I have come to the end of the second week. So far, the renewing part of this leave has been a bit elusive. We have grieved the loss of Woody, our 12 year old Corgi, and the next place is unsettled. My trip to Texas may need to be shortened a bit - that is to be my time away visiting my son and his wife in their new home and then an opportunity to connect with our Rio Grande Conference and to spend time at a renewal center in San Antonio.
It also doesn't seem like I have left New Horizons - I still go to the church, my office is the same and has not been packed up - the ultimate in liminal time! The time between....
Does it ever seem as though God is "toying" with you? Please go here to prepare for this - and then it does not work out and looking back it almost feels like a set-up? And then again? Maybe the leading is for the moment at hand and not so much into the future - take what is and trust God is with you in that moment. Do all you can for the glory of God and the kingdom.
I have spent more time with Luke that past few days - what a joy he is. He makes me laugh and forget about all the other stuff. It is fun to watch him grow and change and learn new things each week.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Transitions
As a Transitional Interim Ministry Specialist I have been trained, equipped, called, led ...to lead congregations to a new future with hope as a community of faith . What a challenge as this includes sharing with people places where God is calling them to turn back, to be converted to a new way of life.
At this point in my life I am in my own transition - ending a ministry at one church, waiting to learn where God is leading us next, and on a leave for a time of renewal.
God is calling me to the same adventure - turn back to me, listen, wait, trust, continued conversion to become the person God wants me to be. What a challenge it is for me to do these things myself - perhaps that is a lesson for me during this time to keep close to my heart. Change is not that easy for anyone even those who dearly want to do so. The mysteries, uncertainties, wilderness feeling are more likely to be avoided than embraced.
Even our transition to living without a pet in our home has been difficult. We sure miss our Woody and as we explore the possibilities for a new member of our family, it has been comforting to remember how much he was a part of our life and the experience of unconditional love we knew. God's desire for people is to know that with each other - we can learn a lot from a dog!
At this point in my life I am in my own transition - ending a ministry at one church, waiting to learn where God is leading us next, and on a leave for a time of renewal.
God is calling me to the same adventure - turn back to me, listen, wait, trust, continued conversion to become the person God wants me to be. What a challenge it is for me to do these things myself - perhaps that is a lesson for me during this time to keep close to my heart. Change is not that easy for anyone even those who dearly want to do so. The mysteries, uncertainties, wilderness feeling are more likely to be avoided than embraced.
Even our transition to living without a pet in our home has been difficult. We sure miss our Woody and as we explore the possibilities for a new member of our family, it has been comforting to remember how much he was a part of our life and the experience of unconditional love we knew. God's desire for people is to know that with each other - we can learn a lot from a dog!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Travel North
We just returned from wandering up north in Indiana and Michigan traveling to Amish country around Shipshewana and then to Holland, Michigan for the annual Tulip Festival. We also spent a night at Pokagon State Park - such a beautiful place where we wished we had spent more time.
The Amish way of life and the devotion in Holland to their Dutch tradition seems to point to people who know what they are about and who they are, proud of their tradition. The parade we watched, though mundane, had many local bands including those made up entirely of 6th graders. This says something of their commitment to music in those areas with relatively small cities but high school bands of over 100 students. It was refreshing to see the streets lined with families - lots of children - to watch the parade that really had nothing spectaular or showy included.
We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Middlebury hosted by two people who were devoted to sharing their faith journey through hospitality and in story telling with their guests. We enjoyed the stories of not only guests who came to the inn, but of their encountering of God in their lives.
Where do I share my story with people? How does being a pastor - never taking off my mantle - affect my relationships and relaxation in such settings? What is so difficult about being "laid back"? What am I seeking that the Amish and people who seem to know what they want and are doing it impress me so?
The whole area along the Michigan shoreline was a vacation paradise for many homes lined the shore and the cities were clean and filled with shops. Although we did not stay long enough for a reality check, what we did see made me wonder why it is such a struggle for some places to find a sense of identity - or that found it in the business that was there so much that when it left, the whole town became lost. How do we find a new sense of identity based on something richer and more solid than industry that comes and goes?
The Amish way of life and the devotion in Holland to their Dutch tradition seems to point to people who know what they are about and who they are, proud of their tradition. The parade we watched, though mundane, had many local bands including those made up entirely of 6th graders. This says something of their commitment to music in those areas with relatively small cities but high school bands of over 100 students. It was refreshing to see the streets lined with families - lots of children - to watch the parade that really had nothing spectaular or showy included.
We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Middlebury hosted by two people who were devoted to sharing their faith journey through hospitality and in story telling with their guests. We enjoyed the stories of not only guests who came to the inn, but of their encountering of God in their lives.
Where do I share my story with people? How does being a pastor - never taking off my mantle - affect my relationships and relaxation in such settings? What is so difficult about being "laid back"? What am I seeking that the Amish and people who seem to know what they want and are doing it impress me so?
The whole area along the Michigan shoreline was a vacation paradise for many homes lined the shore and the cities were clean and filled with shops. Although we did not stay long enough for a reality check, what we did see made me wonder why it is such a struggle for some places to find a sense of identity - or that found it in the business that was there so much that when it left, the whole town became lost. How do we find a new sense of identity based on something richer and more solid than industry that comes and goes?
Monday, May 9, 2011
Trust God
today we enjoyed many fun and relaxing moments, however, I had this underlyina sense of anxiety about decisions that are being made. The above message came to me no less than a dozen times, even through the stories of strangers! Perhaps this is a priority of my time away. I know in my head but my heart and soul get lost in my control-itis. Lord, help me in my worry and anxiety to trust you with the outcomes of the days and weeks to come. amen
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Night before the leave
It's Saturday night - tomorrow I start my spiritual renewal leave. All the plans are in place although lots of flexibility. A little bit of - travel (well lots of that), relaxation, service, watching movies, reading, hanging out with Luke... Wonder what God will do over the next 7 weeks (with a week of Annual Conference thrown in for good measure)...
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