Life returns

Moïse conduisant le peuple, Arthur Boyd, 1947

It's funny how much a difference a couple days makes, but here I am on the outside of the deep black pit that I'd been falling into for the last two weeks. Being able to return to my home, to be safe and comfortable and well-lit, to know that my kids know where their stuff is and that they have a sense of ownership . . . it's huge. And all this just because the power was out.

But now it's on.

So. Onward.



Last week I did Midweek Manna, Evensong, Sunday liturgy and sermon, and Sunday School, and a very brief Spiritual Renewal meeting. I didn't go to Session because we were moving back in to our house.



This week I'm

• doing Midweek Manna and Evensong, then Sunday School and assisting in worship on Sunday.


• There are a lot of last minute things to do for the Church Anniversary dinner on Sunday: line up our accompanist for hymns, talk to guest speaker about details, send congregational e-mail reminding everyone of the event, . . .


• meeting with pastor Bob to talk about Session Ministry Teams "retreat" which will take place next Monday. I won't be able to attend but will consult on format, content, etc.


• hopefully get the old gold minivan fixed. We've got a brake problem and a distracting sort of noise coming from the right under the hood. This is what happens at 180K miles I guess. Even for a Toyota. The van is at the shop right now.


• Kid stuff this week= today: Lizzie at 4:00 from school, then karate at 5. tomorrow: L at 4:00 from school, then Sam to karate at 5:30. wed.: L at 4:00, back to SPC for Wednesday night stuff. thurs.: Southminster School out at noon for teacher conferences, L to orthodontist at 2:00, then I think maybe we're done for the day. Also Mark comes home on Thursday. Yay. Friday: ??? that's too far ahead. And it's my day off. Sat: Focus Conference at Northwoods; Lizzie to theater at 1:00. Sun: church in the a.m., then fly to Dallas to get ready to grade ordination exams. I'll be in Dallas through Thurs. of next week.

Oh wow, if nothing unexpected comes up, this will be do-able.

Next week's scriptures include Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20, better known as the Ten Commandments. Also Matthew 21: 33-46, known sometimes as the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. I adore the image of Moses that I posted here. I don't know anything about the artist, but feel free to chime in if you do. This Moses, who I think hasn't received the commandments just yet, has a look of gentle determination and faithfulness about him. I think receiving the commandments will be a great relief to him, so he doesn't have to try to keep all these people in line all by himself. They are God's gentle, determined, faithful way of ordering our lives. A true gift to the people on the journey.

I could never have had these thoughts last week.