, but I am now primarily a Linux and Win7 user. My older home systems all dual boot between Linux and at least one MS Windows version (WinNT, Win98SE, or WinXP Pro). Having installed all these versions from scratch, I can say that while the Windows systems show more "polish" in a few areas, I have been greatly impressed by the functionality and stability of Linux -- especially for internet access.
After a 16 year sojourn in Massachusetts, I returned home to Colorado in 1997. My interests came with me, and I gradually connected with people having similar interests in this part of the world.
Working so near the MIT campus in Cambridge gave me the opportunity to make new connections to the Institute. My graduating class held its 25th Reunion in 1995 and I became involved as the editor of my class' email list. Since that time, I've also put up a Class of 1970 web page (which has now passed to another classmate).
From 1994-1997, I was also the token "forty-something" in the MIT
Lutheran
Episcopal
Ministry, which meets weekly for Eucharistic worship, a light
supper,
and sometimes-heavy discussion. Our two denominations entered
into
full communion with each other as of the Feast of the Epiphany (January
6), 2001. MIT's LEM and other existing joint communities led the
way in demonstrating how ELCA and ECUSA congregations can work together
and even share clergy. Years later, this shared communion was
lived out at my seminary; about 1/4 of my entering class was Lutheran,
and we all became fluent in each other's traditions.
Until 1997, I was the "wearer of many hats" at the
Episcopal
Parish of St. Paul
(one of eight) in Newton, Massachusetts. Likewise, I was active in the Diocese of Massachusetts ,
representing
Region III (west-southwest of Boston) on the Diocesan (Bishop's)
Council,
which serves as the Board of Directors for the diocese.
Upon
returning home to Colorado, I became active at St. Andrew's Episcopal
Church
in Fort Collins, where I sang bass in the choir and coördinated a
good-sized group of lay liturgical assistants.
Though I had hidden from it for many years, in 2001 I finally came to grips with my long-standing sense of calling to ordained ministry within the Episcopal Church. Rather than boring you with the details of an arduous process, I'll summarize. I spent most of a year in discernment with my Rector, my Spiritual Director, and a committee of my peers before meeting with the Commission on Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. The CoM (correctly) felt I needed to do some additional spiritual and psychological work and left the door open for a second meeting. The growth and healing that ensued have been to the good; I was in a much better place when I met with the CoM a second time and received their recommendation..
Once the CoM and Bishop have approved me for Postulancy, I applied
to
seminaries for admission in the fall of 2004. Cutting to the
chase,
I am now a member of the Class of 2007 at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the
Southwest
in Austin, TX. The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree requires
three
years of study, so I will be ordained to the Transitional Diaconate in
2007.
I have now completed two of those three years and after another meting
with the CoM, the Bishop admitted as a Candidate for Ordination to the
Transitional Diaconate on October 4, 2006.
The Episcopal Church continues the ancient tradition of ordaining to the diaconate before the priesthood. I will be ordained to the priesthood 6-12 months later, at the tender age of 59. Mandatory retirement age is 72, so I pray that God will give me a dozen good years in which to be pastor, priest, teacher, and friend to the congregations that I will serve. After retirement, Episcopal clergy may continue to serve on a year-to-year basis.
An important part of my spiritual growth in recent years has been
involvement
in the Cursillo Movement. I was a Candidate at Colorado Episcopal Cursillo
weekend
#107 in August, 2002. I worked on the team for weekend #110 in
2003
and I kept the three dozen Cursillistas at St. Andrew's up to date
until
my departure for seminary. I have had the joy of working
two more weekends during my seminary years, and I have now served as a
"Spiritual Dude" (Spiritual Advisor) twice since my ordination.
¡De Colores! Closely related to Cursillo is KAIROS prison ministry, in
which I have become involved at the Sterling Correctional Facility in
NE Colorado.
Due perhaps to the absence of rapid transit during my formative years in Denver, I became enamored of subways and similar systems during my undergraduate years. I have continued that interest as a member of the Boston Street Railway Association . In addition to BSRA's own page, members also maintain the excellent New England Transit Web pages. I also joined the Colorado Railroad Museum once I returned to Colorado.
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