Perfectly Imperfect

Today was NOT the best day I have ever known. I could lay out all the reasons why that was the case, but I will spare you that. (Whew!) Suffice it to say that it was only 11:30 in the morning when I called my daughter Emily at work for support. I knew that Beloved Spouse was in the Most Important Meeting Since Joining the Law Firm and thereby unavailable, and I needed a shoulder to sob on. Short on sleep, running late, and behind on EVERYTHING, I was feeling inadequate in just about every area of my life. I was pretty sure that the jury had returned its verdict and, what I’d been fearing had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt: I AM a bad friend, a bad pastor, a bad co-worker, a bad daughter/sister/spouse/mom/Nona, a bad neighbor — in sum, a BAD PERSON.

A Pastor, Two Priests, and Saint Peter…

Being around religion, religious people, and religious subject matter so much makes me all the more ready to laugh when I come across something that is funny, especially if religion is involved. I don’t want to make fun of religion, of course, or be disrespectful. But like most pastors I’ve met, I find a little bit of devilish humor in poking fun at stuffy religious topics now and then. Kind of a hobby you might say.

Like the preacher’s young daughter who noticed that her dad always bowed his head and closed his eyes just before launching into a sermon. So she asked him, “Why do you do that?” “Well, I’m praying that God will help me preach a good sermon.” She thought about that a moment, then said, “Why doesn’t God ever answer your prayer, Daddy?”

You’re a Winner!

For last week’s Make A Difference efforts, six of our church’s adults went to Our Saviour’s Shelter to lead a bingo event for the homeless residents there. By all accounts, they had a rewarding and enjoyable evening, returning with a few anecdotes. One story they shared was that it was the first night for a young woman to be there, and she was filled with anxiety and uneasiness. But the simple joy and fun of a bingo game made her feel welcomed and comfortable at the shelter, such that she told the volunteers how meaningful it was to have the game there that night.

Another anecdote that was shared with me spoke volumes in regards to good, healthy stewardship.

Give of Yourself

This is to be the first of three blogs that have to do with ‘stewardship’ – but don’t stop reading yet! Hang in there with me! Though this will still be about stewardship, events out on the east coast are leading me to, instead, write to you about blood.

Due to the terrible series of storms that has struck the eastern part of our country, the need for donations to the blood banks has soared. One reason for the extra need is that fewer people in those stricken areas are able to spend time donating right now. Instead, they are cleaning up, trying to rebuild, and dealing with the many after-effects of the storms. Another reason is cancelled blood drives. I just read an online newspaper report from North Carolina saying that 300 Red Cross blood drives were cancelled across 14 states, due to the storm. That represents some 9000 blood and platelet donations. Thankfully, midwest and western chapters of the American Red Cross are trying valiantly to make up the difference.