The morning was spent with other pastors. We talked of church (what is the current definition), of ministry (the ups and downs) and of personal life (we are all human!). This is the opportunity to join with others who go through the same things. Together we prayed, ate and dismissed – seeking God’s blessing and direction.
Time well spent!
Our regional Senior Pastor’s Network is together today and tomorrow. As the season and commitments would have it, I had to exit from the meetings for a few hours to fulfil duties back in Kindersley.
Our meetings are being held in a back road town called Herschel. Settled in a valley, the setting is beautiful. The retreat house is “recycled”. The wood comes from grain elevators. Beautiful wood grain enhanced by years of grain spilling over the wood.
The road to a main highway is one I had travelled last time we met there. Only this time I didn’t get detoured. Previously I had made one wrong turn and ended up on a dirt trail through a pasture. My sense of direction kept me going until I returned to a gravelled grid road. Today I headed straight down the road – no detours – and about 20 minutes shaved off travel time.
Tomorrow I return for the close of the meetings. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for us.
This is the Advent season. Preparing for Jesus’ birth.
This week we explore spending less and giving more. Spending less money on extraneous gifts and giving more time to the relationships in our lives. I’ve worked a sermon out – right now I’m also working it out in my life. That’s a good thing. The day I can’t learn from what I’m learning is the day I’ve fossilized into a relic. Something I never want to be!!
I’ve taken the day. How do things crash with no time left?
The Roughriders had the last play of the game to salvage a win. Just keep the field goal from heading through the uprights. And they did. But with unfair advantage, too many people on the playing field. A “do over” proved to be the nail in the coffin.
In the living room those gathered had yelled at the prospect of winning, then suddenly the room was deadly silent as we lost. I was ready to go home. A few minutes later we stepped out to go to our car. People from other parties were headed to their homes.
No yelling, no honking horns, just slow evenly paced steps.
The day after? Well, it is just a game and I didn’t have much time to reminisce. But now, as I sit at the computer, I’m reminded that struggles in life can seem so near to victory and be so close to defeat. Fight the good fight and let the final score be left to someone else! We are called to be faithful.
If success were all in the scoreboard . . . interestingly today I feel we won! The team came back and stood as a team at a celebration in Regina. Score cards fade but people remain.
Besides, there’s always next year, or eternity if it takes that long.