Saturday, August 4, 2007

Getting Reacquainted with My Watch

For five weeks I have been without a watch on my wrist. The only schedules to which I have had to attend belonged to Delta. These obligations have come infrequently enough that I could just pull the cell phone from the holster and gander at the clock. But now it is off to class and the wrist watch is again...well...on the wrist. I had not missed it.

Travel went well today. I was even unexpectedly bumped to first class for the Salt Lake City to LAX leg of the flight. Stephen and Joann Lien live only about 13 miles from the airport which is about a four day drive if traffic patterns are unfriendly. I hit them in good stride and arrived in time for a tour of their new home and a wonderful supper together on the back deck. It was 72 degrees with a light breeze. But then it's always 72 degrees with a light breeze here. Following supper I was treated to a ride in the convertible up the mountain to Ascension Lutheran, a lovely congregation that overlooks the Los Angeles valley where tonight lights twinkled like stars. Pastor Stephen has visions of evangelizing that valley. I suspect that, together with the Holy Spirit, he will.

My body doesn't know if it is to attend to Maine time or Kansas time or Pacific time. Right now it only knows that it is weary. A few more reports to write and print out tonight and it is off to bed. As much as I would like to attend worship at Ascension tomorrow I believe that I will beg out and head towards Pasadena to take in an emergent church worship service there. Joann helped to print pertinent information tonight, including a map and directions. The Lutheran service would be friendlier and more familiar. The emergent church service will be more educative and posture me well for Monday's class.

In order to grab something from my mailbox I dashed into Atonement this morning on the way to the airport. Nice that the building is still standing and all seemed well. My box was certainly stuffed. I didn't have the courage to check the office desk. But I am eager to get back to ministry as unusual. It is time.

I am not sure what sort of connections await me in Pasadena tomorrow evening. Surely a seminary as progressive as Fuller will have accommodations. If not, there's always Starbucks.

Once again, my thoughts and prayers are with you this weekend.

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