James Derkits

The initial jump into the falls of the San Marcos River (1995) was exiting, disorienting, exhilarating, and refreshing. I mean the falls below Spring Lake, where the water comes around the old mill chute and falls creating some crazy currents, upwelling, eddies, etc. By the time I moved away from San Marcos in 2000, I knew just where to jump, how to float, drift, and go with the flow so that I could be calm and relaxed in those waters, even though it was always refreshing and exhilarating. The more I swam there, the more I payed attention to what the water was doing. I even appreciated the power and danger of those waters. I learned to respect the river. Laura and I recently went to swim in the San Marcos River, and I'm bit out of touch with some of the currents; I still remember the respect. Ben Nelson invited me to talk at the St. Mark's Lenten Lunch but first needed to check in with the river, and stop by the old church building where the campus-ministry-in-a-variety-...

"God welcomes all, strangers and friends! God's love is strong and it never ends."  That's one of my favorite songs that we sing in our Trinity Day School Chapel, and occasionally in church on Sunday. It is beautiful in its simplicity, and points to the reality of Grace we experience as Christians. An even deeper appreciation comes when one learns that it originated in the Townships of Apartheid South Africa; it is a song of tremendous hope and love from a seemingly hopeless and apparently loveless situation. It occurred to me to share the words of that song because of a few recent conversations I've had with people around town. In one form or another, this question has bubbled up: "Is it okay for me to go to church?" The answer is simple: "Yes!" And, I believe that is the answer for all churches (not just the Episcopal.) Not only is it okay, but it is God's desire to welcome each of us, God's Children, into relationship. (My belief i...

One of Eli's favorite movies is the Secret of Kells (available on Netflix.) It's a beautiful animation about Brendan, a boy growing up at Kells Abbey; how the "Northmen" drove Brother Aidan from Iona to Kells; and how that helped Brendan discover his own gifts as an illuminator. Brendan is his the nephew of the Abbot, and eventually he has to break his uncle's strict orders not to go into the forest. For Eli the story doesn't stay in the in the movie. We often play Kells during daily life. Any berry on a bush can become THE berries Brendan was seeking to make ink, and I often become Br. Aidan helping him along. On our recent trip to the Bishop Jones Center we found the perfect setting for the story to come to life. It was complete with huge oak trees for Brendan to scramble around on, and old bridges-over-creeks to explore. There it was, the forest all around the abbey; fortunately we never ran into any Northmen. Just seeing him bring a story to life...