July 30, 2014

July 30, 2014

Beloved:

    I took two whole days off work to rest and catch up on some household things. We have milk and toilet paper again. I can see the floor in the laundry room.  I slept and cooked and sewed.  I read three days' worth of newspapers and mail.  By yesterday afternoon I was a stir crazy but determined not to do anything strenuous so I counted how many gourds are on the vine.  A dozen or so.  Then I sewed some more.  

    I'm one of the lucky ones who gets paid for work I love.  Ministry that is full of relationships and anchored to central meaning of human existence ~ that God loves us hugely and constantly  . . . and in Christ made arrangements for us to live fearless and forever.  Ministry conducted in the most ordinary circumstances of everyday human community; family, worship, work, meals, rituals, housekeeping, commerce, politics, neighborhood, friendship and service.  Mine is the duty, task and privilege of reminding the church that joy and peace are our coping mechanism.  That anxiety, worry and perfectionism are effective for those who live by sight, not faith.  

    A part of ministry I don't like so much is that outcomes are mostly immeasurable.  I can tell you how many people attended worship and how much money gave to missions but not how much less we worried, how much more we trusted.  

    On it's best day, usually a Tuesday or Wednesday, I wouldn't trade this life for any other.  On all the other days, I still consider it a pretty good gig.  And for the joy of sharing it all with you I am most especially grateful.

~peace and prayers, pastor annette