Tampa 1st night

Arrived in Tampa --- Downtown Hyatt, getting ready to start teaching for a prevent at the Youth Ministry Extravaganza, a yearly gathering of ELCA Youth Ministers from around the country.

Walking through the area I came across the Tampa theater and found a lone ticket in the 3rd row for the Los Lonely Boys (How Far Is Heaven?) Darn fun bluesy foot stomping, body swaying rock and roll show. The three brothers, Henry, Jo Jo and Ringo, deserve their Grammies. "It's just a mixture of everything we've learned: conjunto music from our father, Richie Valens, Stevie Ray, Willie. All the music that we've gathered… Fats Domino, Santana, Skynyrd." This is a variation on what Henry likes to call "the musical burrito theory,"

...and the night ends with the moon peaking through the clouds behind the Cathedral.

My story – Your story – God’s story – Our story

Some great winter runs this week.
And the Ballet!
Thanks Sara for inviting us and for the great dance performance!

There is an old Hassidic parable ending with “God made humankind because God loves stories.”

Maybe much of ministry, if not all, can be summed up in the exchange of story.

My story – Your story – God’s story – Our story

Some say the greatest human need is to be understood.

Understanding takes the willingness to want to hear another’s story. Not one sided, understanding requires the vulnerability of trusting another, allowing my story to be heard. In the midst of such give and take, such openness mixed with exposure, is cradled the story of God. God’s story coming to us in word, history, written, spoken, experienced, lived, felt… all mixed with the understanding of the intellects, the mystics and the poets. God’s stories, your stories and my story all become our story. How sad to try and separate one from another. The Body of Christ equaling our story. I best understand ministry as the bringing together of stories.

Candle Time

Sniffles are gone, a light snow coming down, a pleasant 20° so it is time to get back out there and run.

Morning Candle Time…

• Marie “How Can I Keep From Singing”
• Renee and the 3 mad dogs
• Rob --- peace, in my thoughts a lot
• Dr. V. --- peace, strength
• Dave D. --- strength, my empowering gift namer
• Marilyn all the family surrounding Larry
• Nathan, new walks
• Nick, dreams
• Me… words and wisdom
• Institute friends… for guidance

Back to work...

...and back to class. Augsburg--- a new semester. I arrived at the room greeted by three students from last year’s class. Honoring. Privileged to be part of these students dreams.

Sabbatical Almost Over

Sam a nephew to be. (darn cute) --- Nathan a year older. (also darn cute)

(Camara finally repaired!)

Only three more sabbatical days.
Where did it go?
Why is the long list still long?