Never a dull moment

Up until about an hour ago, it was a normal Sunday evening: watching TV and eating takeout. Then the power went out, which surprised me. It's raining here, but not a bad storm (they never really are, here in Montana). Then I looked out the window, and saw sunset colors-- which was even odder, since night had fallen earlier.

Suddenly, from CJ: "Mom, come here-- you gotta see this!"

So I went upstairs to look out the kitchen window. The sky glowed bright orange, and we could see massive flames shooting up in the distance. "It's the refinery!"

We drove over to a parking lot on Main St., still well away from the blaze (I'm curious, but not stupid enough to get in the way of emergency personnel). Sure enough, the fire was coming from the plant on the south side of town, something less than 2 miles from where we live. Cops and sirens everywhere. It was an inferno.

Blessedly, they seemed to be getting it under control when we came home-- at least enough that we are not braced to evacuate. The power's still out, though (I'm blogging on a battery backup). Wonder how long that will last?

Bridal Bizarrity II

Episode I dealt with liturgical lunacy. This time, the topic is bridesmaids dresses.

CJ and her friend K (aka "the bride") were shopping today. No, they did not pick one, but it was not for lack of trying. Dear heavens, there is some bad stuff out there!






I mean, really. Who dislikes women so much that they put this out, and then tries to convince us (even worse, a whole group of us at the same time) to wear it?









Come on, sisters-- just say no!!

First day of school

The boy started school today-- 8th grade. This is the obligatory "First day of the school year" picture (daughter starts next week). Every year, the children profess to be annoyed; and every year, I ignore them. If you can't bug your kids once in a while, why even have them?

Unified Field Theory

No, not that kind. This is more seasonally appropriate-- a sort of Gridiron Geek, "Fan meets Nerd" alternative for the football aficionados among us: a Unified Football Theory.

This is not the sport I understand best, but it seems interesting.

Random bits of Monday

• I missed my exercises on Saturday, but I made them up this morning. Week 4, and still counting!

• My home office is a scary place-- with enough clutter that actual work is difficult. Time will be spent this afternoon sorting, filing and pitching out.

• The people at Church Publishing are very nice, and very helpful. They are also somewhat easily confused. Trying to use two gift certificates on the same order was a bit taxing... but they made it work in the end.

• One of my younger parishioners starts first grade today. He has promised to call me later, to tell me how it goes.
  

• The regional newsletter is finally tweaked (again!) and finished. Off to the printer!

• Speaking of which... my assistant and I will be trying a new rotation come September, which will necessitate a different system of printing and distributing the bulletins. Need to get that set up.

• Birthday money is going to buy a rack and panniers for the back of my bike. Cue the music!

Another day, another year

Family, and friends seen too seldom, and presents, and dessert. Birthdays don't get better than this.



Kyle does not much care for having his picture taken anymore. In honor of the occasion, his sister browbeat him into uncovering his face, just once.


A "normal day at the office" (celebrating at three churches) was followed by dinner, and cake and ice cream.




Two different flavors of ice cream. Mmmmmmm....








Si and Laura on their way back east, from what sounds like a wonderful wedding. They're planning their own, next June, so perhaps this could be construed as research?






Fortunately they did not insist on having a candle on the cake for each year. Wouldn't want to set off the smoke alarms...



It was a lovely day.

So you want to be a hero?

Not really-- but that's what started it.

I know that I function better, mentally as well as physically, when I use my body in healthy ways; but it's been too easy to get out of the habit. Given the nature of the cluster ministry I serve, it's too easy to think being constantly on the move constitutes exercise-- even though the "constant activity" is largely behind a desk, beside a bed or chair, or behind the wheel of a car.

I was reminded of this clearly at a conference I attended back in June. Among the aids we were given was a small, inexpensive pedometer, and the instruction that "enough exercise" would be an average of about 10,000 steps a day. No problem, I thought. I bet I get close to that. After all, I park and walk around my towns most of the time...

Not even close. I was amazed and dismayed to discover that, without intentional effort, my average was less than half that figure.

So I began making that intentional effort. I began walking to start my day-- 20 or so minutes of wandering briskly along the roads near my house. Not a lot, but better than nothing.

Then I had a chat with someone about the absence of women in local volunteer fire and rescue crews (our town has NEVER had a woman firefighter). His tacit "well, yeah..." assumption that this was only to be expected, pricked at me for several reasons. First, because I know the firefighters in my town; and while many of them are in terrific shape, others have evidently spent significant time too close to the doughnut box, or belly up to the bar. Secondly, I know there are women who currently work as smoke jumpers, on hotshot crews, or search and rescue teams, which jobs are certainly physically demanding; so there's no reason (other than plain intransigence) that some women could not also handle the lesser demands of local crews.

And thirdly, because I realized that in my case, he was right-- I couldn't do it even if I wanted to (which I don't, especially) because I am not in any kind of shape to manage the work.

Enough. Of. That.

So I dusted off the hand weights I'd gotten for Christmas, picked up a book to follow along (anyone who knows me, knows I work better with lists to check off!), and got started. Upper body this, lower body that... crunches and lunges and curls... each morning doing something, and using muscles that have not been used in far too long.

I've been doing this for about 3 weeks now, and I'm starting to see improvement. My body is beginning to think about firming up, my energy level has improved, and I can do things more easily. Not only the exercises themselves (the 20 minute walk has turned into 30 minutes of alternating walk/jog; and the 5 pushups I couldn't do when I got started, have become 30) but I also deal better with the other things I have on my agenda each day.

Lord knows I will never be Dara Torres (isn't she marvelous?!); and I don't really anticipate working as a volunteer firefighter. But it will be nice to think I could, if I wanted to.

Birthdays, Big Sky style

This afternoon, I was invited to help a young parishioner celebrate her 13th birthday in fine fashion.

At her request, a few friends gathered at the Big Yellow House for a formal outdoor tea-- complete with small sandwiches (crusts removed, of course!) and cookies on lovely china. All present were graciously attired, complete with a variety of chapeaux.




The guest of honor is in the center. Happy birthday, Megan!

After tea, and the opening of gifts suitable to the occasion, the girls ran into the yard to toss a ball about while the adults chatted.

(the bling on my hand was a party favor.)


Dad was not present at the party, because he was at home arranging the next event on the birthday schedule-- setting up targets for shooting practice.

After all, a lady should be well-rounded... and deer season isn't that far off.

Loyalties

Unlike "love it or leave it" bumper sticker patriots, I do not think loyalty means putting on blinders. It does mean that I weep at failures, rejoice at virtues, and stick around even when the former outweigh the latter.

With that understanding, there are a few things in this life to which I have unswerving loyalty. God and the Church-- and my country-- and my baseball team.

Hello, my name is Jane Ellen, and I'm a Cubs fan.



It's a genetic thing. I got it from my mom. She was such a fan that I was almost born at home. When, three weeks overdue with her first child, she finally went into labor, she was watching a double header on TV. She refused to leave for the hospital until the games were over.

We went to at least one game every year, riding in on the train with a cooler of iced tea and Mom's godawful ugly tapestry totebag full of sandwiches and snacks. Other days, the radio or TV coverage was the background soundtrack of our home, as much part of summer as fireflies at night and the wading pool on the driveway during the day. When I was 13, her health deteriorated and she became housebound, so she couldn't go anymore. I learned how to keep a scorecard sitting beside her on the bed after school, watching the games. I learned a lot about hope... and devastating reality. Hey, anyone can have a bad century, right?

This year... well, given the team's history (we do not forget 1969, I assure you!), I'm afraid to say much. She died 10 years ago, but oh, somewhere Mom is smiling. So in her honor I'm posting this current version of her "theme song" that Dad sent me today.



Amen!

Fire update

Good news! The Cascade Fire is now about 85% controlled, pre-evacuation protocols have all been relaxed, fire crews are now in the "mopping up" phase, and my parishioners have been busily unpacking and getting back to normal. Reports say that it will probably continue to burn in some remote areas until the snow flies in the fall; but the largest part of the danger is past.

Thanks for your prayers, friends.

'nough said

Props to Mark for this one.

Bridal Bizarrity - Just Say No

Daughter's friend K is getting married, and has asked CJ to be the maid of honor. They are having great fun planning! The good news is that K is the laid back sort-- not the least bit of "Bridezilla" in her.

The bad news is that they are discovering the merchandising hell that is the Wedding Industry. Catalogs and marketing mailings have begun to appear, dropping out of the mailbox like snow in summer, offering an dazzling array of ways to separate a bride and groom from their money in the name of "The Perfect Wedding." Clothing, invitations, decorations, favors... the list goes on. And on. And on.

And of course, they have no intention of stopping short of messing with the ceremony! Unity candles, memory candles, and other bells and whistles packaged and sold as "meaningful expressions and symbols of yer luuvv."

The latest craze: "The sand ceremony." For only $65 US (plus shipping), you and your soul mate can have "a beautiful reflection of your marriage and the blending of two lives." Pardon me if I am doubtful that layers of overpriced sand in a jar are equal to this task.

Here me clearly, prospective brides and grooms: for a wedding, you need an officiant, one or two witnesses (depending on your state) and each other. The rest of the stuff is frill, and should be sorted through with restraint and extreme prejudice (A personal bias from the clergy: extra symbols added to the liturgy are only necessary when the liturgy itself is inadequate!)

If you want a "beautiful reflection of your marriage and the blending of two lives," then work at staying married. Take the "sand ceremony" money and enjoy an evening out-- or better yet, buy some bubble bath and maybe some new bedsheets, and stay in.

Walkin' on the water

Some various notes for this Sunday's sermon...

"Jesus made the disciples get into the boat..." Not in John, but hnagkasen (made/forced/compelled) is in both Matthew and Mark. Being out in the boat on rough waters was Jesus' idea-- indeed, his command.

The boat as church - an ancient symbol. Thomas G. Long, in his Matthew commentary (p. 166): "Unlike the bowling league or the Coalition to Save Historic Buildings, the church is not a group of like minded people who, on their own initiative, rally around a common desire or a worthy cause. The church, rather, is a peculiar people, called by God and sent out onto a dangerous sea. Were it not for the authoritative command of Christ, no one would volunteer to climb into the boat.."

So... on to Peter...

Given the above, we commonly point to Peter's "little faith" shown when he began to sink. But wasn't that lack first shown earlier, when he demanded proof from Jesus - to step out of the boat in the first place? ("Lord, if it is you...").

Jesus pulled him up, and then they both went back to the boat-- back to where Jesus told them all to be in the first place. Only when they were all there (in the presence of Christ) was the sea calmed.

Back to Long (ibid): "Like demons, disease and death, the raging sea is one of the unruly powers, but Jesus is Lord even over the sea; he is Lord over all the powers of chaos and destruction that threaten the life of the church, the mission of God's people, and the victory of the kingdom of heaven."

What do you think of when you think of "church?" Given the above, can we really "not bother with organized religion, and still be Christian?" What about separating ourselves from other believers? I wonder if it's a coincidence: folks who don't get it are often assumed to be "missing the boat."