Its a Friday

Well, it has been a busy week. I worked majorly hard getting the retreat together for this weekend and then had to cancel it. It just wasn't going to be a positive experience for all involved. Though I think we made the right decision, I am still dealing with the disappointment.

Next week, I'm on vacation in Nashville. I still think I'm crazy taking vacation time this close to Easter, but Jodie and I need to get away and it is her Spring Break.

Jodie and I are doing a lot of discerning right now. As close as I can get to an answer about what comes next for me is this: Don't say yes to anything yet; do not say no to anything yet; consider everything.

MathCounts

I'm with Jodie today in Lincoln at a MathCounts competition. She has one student from her school competing; a good kid, with a constant smile and steel trap for a brain. His dad, who is here as well, possess exceptional coolness. He, Jodie, and I had a great converstation in the spectators lounge, and it was a great oppurtunity to practice my peer ministry questioning and listening skills.

I find these skills enable me to be more interested in other people than myself. Since I spend plenty of time with myself as it is, I am finding other people a whole lot more interesting. Furthermore, you learn some amazing things and get to hear even more amazing stories. This father today was telling me all about getting into the underground support area of the Brooklyn Bridge with his work as a structural engineer. How COOL is that!

Be that as it may, later today I have to finish the sermon for tomorrow! I love preaching, but I am much more interested in listening to people then speaking at the moment. I have to look at this a chance to further depend on the Holy Spirit. Wish me luck!

Energy

In my last post I mentioned the retreat, which again was great. It was hard this week to come back to my desk and make flyers. A lot of my time is spent on desktop publishing, and I must admit I don't always bring the best attitude to it. I have to make decisions about where to place my energy. But I know it is important. I can't do the fun stuff--like listening to people as they journey towards God or instigate interaction with the divine--if I don't get the people into the room. They won't know to come to the room if I don't invite them. So today I sucked it up and got the flyers done. I will keep inviting and hopefully the people will come! Sooner or later though I do need to write a sermon or there won't be anything for them to hear when they come to the room.

Good Weekend

So, we did our first peer ministry training with some youth of the diocese this past weekend. I felt going in that we would hear something really cool, and was not disappointed. God spoke through the prayers of the youth. Listening to the simple elegance and deep profoundity of their petitions, I was humbled and honored to be in the presence of Grace. It is amazing to ask , and even more amazing to listen.

Wisdom

The other night we had our apartment blessed. A home blessing is one of the funky little services that makes being an Episcopalian really cool. Anyway, after the blessing and dinner we had a bible study. Actually bible study is not accurate. We engaged the gospel. From listening to the Word of God read aloud, we asked what words or phrases stuck out for us; where in our lives did the Gospel speak to us; and what was God calling us to do in and from the Gospel text? Many may recognize these as the traditional questions from the African Bible study. Sparked by these questions in relation to the Gospel, there was wonderful sharing by all present. I love my congregation and fell deeper in love with them that night. I caught myself sitting with a zen like half smile thinking, "Isn't this what church is supposed to be...a place where we bring our whole but broken selves in contact with God in hopes of leaving a little more integrated, in hopes of leaving with a little more hope and direction." It was a good night in the way creation is good, in the way God intended us to be good. Last year I had an epiphany about what my call as priest was to do. I feel called to instigate interaction with divine. That happened the other night. It was good for my soul, my spirit, my salvation, and I look forward to it happening again.