Tonight I had to “suit up” for an event with some members of my congregation. That phrase was popularized by the character Barney Stinson, played by Neil Patrick Harris, on the television series “How I Met Your Mother.” Barney first uttered those famous words in the show’s pilot, suggesting that others ought to dress like he does to go out. For him, it’s like a superhero outfit. For me, the clothes matched the occasion. Here are my wife and I on our way to the festivities:

It got me thinking about clothing. Sometimes our choices about what to wear are shaped by our profession. Sometimes they’re shaped by what we’re doing. Sometimes we just want to have fun. So let’s write haiku about clothes, fashion, etc. All you need is one verse with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line. Here’s mine:

The car seat — empty.
But the clergy collar meant
this wasn’t a date.

Yesterday people in Scotland voted on whether their country should remain in the United Kingdom or become an independent nation. Most Americans are more than a little confused about the terminology used to describe the relationships between our friends across the pond in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Of course, as this essay on the BBC website points out, folks in the United Kingdom are sometimes confused about this too:

[Robert Blackburn, a professor of constitutional law at King’s College London, says,] “The ‘United Kingdom’ is shorthand for the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’.”

It’s a common misunderstanding in the US. The New York Times angered many Scots when it marked Andy Murray’s Wimbledon triumph with a tweet that said: “After 77 years, Murray and England rule”

But before Brits get too sniffy about this equation between Britain and England, we should acknowledge it’s a pretty complicated business and the English are sometimes guilty of the same mistake. A common error is for the British themselves to forget about Northern Ireland by referring to “Great Britain”, which is an island, when really they mean the United Kingdom. (The Northern Irish are “British” without being part of Great Britain.)

And remember that the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are British, but not part of the UK.

Head hurting yet?

What I think we can all agree about on both sides of the Atlantic is that the national flag of the United Kingdom — the Union Jack — is pretty cool. It combines symbols that represent England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Yes, I know, Wales also belongs to the United Kingdom but has never been represented on that flag. I have no explanation for that glaring omission. But I do feel confident explaining that, since the Scots have decided to stay in the UK, the Union Jack remains whole too.

So let’s write haiku about flags this week — the Union Jack, the Stars and Stripes, the Lone Star Flag, etc. Just create a one-verse poem with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line. Here’s mine, which refers to the main street in Colonial Williamsburg, affectionately known as “DOG” Street by the locals, and which runs from the College of William & Mary to the Capitol, with Bruton Parish Church at the midpoint:

Duke of Gloucester Street
in Williamsburg, Virginia,
hails the Union Jack!

(Those counting an extra syllable in the first line should note that “Gloucester” is pronounced “Gloster.”)

Yesterday, of course, was the thirteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. One of the things that caught my attention yesterday was a beautiful series of dog portraits that were created by photographer Charlotte Dumas. These were search and rescue dogs that served during 9/11 and, as Dumas has written, “somehow emanated a spark of hope amidst [that] scene of destruction.” The striking part, to me, was the fact that the photos were taken a decade after those terrible events, showing these good and faithful canine servants in their old age. It will bring a tear to the eyes of people who’ve experienced the unconditional love of a dog, especially an old dog, through the many ups and downs that we all face as vulnerable human beings in this life.

The Willard household includes not only a new puppy, named Birdie, but also a nine-year-old, mixed-breed, black Lab, named Tippet. Our mature canine has witnessed lots of changes through the years, and she’s been a source of constant love in the midst of those different chapters in our life together. Here’s a picture that shows both of them and reveals a bit of greying on the muzzle of Tippet:

This week, let’s write haiku about the dogs and other animals that we’ve known — or wished that we could’ve known — in our lives. It might be about cats, hamsters, noble horses, or even dead armadillos! Be creative and have fun with one verse that has five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line. This is the haiku that immediately came to mind for me:

Tippet, she has watched
our babies turn into boys,
loving them always.

Last night my wife and I attended an open house for parents at our oldest son’s elementary school. He started there a couple of weeks ago. It was great to hear an overview of how he spends his time in class and to see some of his school work.

As I sat on one of the small chairs in his classroom, I thought about Sedge Garden Elementary School in Kernersville, North Carolina, where I went as a young boy. Its old buildings were replaced with new ones that included air conditioning soon after I moved on to middle school. Somewhere I still have part of a brick from those old buildings — a relic, I suppose. Anyway, let’s write haiku about going to school:

Air conditioning
at school used to mean that we
opened the windows.

You can be profound or funny or even a little sad about it. Memories of school days bring with them a wide range of emotions. So pick one of those memories and write one verse with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line. Then share it in the comments, remembering that you don’t need to use your real name to participate.