Free February 29!

I'm of the mind frame that since my daily devotion doesn't have an option for February 29, today should be a totally free, completely wide open, entirely useless day.

There is a light fresh coat of snow on the ground, covering all the spring ugly, dirty snow. The skis are waxed, the dog is hyper, the thermometer is not in the negative numbers!

But, there are sermons to write, funerals to plan, visits to make and blogs to keep up.

So I'm starting now. In four years, we'll have a movement. Free February 29!

must get off facebook
must not start new scrabulous game
must begin sermon prep- for 3 different services
must not re-watch Chocolat

"Good opinion once lost, is lost forever"

What is it about curling up with a Jane Austin book or movie to provide the nicest of winter distraction?

The British airs, the veiled insults, the poignient social commentary, yet all packaged in a beautiful and polished story. All the heroines, especially Elizabeth, Ann, Elinor and Emma have the wit and wisdom I wish I could sum up at a moment's notice.

Ahh, to only have an afternoon to watch them all, especially the Sunday Masterpiece Theater specials.

St. Inuksuk at Signs Along the Way tagged me for this meme, I can handle this today!

Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (no cheating!)
Their Eyes Were Watching God
by: Zora Neale Hurston
HarperPerennial, 1990

Find page 123.
Find the first 5 sentences.
Post the next 3 sentences.
Dirt roads so rich and black that a half mile of it would have fertilized a Kansas wheat field. Wild cane on either side of the road hiding the rest of the world.
People wild too.

Tag 5 people!
Well, often when these come my way, all have been tagged- but I will offer it to any of you, but hopefully:
Primary Wonder
Pink Shoes
Sabbath Seeking
Walking Wet
Everyday Soup

Holy Grounds: Ashes to Ashes

The honor and weight of imposing ashes initially came as a surprise to me. Somehow during my seminary training I never marked others with ashes myself on Ash Wednesday. Since I have been at this congregation, that duty has gone to me.

Last night the imposition of ashes was very weighty. My role as worship leader became very, very difficult. For me to hear the words is one thing: Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.

For me to give out the words and the ashes is entirely different.

To remind people of death, to mark innocent babies, hopeful youth, a new mother, a wizened grandfather... and especially the woman fighting with cancer...

Well, it was like placing a death sentence on their hopes. I don't want to mark their lives. I don't want to impose ashes.

But as we moved into communion, the ability to give the body of Christ transformed these ashes into new life. Into hope, as I marked the cross on young ones, blessing them, the cross took on new meaning again.

Dust, Ashes, Water, Wheat, Wine. Holy Ground indeed

Yes We Can

1 month later...

January-
the month of reports, retreats, meetings, and annual everything. My apologies for the long silence. It's like the friend you know you haven't contacted in a while, and you should, but then it's a little late for the casual conversation.... so....

Back in the swing of things, coming out from under the the mountain of work, reinvigorating the creative energies to other things than lent planning.

Until then...