Moving is Over Rated One month ago today, I joined in a formal Liturgy of Farewell with the congregation I’d been serving, and in the next few days completed the process of saying good-bye: to parishioners I had known for too short a time, friends still adjusting to me being 3 hours away instead of …
December 2013 archive
Dec 30
January in Eastern Montana
January in Eastern Montana barren forsaken wind ravaged irrigation equipment abandoned or perhaps left to ride out the freeze wait for seed planting, life nurturing days cattle pens empty animals whipped while foraging on grasses unprotected in the snow not exactly hospitable throw open the door come sit by the fire welcome I’m only passing …
Dec 29
Blackbird
It was a wonderful moment. Two 7th grade members of the Confirmation Class played their clarinets at my installation, offering their gifts to usher in the beginning of what we hoped would be a long journey together. My friend chuckled at the red sneakers. I smiled to recognize a Beatles’ song. Good things really do …
Dec 24
Christmas Changes Things
I love my pantry. Discovering it on our second tour in this house was a glorious moment that gently dropped the cherry on top of what already promised to be a delicious, inviting place to call home. On the surface, it looks like a tall, thin version of other kitchen cabinets: a pair of wooden …
Dec 13
Advent 2013 – 13 December
“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” James 5:7-8 Given that patience has …
Dec 09
Advent 2013 – 9 December
“Hope does not disappoint us…” Romans 5:5 When I emptied my mother’s house, I discovered a collection of 67 wishbones. Really. I counted them several times to be certain I had it right. If you’re skeptical of that number, you can come count them yourself; because strange as it seems, I packed them up and …
Dec 02
Advent 2013 – 2 December
“The days are surely coming… More than ten years ago, an oncoming train rammed my house. Metaphorically speaking, of course. The Church of the Extravagant Welcome stood in the middle of it all and then crossed to the other side of the road and continued on, leaving me as collateral damage. My support system was …
Recent Comments