There are two kinds of people in this world: those who talk in restaurants in loud voices and those who don’t. Rev. Ian Dingwall is in the former category: I know – I’ve heard him.

He also is someone who is offended by those in ANiC who have left the Anglican Church of Canada because they can no longer countenance being associated with an organisation that is going in the wrong direction. In the Niagara synod when this was plainly stated, Ian loudly declared, “that means you are saying I am not a Christian.” Very astute.

Being Connected is Ian’s latest article in the Niagara Anglican:

Begin with yourself. How well are you connected with your inner and outer self?

I have to admit, over the years, my outer self has expanded somewhat and consequently, so has the distance between the inner and outer selves. The connection, although more tenuous, is undoubtedly still there, since the outer self visibly wobbles in concert with the agitations of the inner self.

Connect with our Environment. No need to say more really but, if you wish to find direction, all you need is a newspaper or magazine to find out what we are suffering from its evil potential and, perhaps, what we can do about it: if only we’d connect with the problem and others who are concerned.

I am so connected with our Environment. Really. Although I have no idea what you mean by the environment’s evil potential. Are you referring to poison ivy?

Surely “to connect” is an invitation for us to critique our own lives as well as our fellow journeyers in Inter-Connectedness

Now this I understand. You obviously are referring to the Internet and blogs. I will do my best to critique my “fellow journeyers in Inter-Connectedness”. This article is proof.

Choose two people to engage with in a profoundly different way than simply being casual.

OK. So far I have my wife and my dog.

In both cases there will be much that you can do together as you search for some answers to the world’s dilemmas as well as how you can deepen your personal connection with each other.

My dog’s dilemmas consist mainly of selecting a pooping spot in the Environment that we are all so connected with. He tells me it does deepen his personal connection.

Ian, in the spirit of critiquing “fellow journeyers in Inter-Connectedness“ , next time you are in a restaurant, disconnect and shut up.