CREATOR of the universe, comfort the families whose sons and daughters, husbands and wives have been killed in … war. Guide our political leaders to be humble, discerning, and constantly aware of the personal sacrifices resulting from our policies. Help us to examine all our statements and actions and never to assume that our perspective or that of our nation, is beyond challenge. Amen.
- Jim MelchiorreNovena in Time of War: Soul-Searching Prayers and Meditations
From p. 43 of Novena in Time of War: Soul-Searching Prayers and Meditations by Jim Melchiorre. Copyright © 2007 by the author. Published by Upper Room Books

Monday Rambles

Today I had hoped to do some yard work but the skies are clouding quickly. Sara had some friends over who stayed late, so when I woke this morning there were college student sized bodies scattered, sleeping, around the living room and a couple of older cars parked in front of the house. After I took Nick to school I had this fleeting temptation to start mowing the lawn but it wasn't 7 AM, yet so I know that neither my neighbors nor the sleeping college students would appreciate my ambition. Our computer is also in the living room so my morning routine is off as well.

I decided to be polite and go into the church office and use the computer there. The newsletter article is due tomorrow. Since I am here at the church doing my on line devotional reading: here is the post from inward/outward.

In a world of fugitives the person taking the opposite direction will appear to run away. If the truth has made us odd, if we have not accommodated ourselves out of all recognition, then it will appear to some people that we’re running away, that we’re living an escapist existence, that we’re outsiders, even outlaws–whereas the truth is that we’re the insiders, because we’re bearing God’s reality, not the world’s. We are the true establishment, because we are building and inhabiting God’s basilica, the commonwealth of eternity, not earth.
By T. S. Eliot
Source: The Family Reunion

So I am rambling, but in which direction?

Saint Theresa's Prayer
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

A Full Day

It got to be a very full day. I finished up the Sunday sermon in the morning, had a few phone calls and administrative matters, met with two different couples for pre-marriage counseling With one of the couples we walked across the street to a picnic table at Gregory Park so we had a conversation in the pleasant weather of the day. After that I saw someone in the hospital and a couple of people in the nursing home, made a couple other pastoral phone calls and did my customary dish washing on the third Friday every month at the Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen. The day went more or less as I thought it would, but best of all was how it started. I am trying to get back into the habit of a walk around the block before going to work. The morning brightness was more inviting today and I noticed a couple of honking geese as they flew by, headed for the Mississippi, and then as I returned to the yard, there was a blue bird perched in the maple tree, with the sunlight just right to catch the colors. I have never seen one in my yard before. A good way to start a full day.

Last night the Council of Stewards ended just in time for me to hear Nick's band concert. I had been feeling some guilt about the likelihood of missing it.
Tomorrow a few of us from church are going to a Conservative Jewish synagogue and a Hindu Temple in the cities. New experiences!

Rambling on.

Time Markers

We all have our time markers.
You could also call them rituals. One of the rituals has to do with the annual recognition for High school seniors. I vaguely remember mine, back in Thief Rivers Falls in 1974. I don't remember if we wore our school blue graduation gowns to the Sunday service. At Park church the traditional ritual includes a meal at the Sawmill Inn, with pictures posted of the graduates, and talks by the Youth Director, Leslie Hobson, who does a fine job organizing the events. Others of the church family will add their affirmations of prayer and on going connection. The graduates will tell about their upcoming plans. (After High school I went to Northland Community College right there in TRF with not a clue of what my future plans would be.) Last year at the Sawmill Inn, with my daughter, Sara, among the graduates, my emotion was too obvious in my voice and I probably embarrassed myself, but we thankfully had pastor Jeff available to give the pastoral words, so I could stay in my sentimental parent role. Now that is a year behind me.
Yesterday we emptied Sara's dorm room and said goodbye to Hamline and went to a couple of her favorite stops in St Paul before heading home to Brainerd. Next year she will be at the Univ. of Minn, Duluth. She has summer work lined up for Caribou Coffee and Cub foods.
I was able to buy my nephew's old 94 Buick so we have become among the 33% of U.S. families that own at least 3 cars. Nick, as a 16 year old, is in car heaven, not having to beg one of our mini-vans constantly, and Sara is glad to have transportation to work. Maybe we will learn how to sand and paint the rust spots?
Time markers.
Because I am sure it is all part of a future story that starts with the words..."Remember when...." and we will remember school days, first jobs, old cars, church families and perhaps some feelings that can only go with those particular, but commonly held, memories.

Rambling on

Loveliness

At last. ..a bright sunny day,....and these words of Augustine that were on Sojourners recently and its Verse and Voice


Ask the loveliness of the earth, ask the loveliness of the sea, ask the loveliness of the wide airy spaces, ask the loveliness of the sky, ask the order of the stars, ask the sun, making daylight with its beams, ask the moon tempering the darkness of the night that follows, ask the living things which move in the waters, which tarry on the land, which fly in the air; ask the souls that are hidden, the bodies that are perceptive; the visible things which most be governed, the invisible things that govern—ask these things, and they will all answer you, Yes, see we are lovely. Their loveliness is their confession. And all these lovely but mutable things, who has made them, but Beauty immutable?- Augustine Sermons 214.2

I have thought about trying to comment on the General Conference actions but you can go to its web site or read the comments of David Bard or Jim Perry. I appreciate their work and words.
I would add that a note that the membership vows are changed to now be about prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Sara enjoyed her time there.

We had the funeral service for W.W. Thompson at church this morning and this afternoon I finished up the sermon for tomorrow.

Thanks for checking into the blog!

Here is prayer that was on the Upper Room Daily Reflection's this week.

FROM OUR BLINDNESS that cannot see the pain in others’ lives, from our fears that distance us from others, from our indifference that cannot relate to others’ suffering, deliver us, O God. Amen.
- Richard Morgan Settling In: My First Year in a Retirement Community