Beloved:

It’s a week of travel for the Kelley School of Business Supply Chain Academy MBA students.  Their end of summer corporate presentations must be graded in person, putting Professor Briggs on the road at 4 a.m. this morning.  Except for the dogs I’d have slept through his silent departure.  They could not settle back down, barking and pacing to go out now that the day had begun.  I hate yelling before sunrise.

It got me thinking about all the people all over the world on their way to work. People on the move at all hours and every kind of task.  And the gift of work, however humble, which gives shape to our days and our lives.  Books to sell and diseases to treat.  Houses to build and food to grow.  At my house there are always weeds to pull, laundry to fold and dishes to put away.  Day after day after day.  It can feel menial or blessed, depending entirely upon how grateful I am - for the people who depend on me and for the strength to serve them kindly.

Whatever task this day brings, may you find a bit of joy in it. 

~ peace & prayers, pastor annette

PS - Starting August 24th, I will be on leave for six weeks.   Each Tuesday my administrative assistant will send you a column from the Tuesday Morning, Beloved archives.

Beloved:  

On my way out the door this morning Mariah gave me stack of letters to mail, thank you notes for the steady stream of wedding gifts arriving at our door.  My adopted Chinese son, Yang, moved out last week.  Throughout the house are piles of supplies bought and packed for kids’ new rooms in Cincinnati, Bloomington and Savannah.
 
Summer has not wavered but I feel the season changing just the same. I find myself planning meals for two instead of eight.  The money I’ll save on water, groceries and laundry detergent will chase tuition, room and board instead. With evening after evening of no homework, sporting events or high school art shows we are considering our very own IU opera tickets!
   
We’re busy as bees at church too, preparing for my time away.  Preachers are all lined up, and lots of you are stepping up to cover my other duties.  I’ll have a list for you soon.  One thing you can do in the meantime is email the contact information for our college students and young-adults-who-live-away-but-aren’t-completely-gone to Fan, our church administrative assistant.  Her email is [email protected].

Peace & Prayers, pastor annette

Beloved:

Carl is home. Jet-lagged but home, and the house just seems to sit a little better on its foundation.  His going keeps us fed and sheltered and his return makes us ever more grateful to call him ours.
 
For the first time in nineteen years the school bus goes by having nothing to do with me.  Instead we are full steam ahead preparing for two new dorm rooms and a wedding over the next thirty-seven days.
 
Who could ask for more.  I pray the summer is abundant with blessings for you too!

Peace & prayers, pastor annette