in a fuzzy way

Too early, I'm up and around and preparing for the day. DH was buzzed and beeped out early for trauma - and now I get ready for my sabbath day. A sabbath rest should be a rest, so I should not take along the sermon notes or the plans for the class I have to teach on Sunday. Perhaps just take a Bible and read toward the next church year. Perhaps just take the murder mystery and enjoy that.

Hmm.
Bible.
Murder Mystery.

Shows where my priorities are.

I'm not as pious as people seem to think I am.
Or as people - my parishioners - want me to be.

I once was very pious. Went to worship daily - ahh, seminary. Spent lots of time in reading my Bible and journalling about it. Tried centering prayer for a week or two. Fell asleep. Tried reading morning and evening prayer - kept it up for about two months. The books are still right here.

Funny how getting older has not helped with the discipline.

Today's reading - from James
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?

At work I try to remember Luther's interpretation of the 8th Commandment (lutheran style - do not bear false witness). MP (Ministry Partner), vents about another staff person - I'm the sounding board, and I say wait - see - it may work out. He/She may come around, may do that thing you think they haven't prepared for.

I know I've been in that situation when I was doubted and harassed. I know how it feels to be examined under a microscope for every misstep, and correct step as well. It wasn't that long ago that evil was spoken against me. And speaking rightly isn't about fairness, it's about being Christ to each other.

subject change: sermon thought - the difference between a pilgrim and a tourist, a pilgrim is a disciple on a journey, a tourist is not. That is not expressed very well - it needs reinfinement.

At clergy breakfast - "We went to Spain to see our daughter." "Oh, did you go to any of the famous pilgrimage sites?" "Uh, no, we went to beaches." My thought: depends on what your god may be - some of those beaches are pilgrimage sites.

So: Bible and Murder Mystery. And time for prayer.


Off to the farm!