I am really digging this warm weather.  I even got out and ran for the 1st time in many, many months.  It was nice to stretch the legs.  As I warmed up, I could feel the tightness in my calves and my hams.  I started into my trot and the fragility of my bones became apparent.  I felt pain in my foot and my heart … Continue reading Lent 19: Warmth

It always amazes me just how varied the pastor’s role can be.  The morning required pastoral care, the early afternoon required confession, the mid-afternoon required fellowship, the later afternoon required administration, the evening required justice.  I think of how various portions of the brain control different aspects of our being.  On Lent day 18, I think I used all quadrants.  It was not like I … Continue reading Lent 18: Variety Show

Day 17 of the Lenten journey has come and gone.  By the time I am writing this, so has days 18 and 19.  I cannot remember how day 17 went.  I know I spent time at the funeral home and worked hard to be with a family then.  I know that my mother-in-law was in town and that I had Italian for dinner.  But how … Continue reading Lent 17: Lost

Sunday #3 of the Lenten journey was all over the road.  It began early as I had some preliminary arrangements to make at church #2.  As M. was getting dressed, I was in the car on my way.  I had studied the lectionary text for the week quite well and learned a lot on the way.  To use the old evangelical term, I had been … Continue reading Lenten Sabbath 3: Overload

Today’s Lenten lesson was on the charade of control.  It’s not like I had much of a plan.  But even then, I found myself having to do something other than expected.  Most of those circumstances were good.  It is good to take note of how little control we can have, at times.  It is good to know that the earth’s existence does not rely on … Continue reading Lent 16: Out of Hand

Friday was a day off…not a Lenten Sabbath, but just a day off from work.  All of which means it’s time to catch up on house work.  By the time I got to bed, I had put in a day’s worth of effort.  Nevermind that it wasn’t of the getting paid kind. Disciplines Scorecard: 1a)  Driving the speed limit–Was pretty good, but rather too casual … Continue reading Lent 15: Off

Today was a sunny day.  Oh my, how I have needed that.  I began by shoveling, but with a sense that it is close to be done.  I tried again to get an early/on-time start to my day.  It worked well.  When I left early and went to the office, I was quite productive.  I have learned so much about the Scripture passage this week.  … Continue reading Lent 14: Sun

Today, I left early and got home late.  The scripture for the week is about a fig tree that produced no fruit after 3 years.  The gardener gets 1 more year and a steaming pile of manure to make things better, or else. I have reviewed my disciplines scorecard and found that I was often falling below the halfway mark.  I have had a couple … Continue reading Lent 13: Effort

When I drive the speed limit, people behind me have to go slower.  This is a weird element to the disciplines…they can’t be all about me.  “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”  In what other ways do the disciplines … Continue reading Lent 12: Affect…or is it Effect