Not a fun date

Woke up in the night, feverish and wholly grateful for indoor plumbing.

So I think today is a good day to stay home, and work on some reading I need to do.

Or maybe I'll just go back to bed.

Words and sacraments

I'm back from that meeting, and it went well, I think; much more relaxed than last year. Yes, there were a few challenging questions-- a Commission on Ministry would not be serving their purpose if they did not inquire closely at points-- but no one was the least bit adversarial. The only startling events of the weekend were the truly amazing thunderstorms Friday night. Early Saturday morning, more accurately, they broke loose, right over our heads; there was no time lag between the thunder and the lightning. It literally shook the bed, and I felt as though my room was in the middle of a strobe light. All was peaceful by dawn, but it was not a restful night.

Aside from that, the time was calm, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know both our diocesan leadership and the other postualnts and candidates who were there. Several of them are on different tracks of formation toward ordination-- attending other seminaries, or working through local formation, as priest or deacon-- so I wouldn't encounter them, were it not for get-togethers like this. Much visiting done, and (being Episcopalian) liturgies prayed together, and a great deal of coffee, food and snacks consumed.

I am not a coffee drinker-- a fact my bishop informs me will be entered in my dossier, and could be held against me at a later date. It is certainly true that the coffeepot is considered by many as a sacred piece of equipment, nearly as critical to sacramental Christian community as the chalice and paten. To those faithful souls, perhaps this would be an appropriate choice. If you try it, you'll have to let me know if it lives up to its billing.

We're off to see the Canon...

Okay, so the resume (with some able assistance; thanks, guys!) is done. And the CDO profile is at least begun-- though as David astutely notes, it feels kind of silly to put that together at this point. That system is really designed for those already in active ministry (primarily ordained), which I am not, currently. But I have set up my tent, if you will, and that was the good canon's intention.

So now, clothes and BCP are in the car, paperwork is in the backpack. As soon as dessert (for a friend's open house tomorrow) comes out of the oven, I will put a note on it for the family ("Touch This At Your Peril!") and head toward Rochester for 24 hours of bonding with the movers and shakers in my journey toward ordination. See y'all later!

This is a study break??

Another immediate task on my agenda today is fleshing out my CDO profile, and putting together a resume.

All those in our diocese in the process toward ordination will be joining our bishop, Standing Committee, and Commission on Ministry for an overnight meeting tomorrow night. Candidates for Holy Orders (those in the stage of the process right before ordination, like yours truly) are to bring copies of a resume, and to have completed filling out a profile with the Episcopal Church's national Church Deployment Office (CDO)-- a database of clergy and lay professionals available for ministerial work in the church.

I haven't put together a resume in a whole lot of years, and so this feels a bit odd; and the CDO interface is not especially user-friendly, to put it kindly.

So I'm using this blog to procrastinate, putting off doing what I'm not enthused about doing.

Knock it off, Jane; just get it over and done, okay?

Okay, already. Back to work.

Halfway there

One of the activities on my list has been a course that Seabury offered this summer, entitled "History of Medieval and Reformation Theology." It's not required in our curriculum (we have a 3-quarter history sequence that is required for graduation); but I signed up to take it because of some gaps and that I had felt in what we had covered previoiusly. Most of it is indpendent study: several texts to read; then quizzes to take online, primary source material to peruse, and some timelines to construct. We will be having some conversations about the material, in the next few weeks before school is back in session. They are not required, but should be really helpful in reinforcing the lerarning, so I'm going to try to get up to as many of them as I can.

However, I'm feeling under a bit of a time crunch, as the self-paced nature of the course has allowed me to let the schoolwork slide, under the press of other commitments. That summer internship (as you may have noticed!) was more involving than I had expected it to be, as have a few other things. I also sometimes chose to spend time with the family rather than hiding with a textbook. And this was very good.

SButo now the kids are back in school, and I'm making up for lost time. I finished the third quiz (of six) this morning, and hope to have the rest of them completed, and the accompanying source material read, by this time next week. It's really interesting stuff, and I'm enjoying the focused time, wallowing in the details of medieval machinations.

I'll share some of it with you when I come up for air.

3+2=1

No, I'm not confused; that's simply the way the math worked today. I spent some time up north, helping prep Seabury's newest student for moving her household (and that of my favorite librarian) "onto the block."

3 hours + 2 determined women = 1 packed-up kitchen.

Moving out day is Saturday, and moving in is scheduled for Sunday. I will be tickled to have these good folks around close at hand on a daily basis.

I'm planning to be back up on Sunday afternoon, helping to cart furniture and books (LOTS of books!) into the new residence; and if you're around and able to stop by and lend a hand, I'm sure the help would be gratefully appreciated.

(was that subtle enough?)

Candles... we need more candles...

Well one more, anyway, it being my birthday-- and I'm grateful for every one of them.

Festivities are low-key this year. Cake and ice cream tonight, for anyone who stops by... and time spent with two great kids, and one incredible husband... there's reason to celebrate, right there.

Traditions

One of our family rituals includes annoying the kids by taking pictures of them on the first day of school.

Carolyn, being remarkably tolerant for a high school junior at 6:30 in the morning. The early hour is necessary; her school starts at 7:15 am.

Kyle, on the other hand, doesn't leave until 7:30-- so he even got in some video game time before the bus came.







I really love this whole digital photo thing.

Gathering of the Clan

This picture is noteworthy, not only for the occasion-- Grace's baptism last week-- but because it contains everyone on my side of the family. Getting us all together in one place is getting more rare as time goes on, so we treasure the moments when it happens.

So, allow me to introduce them! From left:
Dad and his sweet wife, Pat.
My sister Janice and her husband Mike; and their boys, Colin and Michael.
Our household: Carolyn, Bruce, me and Kyle.
Baby Grace, with her parents: Lisa, and my brother Jim.
And don't miss their older child, Matthew, grinning behind the font.

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 16C
Luke 13:22-30

“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.” You know, this doesn’t sound much like good news to me. Honestly, the last time I heard Jesus talking about doors sounded a lot nicer. A few weeks ago in the Episcopal lectionary, we read from the 11th chapter of Luke. There, Jesus says “Knock and it shall be opened to you... for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Much more comforting assurance, that.

Now, suddenly, two chapters later, we hear that “many... will try to enter and will not be able.” There’s the spectre of being thrown out, of not being recognized by God. Quite honestly, at first blush, it sounds mean. Scary. Spiteful. This doesn't sound like the same Jesus as before, at all.

This makes me uncomfortable, for a couple of reasons. First, because I know I’m far from perfect. I seldom measure up to my own daily goals, my own expectations, let alone approach the ongoing perfection it sounds to me like that “narrow door” requires.

Secondly, it stretches me-- challenges my faith, if you will. Do I believe-- do I even want to believe-- in the kind of God who stands at the door like a security guard for some gated community or country club, checking I.D.’s and denying entry to those who don’t have the proper credentials? Do you?

This is why we need to read the whole Bible, brothers and sisters. I think that belief in a narrow sort of God, and a credentialed Christianity, is only possible if we select bits and pieces of scripture, and don’t consider the broader picture that is portrayed throughout.

There’s the parable of the Good Shepherd, who leaves the flock of ninety-nine, and risks safety and security to find the one sheep that strayed. Or the other story of the king who prepared the wedding banquet; and when his original invited guests did not show, opened the feast to passers by on the street, good and bad alike.

Then think of Jesus’ instructions to his followers about forgiveness, that it is to be offered “seventy times seven,” if need be.

Remember that we are so precious in the eyes of God that the very hairs on our head are numbered.

Too many times, the Word reassures us-- there is no sin that cannot be forgiven, no wrong that cannot be made right, that all are welcome, that no one is beyond the loving reach of God’s care.

So then, how can we reconcile this apparent contradiction? Well, one possibility I’d like to suggest is that maybe, the “narrow door” that the Gospel speaks of is not made smaller or harder to enter by God’s limitations, but by our own. I think it is much harder for us to accept grace, and mercy, and love, from God, when we do not receive it from one another, or offer it to one another.

Remember the stories that came out of Abu Ghraib prison, in Baghdad? When human beings are abused and tortured in the name of freedom, the door narrows.

Or when a doctor is murdered, or a clinic is bombed, in the name of preserving life, the door narrows.

Last summer, several women being attacked in Lincoln Park neighborhood garnered significant media coverage, and calls for stepped-up police protection, and the activation of local counseling and support services. At the same time, a string of sexual assaults in Kenwood, on the south side, went unnoted and unnoticed. No mention in the papers, no additional patrols, no trained counselors came to the hospital. The only reason I know is that I was the chaplain on call for two of them.

When we show preference, or give value, by income, or class, or race, or gender, the door narrows.

On the other hand, we can widen the door, as well.

Even as military personnel were abusing Iraqi prisoners, it was also military personnel who broke the story-- who saw the abuse, and reported it, and investigated, and put a stop to it. When we repent-- apologize, and take responsibility, and try to change-- the door widens.

Instead of threatening harm, there are also those who try to support expectant mothers in caring for themselves and their babies-- or to provide a loving home for a child when parents can’t, or won’t. When we care for the least among as, the door widens.

I learned last summer that a rape victim in the State of Illinois is not, by law, billed for her medical treatment, regardless of income level. The exam, medications, and any followup treatment necessary are all provided free of charge. She will not have feel as though she has to pay for being assaulted, and will not be forced to relive the events when bills and statements come in the mail. When we respect the dignity of each human being as created in the image and likeness of God, and disregard the world’s standards for worth, the door widens.

No it's not an easy thing, trying to walk this road. In an article Tripp sent me last week, the Rev. Brian McClaren says it well.

...If this less-traveled fork in the road is chosen, it is not just to 'safety, certainty and enjoyment' in heaven, but rather to challenge, risk and mission on earth, including suffering and self-discipline... The call is, by grace, to leave the distructive path of the kingdoms of this world (including our individual 'me-ism' kingdoms), and instead, to seek God's kingdom, which is God's will being done on earth as in heaven.

So, here are questions to consider, as we break bread together: how do we find ourselves narrowing that door-- individually, as people, or collectively, as church and society? And how might we as disciples of Jesus Christ widen it, for ourselves, and for those around us?

Three, two, one...

There's the short story: three states, and two events, in one day. Today was my summer in microcosm. Great times, and great people, alternating with too darn much time in the car.

We started this morning by driving to Kalamazoo, MI for Heather's ordination. Started late, actually-- the alarm didn't go off, and we began the drive roughly 45 minutes later than we should have. By dint of a lead foot, and a guardian angel keeping the patrol cars to a minimum, we made up about half an hour of that, and arrived late for choir practice, but in plenty of time for the ordination.

It was a wonderful day, and a grand celebration, and then we were blessed by the Anglican Communion's newest priest, smiling through overwhelmed, joyful tears.

Honey, I've got to say it-- weepy, and red, and dripping... and you've never looked more beautiful. God be with you, this day and always.

Then we climbed in the car, and drove back through Indiana (dropping off the kids at my sister's), heading to the north side of Chicago for a shower in honor of Tripp and Trish's upcoming nuptuals. We won't be able to be at the wedding-- Bruce's sister is being married the same day-- so we didn't want to miss this. It was a lovely, casual afternoon, with good food, and fun conversation, and just enough silliness.

Now we're home, and I'm in my jammies, and headed to bed. I need to finish a sermon for tomorrow night, but I'll do that in the morning... I'm done now.

Oh, one more thing, before I collapse: please stop by Rev. Ref's place and wish him a happy 40th birthday. Hope it was grand, bro.

AWOL

That would be our cat.

Mabel has been part of our family for a very long time. We brought her home from a shelter-- a half-grown, wide-eyed little bundle of grey fur-- when Carolyn was 2 years old. She was a bit timid at first, but that didn't last long. She became a very affectionate (and at times, demanding) lap-sitter, totally belieing the feline reputation for aloof behavior.

She's always been an indoor cat. Once, when Kyle was just a new baby, she darted out the door before I could catch her. She was gone for two or three days, and then turned up at the front door one evening, meowing to be let in. I don't know what happened while she was gone, but she never, ever tried to stick her nose out again.

Two weeks ago, I noticed that she had not slept in her accustomed spot at the foot of our bed. One night is not unusual, but two nights in a row just doesn't happen. So I went looking for her, half dreading what I'd find. After all, she's nearly 16-- in cat terms, she's an old lady now.

What I found... was nothing. No Mabel, anywhere. I've opened all the closets, peeked under all the beds, checked all her usual hidey-holes (and any unusual ones I could think of), to no avail. She's nowhere to be found.

That's two weeks ago, and there's still no sign of her. Food and water bowls, and litter box, all remain untouched. All I can imagine, though it would be way out of character, is that she snuck out when someone wasn't looking. And what I hope is that she fell asleep while she was out... and simply didn't wake up. She's a gentle loving soul, and I hate the thought of anything more dramatic happening to her after all this time.

I miss my kitty.

Home again

Pulled in this evening, unloaded the car, and started the laundry (a week's worth of clothes, for a family of four, makes for several loads).

We've had a wonderful time, traveling and visiting, these last two weeks; but it's good to be back.

Now, we get ready for the next adventure; back-to-school shopping.

Friends and bloggers, lend me your ears...

I may be the last person in the blogiverse to discover aggregators, but I have done so-- and boy, are they cool. One click, and I can tell who among the couple dozen people that NetNewsWire can pick up, has posted since the last time I looked. A wonderfully efficient time saver.

The fly in the ointment, it seems, is that not all blogs use an RSS feed; notably, those folks who use Blogger (including yours truly, and a significant portion of my blogroll) employ an Atom feed.

Now, i'm not going to get into the merits of one system over the other. Quite frankly, I'm not enough of a geek to care. What I do care about is that (a) many aggregators do not read both sorts of feeds; and (b) Blogger accounts are not accessible unless their owners specifically change their settings to allow it. This means that most aggregators will only let me read part of my blogroll, and that I still have to work my way down a big chunk of the list, piece by piece.

But there is hope for improvement. I'm told that the next generation of Safari (the browser I use) will include an aggregator that reads both sorts; and in the meantime, the current beta version of NetNewsWire (1.0.9b) is doing so quite nicely. This makes me happy. Additionally, you can click on the little orange XML at the bottom of my sidebar, which will give you an RSS feed for this blog, if your news collection program prefers that sort of diet.

Meanwhile, those of you who use Blogger can make your blog's Atom feed available very easily. Simply go to "Site Feed" under your "Settings" tab, and change the "Publish Site Feed" button to Yes. It makes no change to your function, simply allows an aggregator to pick it up.

Please go do this. Soon. It would make checking on your blog so much easier.

Vacation

Yestrday was a marvelous day: my niece (and now goddaughter) was baptized, "received into the household of God," (the local Lutheran branch of the Christian family tree). And we celebrated in typical family fashion, with too much food, and kids running around everywhere, and teasing over subjects old and new, and lots of laughter.

Today, we rest up and hang out, before heading home. I am currently sitting in the World's Most Comfortable Chair, looking out a big picture window at a lake view, framed by ancient oak trees. Yesterday, the lake was busy: boaters, waterskiiers and tubers, and Ski-doo riders skating across the water. Today, most of the folks who live here are back to work, so the activity is limited to some skittering chipmunks, a few birds flitting back and forth, and the occasional leaping fish.

And now, after some morning showers, the sun is coming out.

I could get used to this.

Home again, gone again

The time down south was wonderful. Lots of hugging, and talking, and catching up. Lisa & Tony's new place is a breathtaking bit of the Bluegrass State-- just outside town, 28 acres of Kentucky "hills and hollers." Don't know as I'd care to live there, but it's going to be a grand place to visit.

Yesterday was a transition day. Came home to do laundry, and sleep in our own beds, between road trips. We also got Kyle registered for the 4th grade (though, due to "staff changes," he doesn't find out who his teacher will be until next week) and bought the boy some clothes. He's filled out over the summer, and none of his pants fit.

Today we head north to Minnesota. We'll be staying for a few days, and spending some time with the other side of our family-- including our newest niece (who will, as of Sunday, be my goddaughter, as well!).

Catch you next week!

On the road

Yes, as you'll have noticed if you read the previous post, this was my last week at St. Mary's. We finished my time with a flurry of activity...

The first "Workday Wednesday:" a new institution, set for the first Wednesday of the month, where Grace House is open for any volunteers to come and work, as they are able. This time we cleaned out the back of the attic, and got a bunch of donated clothes sorted and stored.

The (planned to be 1st annual) Monticello Summer Festival: Lots of food, and crafters, and local businesses. It was Saturday, and St. Mary's had a booth space on the square. We gave away water. Yes, I said "gave away." Free bottled water-- by my count, 630 of them-- and information about the parish on a little postcard. It was great. We even got interviewed by a reporter from the Lafayette Journal & Courier (a regional paper, with a sizeable circulation), and garnered a mention in their coverage of the event.

And yesterday, of course, was my last Sunday in their pulpit. Gonna miss those good people.

Didn't stop there, though. After church, we headed further south, to spend a few days with my in-laws in Southern Indiana (I'm in New Albany as I type this). We're headed down to Kentucky to see another of Bruce's sisters, who lives outside of Lawrenceburg. So I'll be gone for a bit. I don't know what they've got in the way of internet hooked up-- and besides, I plan to take the time to enjoy some corporeal family bonding. See you in a couple days.

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 14C
Genesis 15:1-6
Hebrews 11:1-16
Luke 12:32-40

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is the father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” I had to smile when I heard these words. Ours really is a little flock here, isn’t it? So from the beginning, the Gospel is an attention-getter, this bright August morning. That’s a good thing, because there’s a lesson here that we need to hear. Well, several of them, really, but I promise to only focus on one this time.

Jesus is talking to his disciples today, about being ready for God, and God’s gifts, in their lives. “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit,” he says. “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." Sounds awfully energetic, at first glance. It makes me think of a button I once was given. It was a little, round, purple button, and in fat white letters it said: “JESUS IS COMING! LOOK BUSY!”

We do tend to do that, don’t we... to think of preparation as a busy time. When I think of getting ready for something-- hosting a party, for example-- I first think of making lists. I have one list of who all’s coming; another of what food to serve (and the grocery list, so that I buy all the food on the “what to serve” list); still another list of cleaning chores... seems like I need a list of the lists I’m making.

And then I swing into action, working through all the stuff that I’ve listed as needing to be done-- and, as I’m sure my family will attest, often issuing instructions like a drill sergeant preparing for battle, in the process.

But when I read today’s Gospel, I hear him asking for a different sort of preparedness. “Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes...” Jesus says. He’s not concerned, in this passage, with the preparations that have gone on before, all the cooking and the cleaning, and “looking busy.” Jesus is asking his disciples to be alert, to be attentive to the moment.

Now, attentiveness, I believe, requires something other than all the busy scurrying around. That’s all well and good in it’s place, of course, but too much of that simply leaves us frazzled and distracted. At least, it does me. Exhausted, and cranky, and too tired to properly enjoy the guests when they finally arrive. This is a problem with any sort of activity, however well-intended, however godly. We can get too caught up in the never-ending work; and then the time comes when we are too burnt out to be effective.

So what I’d like to suggest here is that being prepared for Christ, and being alert for the work of the Spirit in our lives, requires some recharging, as well as charging around. We need to sit back, to take time to think, and pray, and rest. To balance-- giving as well as receiving, activity as well as stillness.

We have one good example, in Sue’s recent sabbatical. A time of recharging, of being away, follows our Lord’s example of going off by himself. We read of this in many places in scripture. Honestly, if the Son of God needs time off, who are we to think we don’t?

So, on our last Sunday together, and after all our work together these last several weeks (work in which I am so very blessed to have been a part) I would remind us all of this: do not begrudge yourselves time, my brothers and sisters. Allowing regular doses of quiet and prayer, between the also important periods of activity and work-- and being as willing to share the load we carry, as we are eager to help carry another’s-- will leave us all more prepared for that unexpected hour.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Just a quick note

We had a whiz-bang thunderstorm go through the other night. It was right over the house-- had me sitting upright in bed at one point, almost before I knew what I was doing.

Our home is fine, but we do have some power issues that will take a few days to clear up. The electric is back on, but we have a surge protector to replace, ours having done it's job, and died in service. And the internet is down at home, and likely won't be back until tomorrow.

I'll have a lengthier blog to give you, over the last couple of not uneventful days, as soon as I can get online at home again. In the meantime I'd like to direct your attention to a couple of new blogs.

First, St. Jerome's librarian has moved to a new home; and has some new things to share as part of his housewarming party.

And then, the Lovely Wife has opened her own corner of the blogiverse, appropriately named. Please stop by and say hello-- and then check back. Don't let that title fool you into expecting fluff. This is a woman with an "in-person" penchant for insights and musings both kind and direct, and I don't imagine her blog will be any different. She's on my list of favorite people.

This one's for Trevor

Category I - The Hub
You're a 'people person'. Networking runs in your
blood. Consequently, you can move through most
social circles with ease.

What Type of Social Entity are You?
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Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 13C
Ecclesiastes 1:12-14;2:(1-7,11)18-23
Colossians 3:5-17
Luke 12:13-21

The biggest part of my summer, the year I graduated high school, was spent cleaning out my grandparents’ house. Grandma died that spring, and so we were responsible for seeing that the house was emptied out and made ready to sell.

In one way, this was easy: They lived right next door, and so we could run over there every day, and spend as long as we cared to, sorting and boxing and packing up.

The bad news was, there was A LOT of sorting to do. The house was this big old Georgian brick home they had built in 1952: two stories with a full basement and a 2 1/2- car garage. There was more than ample room to store things, and store is what they did. Stored neatly, mind you-- Grandma would never have put up with untidy piles or a carelessly strewn mishmash. But ye gods, the stuff! clothes and shoes and gloves (a shopping bag full of women’s dress gloves, in varying lengths!); tools and gardening supplies and books... and I don’t know what all. It seemed as though whatever had been brought into the house in the nearly 30 years they had lived there, had found a home and never left.

Grandma compounded the adventure by her method of socking away spending money. If too much accumulated underneath the tray the toaster sat on, or even if she felt she need to have a bit extra available “for a rainy day,” she’d hide it, somewhere in the house. Sometimes she’d call my mom to tell her-- $20 in the pocket of her old serge suit, or maybe $30 in a red straw purse at the back in the cedar closet, or $25 tucked in the book about midwestern perennials on the top shelf in the den. Of course, then she’d forget and hide some more somewhere else-- or she’d stumble across it unexpectedly, and then need to find a new hiding place.

So when she died, we found ourselves with the job of going through EVERYTHING - every pocket, every purse, every book, every one of those gloves in that shopping bag-- looking to see if she’d hidden some money there. There was never more than $50 in one place; but by the time we were done, we had unearthed right around $10,000.

One of my clearest memories during this process was a day I spent working alongside my other grandmother, who’d come over to lend a hand. As we sat together, going through things in the kitchen, she more than once would shake her head and mutter quietly to herself. Later, I learned that she had been quoting her own mother. “Blessed be nothing,” she'd whisper. “Blessed be nothing.”

I think of this when I hear the parable in today’s Gospel. Like the rich man, all the things that were stored so carefully, all the money, all the belongings, were of course left behind to go into other hands-- or often into a trash bin, as they were of no earthly use to anyone anymore.

Now, I’m not suggesting that we need to rid ourselves of all earthly possessions, not at all. But we do need to consider carefully what the scripture is saying here. It’s saying that what we do with what we have is important.

And we do have, my brothers and sisters. We are fortunate enough to be living in the richest nation in the world. As scary as this may sound, even those considered poor in our country are able to enjoy a better standard of living than a vast majority of the world’s population. We indeed do have treasures for ourselves-- all that we need, and then some.

But as Jesus reminds us, the measure of one's life “does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” So, if we are to be rich toward God, how do we deal with the riches we are given? Certainly the scriptures this morning remind us that stockpiling, ownership for it’s own sake, won’t get us anywhere.

However, there are other more Christ-like options, certainly. I’d like to suggest a few.

First, we can start with the most common biblical theme there is. Paul reminds us in today’s New Testament reading that we should, “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” In other words, approach all that is around us with love: the possessions for which we are responsible, the people whose lives we touch, the environment in which we live-- even the very air we breathe needs care.

Think for a moment, of the results we see when things-- like people-- are treated poorly. The pollution of our air and water; the littering and abandonment of good earth made ugly and uninhabitable; the damaged bodies and souls of sick and angry human beings whose stories we see and hear every day-- so much of this is the result of being treated with careless disregard, instead of loving attention.

Secondly, much of what we are given is attended most lovingly when we use it, purposefully. The belongings collecting dust in my grandmother’s house, and the money tucked in books and old hats for so many years, did neither her nor anyone else any good; they served no purpose. Likewise, paying farmers to allow land to go fallow when there are hungry people in this world that could be fed by the harvest, serves no purpose. Withholding social service benefits from a mother when she goes back to school in an effort to provide for her children and get off Welfare, serves no purpose.

Of course, many of us find ourselves in a place where we have more than we can care for, or can use to any good purpose. The answer then-- and you’re way ahead of me here, aren’t you?-- is to share it, to give it away. “Given in good measure, shaken together and running over.” How much more joy can the gifts of God bring, when they are shared with those around us.

Love it. Use it. Give it away.

Options to consider, when we ponder what to do with what we have, in Jesus’ name.