Presents from God

God was so present at church last night - it was overwhelming.

Among other ways, God showed up:

* In the new volunteer who was moved to tears as he observed what was going on at the Soup Kitchen. And who recognized that he will be filled as he breaks bread with others (and helps to clean up afterwards).

* In the calming presence of a homeless man as he recommended that the hotheaded one give me a call to tell me what was bothering him. And, the hothead listened and set up a time to call me today.

* In the Free Clinic's calm approach as they realized they were short a nurse. And the matter-of-fact and loving way in which people were handled. (I love nurses!)

* In the church members who stepped up (not thinking they were going to have to) during Soup Kitchen...which was especially needed because it was a 5th Wednesday.

* In the hoards of people who came to Soup Kitchen for the first time last night.

* In a member who I've been working with who really needed a connection that was made.

* In the people who had been regular visitors to worship last Spring but stopped coming due to physical ailments....who stopped by because they learned there is a Free Clinic here - and who said they'll be back on Sunday.

* In the small worship service.
- First with the amazing tale of calling someone's bullshit out - that resulted in anger...but then the transformation that happened and the peace offered.
- Then, in the very real conversation about how we are motivated to do things for others.
- But most amazingly, in the woman - who happened upon our service - who has experienced tragedy, abandonment and disappointment in loved ones - who is truly trying to follow Jesus - not in a passive way, but in a very real, active way. In her story of forgiving others. In her strength. In her excitement for Jesus.
- Also, in the connection that was made as our member who is homeless walked up to her after the service and quietly asked if she needed anything to make it on the street. He who is a guardian angel to so many street people - and an eye opener to members of my church.

* In the reuniting with the guys from AA that I have not seen almost all summer - the jokes, the hugs and their delight in seeing me.

God is so good.

8-6-7-5-3-oh-what?

I've been back at work for a week after being gone for two. This past week has been full of catching up and details and getting things together. I've got a bit more work to do in order to feel on top of things, but that end is in sight.

So, tonight, after my church's book club and after a nice long walk with a friend, I come home and decide that having not eaten dinner (at 9pm) it'd be a good pizza and beer night.

I call up the local pizza delivery establishment and do just fine until she wants my phone number....I say it, the woman taking my order repeats it back to me incorrectly and then for the life of me I cannot remember my phone number. I could get out the first three numbers...and I knew the last 4 had a 9 in it someplace. It was a total block.

I ended up hanging up the phone, regrouping and calling back (at which point she called me 'dear').

I guess my mind can be responsible for only so much.

Hermitage

I've had an intense 2 weeks. And work-wise I do believe this next one will be fairly intense.

As I left my parents' home last night I broke down into tears for just a few minutes. It had been a full day - saying goodbye to my home congregation for really the last time, saying goodbye to my family - with both my brother and sister moving cross country in the next couple weeks, which just changes the family dynamic. That change is fine...and really, I believe, good - but change is emotional for me.

It's been a great two weeks - and a couple of weeks with little to no alone time. I've felt like I've had a good balance of work, play, family and friends - a balance with which I hope to always live my life. But what hasn't been balanced has been the "being with other people" and the "being just with me."

I wouldn't give up a second of that time I spent with another person - even those times when I was hard to deal with ;). But, I do recognize that I am in need to some me-time.

So, following this time away, I'm going to be a little hermit for a few days.

But...Even More Exciting...

My brother called last night to tell me that he and his awesome girlfriend (see here) ARE ENGAGED!!!

They don't plan to be married until after she participates in a year-long program next year - but I'm just so happy. Although it was over cell phone static we had a short conversation about why they wanted to get engaged now. (They offered...I didn't question). It was a great witness (in my opinion) to purpose of marriage at all. My brother said, "This doesn't really change our relationship, but it let's people know our intent."

He's so wise. (It's also something I've said about marriage in general).

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!

I just cannot express my joy enough here.

My Inner Geek Squad

I love when I'm able to just figure something out.

On Saturday night, before I left for 4 days away I discovered that my computer had died. This had been building up - and I figured it was that it wasn't receiving power. This isn't all that amazing since the cord that feeds the battery (I believe) had some loose wires in it and would regularly need to be wiggled to make it work.

So, I ordered a new cord from Dell - having done so about a year ago as well. It seems that this particular product sucks and people have to regularly repurchase this part for their computers (but $50 is better than $1,000 when you're not in the market for a new computer). On impulse I also bought a new battery for my computer - thinking that it would be nice to again be able to take my computer places an outlet and cord do not go.

I arrived home late last night and my new purchases had arrived. But, alas! I plugged the cord into the computer and nothing happened. It sucked. I was really disappointed. Since I'm heading out (in 3 hours) for vacation, I decided just to put it off.

This morning I woke up to the realization that - the battery had been dying for a while...perhaps the battery just finally said enough and retired itself.

So, without having my morning coffee I set to work to figure out how to change my computer's battery.

Success! The battery is changed - and the computer works!!

I feel like I'm the smartest person in the world. Or, at least sitting in my chair.