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Months ago I had been asked to perform a wedding on Thanksgiving weekend.  In a small town called Winnipeg.  About 10 hours away.

With my marriage this summer, we discussed this as one of the activities that our first few months would include.  As we worked through logistics, the idea was to travel in stages on the way there, and then hike home quickly on Thanksgiving Monday.  This was the skeleton of the plan.

As it happened, the marriage fell in between a number of other activities that arose over these past few weeks.

The split drive had us stay overnight in Regina.  There we visited with relatives from Cynthia’s side.  The time together also included an early morning paper route before leaving for Winnipeg.

The drive back began early yesterday morning.  Last week we had a request to stop in at my sister’s for a Thanksgiving meal.  Although an hour extra driving, we wanted to honor this request.  At noon we stopped in Regina once again, and visited with Cynthia’s relatives.  We were soon on the way to a turkey dinner scheduled for 3:00, at my sister’s.  After a time of visiting there we headed back to Kindersley. 

2,100 kilometers covered and lots of visiting sandwiched in!!  A true thanksgiving weekend.

I find it interesting.

On Monday night, 0ur town dump flared up.  Flames could be seen shooting 20 feet (7 meters?) into the sky.  We were oblivious to the catastrophe until the morning.  We opened our window (yes, it is getting cold here) and soon wondered if we had an electrical fire had erupted in the house.

As the day progressed, various bulletins let us know that the fire was contained, we were in a local state of emergency, and that the waste management center was closed.

A thick blanket of smoke were seen earlier in the day.  With the direction the wind was blowing, parts of the town did not even know that the dump was on fire.  Rumours soon clouded the town – almost as thick as the smoke itself!

As the day ended plans were still being put into place.  Provincial assistance had arrived.  The fire was contained.  Now what?

One of the greatest fears is toxic smoke.  Not flames and spreading fire.  But smoke.  Filled with particles of poison.  Able to float into the least likely places.

  Which is more deadly – the fire or the smoke?

I used to say – where this is smoke there is fire.  I think I will revise that – where there is a fire there is smoke. 

Yesterday was a partial work day and a partial home day.

The work part encompassed two meetings.  One with staff, another with a ministry area of the church. 

At home, we moved towards one of the areas that has been on my mind – the fulness of our garage.  We had previously stacked a number of items there as we amalgamated our households.  And “garage creep” also meant that the area became the default for anything that we were unsure of keeping or using.

Yesterday we both spent time in the garage.  Other duties were left behind.

Salvation Army items were disbursed, old electronics taken to a recycle area and other garbage taken to the waste site.  Fortunately, we had also heard of someone who was moving to town who needed furnishings.  Extras were donated to them.

At the end of the day we opened the door to the garage.  We both could see the far wall, and open floor space. 

Perhaps life just needs time to get to the things that need done.  Not that we forget about the piles that exist, just that we await the right timing. 

The part I’m working on is finding God’s timing and not my own timing.  I suppose that’s where planning, strategizing and plotting meet peace, joy, and love.  We need to develop a spirit of the future that is not overwhelmed by worry and fear but rather by excitement and anticipation.

Not saying I’m there yet – but I’m headed that direction.

Over this past few weeks I have shared preaching with two other young men.  The series has been on Galatians.  The material has not been unusual.  The process has been.

A solo pastor, or pastor of preaching, can set up and run their own system.  In some ways this is much easier.  Week by week you adjust and set aside and add as needed.

In this case, we have all accepted assignments.  Specific passages have been doled out.

We also decided to work with the other’s work in mind.   In order to create a flow in the preaching, this has required additional work.   I have listened to the sermons of each week, and thought on them with greater intensity week by week.

This has not been a bad thing.  In fact, I would dare to say that this has increased my understanding of Galatians.  This has also increased my appreciation for the work that the others have put into this series.

And now, after thanksgiving we will begin a new preaching series.  I have this funny feeling I will again be challenged!

Indeed – this has been a good thing!