Patience, cont.

I ended up with just enough patience yesterday. Only one of the three space & time invaders was present, and I was able to kindly interact without allowing for full time domination. Phew.

I was going to write more, but I'm a little sick of hearing myself complain. Have a great week!

Patience

I'm hiding out in my office.

No one but the organist is here yet, but I'm hiding. After being on vacation for 10 of the last 19 days you would think I'd be rested and have patience.

I'm reaching really hard for that patience. It was my first prayer this morning. It was a prayer as I drove home last night (from a church function).

I don't think I have patience for the needy ones. For the ones who seem to always need to talk to me. For the ones who breach my physical space. I don't have patience for those who need everything explained to them (over and over). I don't have patience for people's comments of "what work do you do that you need a vacation?" I don't have patience even for the incredibly eager ones who just want to suck everything in (sometimes it feels like I'm needing to spoon feed these too).

What I do have patience for? The 14-year old preacher. The kiddos who are leading the service today. The elderly (formerly grumpy) man who as he shares the peace with me, pulls me in and says "God loves you and so do I." I have patience for the people who have recently lost loved ones. I have patience for the excited Stewardship chair. I have patience for the dedicated ones who let me know about others who aren't doing so well. And for those who will come, and worship - taking in the Word and the Meal.

So, I suppose I do have patience. And, I pray for God's patience and strength not to let my impatience rule over me.

I'm still going to hide in my office for a few more minutes.

Colorful

My latest two concoctions were all about the color.

This past weekend I made "Stir-Fried Carrots, Red Peppers & Red Onions with Roasted Cashews." (pg 36) It was quite tasty, but I realized also quite expensive.

I also made "Ruby Chard Decorated with Itself" (pg 96-97). This was pretty - and much more powerful tasting than I had expected. But, It was good and I felt healthy eating it. Unfortunately, blogger is having a difficult time uploading this particular picture. It was pretty - I'll try again at another time, but it's basically just a leafy green vegetable with chopped up pinkish/red vegetable on top of it.

Very Little Sweat

Sometimes it's really hard to come back from vacation. It was hard to leave this time...hard to leave those whom I dearly love, hard to leave the time spent in leisure, hard to leave sunny California weather. It was.

But, it wasn't so hard to go back to work today. It was nice. I "checked-in" today at an area pastor meeting that ever since Christmas I haven't been freaking out. Things have been okay. Nothing seems like a major deal. Good ministry is happening, often without me.

Since I've been gone?
New ministry is being dreamed up in the form of women's ministry.
A grant has been applied for.
Vacation Bible School dreaming (which has been absent) has begun.
A children's area just off of the worship area has been set up.
The Word (and a good Word at that) was preached on Sunday.
New people have popped in and been well welcomed.
New-ish people have continued to make this place their home.
A woman who had been deteriorating died. (Funeral, which I'll do, is Friday).
A couple good decisions were made regarding Finances and the Newsletter.
Many, many e-mails and 16 phone messages.
A sermon and children's sermon for Sunday are in the midst of being prepared.

All done by others.

Most of the things I have to do aren't that big of a deal. And, I'm taking another mini-vacation next week to visit a friend. I have no fear whatsoever about not having a job, but it is good to know that the work continues when I'm not there. The work is not dependent solely on me. And, coming back has not been difficult at all.

Three Dishes

I have not done so well with my New Year's Resolution lately...but I do have a few dishes to report.

First - Leek Chips, pg 73. They would have been better if I used less oil and didn't try to rush them.

Sesame Braised Cabbage with Leeks (pg 34). Quite tasty, though I didn't need to make as much as I did.

And, for Easter, Oven Ratatouille (pg 92-93). Very, very good. Also good as leftovers.

Rearranging Time

With the nicer weather, I've been breaking up my days differently. Leaving work to do some errands, go for a run, figure out my wonky computer (which I'll be giving up tomorrow for 7-10 days so it can be fixed once again).

It's been nice. It also means that I'm working into the evening. But, I'd be doing that anyway...just working straight through. And, to do personal stuff during daylight hours, not necessarily when I'm exhausted at the end of the day, is wonderful!.

I'm leaving for California in less than a week! And when I get back, my work time will be light for about a month. I just have to attempt to keep my mind in the present and complete the work that needs to be done before I go.