Refreshing

After a hot summer, the persistent rain has me looking around for Noah. Wherever he is, is precisely where I want to migrate. Strange how the rain, though often a synonym for a sad face, or mellow spirit at best, can also serve to deliver moments of refreshment. I've found myself not only enjoying it, but anxious for its return during the intermittent breaks. And I've noticed the same lift in others.

As a kid, the rain was the signal to make boats to float in the water running along the street, or wade through the ditches filled with rain (I know sounds unsanitary. It's amazing what we can live through when no one us how bad it is for us.). It was the time to break out a game of ultimate football, which resembled mud wrestling. And it was a time to lay the normal routine aside, stay home if you could, and let the world slow down. Some things you don't out grow. Anyone for a little football?

Reconnections

At noon Carolon and I sat down for lunch with a young woman who when last we saw her twenty years ago was a teenage young lady in our youth group. Twenty years with no contact and then I received an email inquiring if I was the former youth minister at her church (The one she attended as a teen. Now she lives half way across the country). Through today's conversation we discovered locating us started with a google and then a flurry of phone calls, first to a funeral home where my name had appeared in an obituary as the minister of record in a memorial service, and then to several churches in central Texas where she recalled Carolon and I had previously worked.

A few weeks ago she made plans to come to the area to visit a friend and we made plans to meet for a meal. "On the Border" became the host for a special reunion. She had the same smile, same bubbly spirit, and same sincere attitude. Twenty years had passed, she now had a family, our kids are grown, and yet there was something warmly familiar about the moment. She introduced us to the friend she was visiting, a vibrant spirited young Christian woman; and by the end of the lunch we were all hugging goodbye, anxious for the next connect.

It must have taken 30-40 minutes to order and four, or five return trips by the waiter saying, "Are you ready to order yet? Take your time, there is no rush." Finally, we paused long enough to dispense with the choosing so we could reignite the conversation. One of the most beautiful moments for Carolon and I came as we listened to her tell her faith journey. Listening to her tell about her faith, her Christian family, her bible study, love of worship, and church sent us away grateful beyond description at a God of grace.

Ministry leaves us with so many moments, and situations where we wonder. It feels good to know! And suddenly past memories open the door to future ones.

Laugh and Enjoy

Some of us remain so stressed out. We are like rubber bands constantly extended and waiting to break. And the people around us stand with guards up anticipating at any time we will lift the mixer blades of our life out of the bowl, while it is still running, and well, you know what happens. The people around us are treated to more of us than they want. So, what brought this on? Glad you asked! I frequently work through lunch and today while deep in thought the fire alarm suddenly broke into action – the sound reminded me of a church business meeting I attended as a young man where the atmosphere was filled with a lot of noise and chaos (little common sense, incidentally). So, what happened? One of the preschool kids touched what should only be touched in an emergency. At least the preschooler was in preschool. When I satisfied my curiosity I was a boy in grade school. When the sign says, "Alarm will sound if opened," IT REALLY WILL!

OK, so we know life can be unpredictable; even with the most innocent intentions things happen; and yet we move with the grace of a volcano people will notice if ignited, yes self included. But, we can also "take things in stride" as the saying goes. Today was a good day for me, it was stride day. And the people around me did not leave with more of me than they wanted!