Day 16, “The Day I talked to the Arch-Bishop about the Red Sox”

We left for London just after eight this morning and got to the Anglican Communion offices a little after ten. We talked with a few employees there including the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion. There was interesting talk about the trinity and views across the communion regarding the Trinity. Anne had a great comment about Rublev’s icon of the trinity (which we were using as a focus for our discussion). She raised the point how each of the angels is tilting their head to another and this is how they find their identity. It is only through reference to the other that they are known. She went on to talk about the chalice between them and how it is only filled so that it can be emptied again and how this defines us as Christians. We are filled with God’s love only to empty ourselves for others and be filled again. She of course said it much better than this and I’m probably missing parts, but it was very insightful.
After the ACO we headed over to Lambeth Palace where we got to talk with the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and then have tea with him. He spoke for a while about the great commission and the three verbs used (go, baptize, teach). Afterwards I got to talk with him one on one briefly and we started talking about VTS. He asked about some professors and then about +Dyer. When he mentioned +Dyer I told him I had never had a class with him but I’ve talked with him pretty regularly about the sox since we’re both fans, and then I told him about +Dyer’s sox mitre. After that we had Evening Prayer at Lambeth Palace and then headed back to Canterbury.
On the ride back we pretty much sang the entire way back. It was a blast. Most of the songs were in English but every so often some would be in the native language of a group member. We all taught each other songs and sang songs from all over the Anglican Communion. I’m in awe of the constant energy and passion that they seem to have all the time, it is very inspiring. I would certainly love to have as much energy and passion as they do.