Shutterbug

When I first started working I made a list of things I wanted to purchase that I had put off during my volunteer and school years. Big ticket items = a bed, a car, an I-pod, a CD player for the car (to which I can attach my I-pod), a DVD/DVR player, and hmmm...I feel like there was something else....anyway - all of these have been deliberating researched and purchased in the last few years.

I have been without a functioning camera for about 3 1/2 years now. Maybe more. I love taking pictures, and am actually pretty good at it (thank you 4-H). Important to me features include the ability to zoom in and out, different lighting options, a timer (to be able to set the camera to take an inclusive group shot), durability (I am a little clumsy), and probably a fairly good sized memory...since I'm looking at digital.

Anyone have any recommendations?

Also - I'm trying to decide - do I attempt to purchase the camera now - during holiday sales? Or wait until after Christmas...with post-holiday sales, but perhaps not the greatest selection?

Code Resentment

Every once in a while the very first conversation I have in the morning is with the voice from the church's alarm company. The alarm can go off for a number of reasons - usually because someone either forgot or mis-typed their alarm code (there is a little bit of time and a few chances...but for some reason this alarm pad intimidates a number of my members).

I'm the 4th on a list of people to call....and the alarm company is supposed to call until they get a live person. It seems that every time they call, however, all of the other 3 are out of commission. (Of course, they don't call me if one of the other three gets called...but, the others haven't mentioned receiving calls).

On a side note - it's like we're those guardians of the grail in the book The DaVinci Code. Although, it's much less dramatic and romantic - we are merely the four guardians of the alarm system.

The alarm went off this morning - in the office. I looked - no doors were unlocked (and if it had been a person, it would have also registered whichever method they entered the office), no big disturbances.

I'm aware that I'm feeling a little resentful that I had to rush around to go and police the building. So, I decided that I just needed to take it as a reason to go and buy myself an already- brewed cup of coffee from the cool local coffee shop. If this doesn't work....perhaps I'll need to find some chocolate.

Dress Me in Corduroy

I recently found a wonderful corduroy jacket on sale for $20. I love it. I wear it all the time. I also regularly wear 3 pair of corduroy pants - and one long corduroy skirt (individually...not at the same time).

My dilemma comes when I wear one of the pairs of pants or the skirt and I want to put a light jacket on.

Is there ever too much corduroy?

Should I avoid the corduroy jacket when I'm wearing one of the other pieces of corduroy?

When we had the search for the new secretary (by the way - my secretary kicks ass!) I was prepared to mourn the fashion relationship I'd had with my last one. Turns out, my current secretary (who...did I mention kicks ass!) has some good fashion sense as well. I have yet to pose the corduroy question to her though. I'll have to do that next time I wear the two corduroys together. I missed my opportunity today.

Any fashion advice from peanut gallery?

Hope and Trust - blocked by fear, Springs up despite

The Fountain
by Denise Levertov

Don't say, don't say there is no water
to solace the dryness at our hearts.
I have seen

the fountain springing out of the rock wall
and you drinking there. And I too
before your eyes

found footholds and climbed
to drink the cool water.

The woman of that place, shading her eyes,
frowned as she watched - but not because
she grudged the water,

only because she was waiting
to see we drank our fill and were
refreshed.

Don't say, don't say there is no water.
That fountain is there among its scalloped
green and gray stones,

it is still there and always there
with its quiet song and strange power
to spring in us,
up and out through the rock.

This has been a difficult week. Well, really - a difficult Tuesday-Wednesday. I have not felt strong, or like a leader who knows what she is doing. I keep getting reminded by these situations that I really don't know what I'm doing and all I can do is rely on what God has given me - which includes inner strength, other people's wisdom, and a community of support.

Inter-personal things I get. Business ones I don't. And every once in a while the panic of "I don't know what to do" overrides better wisdom and trust. Thankfully, wonderful people were safe for me to express that...to be overwhelmed with and offer support and prayer.

I still don't know what I'm doing. But, I do know that I'm no longer panicking.

A Different Kind of Good News

My job, at its heart, is about good news.

Good News that conquers sin & death. Good News of goodness within each person, createdness as God's children. Good news that someone cares. Good news that life is about more than one's own little opinions and needs - that we're connected to one another. Good News of love.

This weekend my job is about other good news as well.

Half of our building has heat! (Which is good news when two weeks ago we weren't sure where we'd be). Our programs will be able to continuously be held without worry that the homeless folk won't have a place to warm up or that the little old ladies will be shivering. Sure, worship will continue to be held in the fellowship hall rather than the sanctuary, but we'll be warm with more than just the Spirit.

and
We are receiving some money from one of the grants I submitted earlier this fall!! We have yet to hear from another. But, this is good (and stress reducing) news!

and
I'm going away for a week. Good news because although I love my people, and my work...my sermons have been suffering and my brain and my pre-preaching nerves need a bit of a break. And, while most of the times I go away are preceded by extra preaching (for a funeral or a wedding), this time...I can safely say now that it's the day before I leave...that will not be the case.

Good news for me. Not the holy kind. But...maybe a little bit of the wholly kind - physical comfort, economic help, mental health break. That seems like good news to me.

Highlights of my work week

* I tied for first at the Senior Center's marshmallow blowing contest on Tuesday. My prize - a Santa figurine. (Doesn't that seem off? It should have been something Halloween-y). I'm still accepting it - no matter that I was decades younger than the other participants and I only tied.

* My Confirmation class loved that I found a song on YouTube to play for them and discuss. And, they started singing Bible songs spontaneously a few different times (like our ever-so-dignified Wed. text study does). And, they are excited about the Lenten series to be described below. And, one of the students got really excited about going on a mission trip - even going home right away to research and e-mail the info to me. **Favorite quote of the night - "So, what you're saying is the world needs hippies."

* Some members of my text study took off for Sun-Mon to brainstorm a Lenten series based on "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself" and The Wizard of Oz. It was good to brainstorm - and I'm looking forward to this work (as I focus on the cowardly lion and strength).

* Today my secretary and I are having lunch together. It's a working lunch where we'll touch base about how things are going and what we can do better in our working relationship. But, we also have fun together.

* Last night a new congregation cooked for the Soup Kitchen. They made a FANTASTIC meal, were excited about their experience, and one of the volunteers said to a member of mine: "This is where I belong." Lots of laughter - also meant a lot of time freed up for me to visit with others that were there who needed it.

* A good worship service last night - one actually full of comedy for some reason. Good discussion, a full house (9) for a Wed. night. A cell phone rang in the middle of our "silence." People held it together during the silence and then when the silence ended everyone erupted in laughter. It felt like a great community - half of whom were sleeping outside last night.

* Because I will be gone for a little over a week, I'm needing to prepare to get a lot of information to other people. I've gotten worship planned now through mid-December and have already gotten some Christmas stuff figured out. I've got people to open up the church on Sunday and to lead Wednesday evening functions. I've got to put together instructions for leading the Confirmation Class next Monday and to get my sermon ready for this Sunday...but I feel like things are pretty well under control. Yay!