daily life as life goes on . . .

Well, Waskesiu was still there (for the 17 hours we spent there!).

We arrived to beautiful, clear skies.  A walk on the causeway (such a great name for about 50 meters of cement jutting into the lake), and a chat with our daughter.  It’s all good.

Next morning was overcast and rain.  Dismal and dreary.  Most of the weekend retreaters were gone from Waskesiu by noon.  We were gone at 1:00 after lunch with our daughter.

On the way home I was thinking about all the people I have worked with over the years.  A big picture idea popped into my head.  My wife poked a few holes in the bubble.  I’ll see if I can’t patch it up and let you know what the balloon would actually look like!

A few weeks ago I asked a number of people to join me.

Not for the fun of it  —  not for fame — not even for fortune!

When I was around 16, I started to memorize a book .  Thankfully it was not a John Grisham novel of multiple pages and varied twists and turns.  This book was 4 chapters and one main theme.  “Jesus in Me” (JIM).  Someone has already guessed the biblical book of Philippians.

35 years later I’m still trying to digest what I was memorizing.  I decided to see if others were in the same boat.  Until the end of December I asked them to row along with me.  Asking themselves what it meant to have “Jesus In Me”.

Every minute of every day.  I’ve wonder how that looks when they are eating cheesecake.  Or while they are weeding the garden, grumbling “Is this Jesus in me?”

I’m trying to watch less TV (although my wife can attest that I struggle with this area – my thorn in the flesh, or is that prickle in the eye!).  I’m trying to balance people interactions with an eye to being a servant more than needing my own space.  And daily I’m finding new approaches.

For the last few weeks I have handed out a weekly reminder.  This week I’ll start sending out weekly emails.  Would you like to join me?  If so, leave a comment or contact me.

As a pastor, sometimes I forget about long weekends.

Particularly this time of year.  Your head is geared to fall program startups.  Your heart is with those who have returned from a summer away.  And your spirit is refreshed (well, usually).

So I almost missed this coming weekend. 

My wife has had to remind me – more than once – that we are headed up to see our daughter in Waskesiu.  So Sunday after church we pop into the car (with $1.19 per liter gas in the tank) and venture out.  We hope to be back Monday evening. 

Short, but we expect to have a good time.  Our daughter is pregnant and this is the first time we will see her in a few months.  My sister visited her last week and said she is looking “pretty”.   I’ve always believed that, but at seven months pregnant I seldom hear that term used!  Looking forward to seeing her.

Yesterday I met with a few but visited hundreds.

The first contact was a home town boy.  He was in town on a courtesy call – part of his job.  On the way to Luseland, just an hour up the road.  We began to talk of connections he had in Kindersley.  The high school class that had reunions and cruise ship trips.  The church friends from years ago.  Gone in 1966 he has never really left.

The second contact brought a story of a relationship from our recent past.  A network of people rearranged by infidelity.  He came to talk because of my intersection over the past few years with some of these people.  He was new to the network – placed there in part because of his job.

The third contact was a family.  About to leave town.  Here for supper.  In the morning, a rental moving truck had been brought from Saskatoon.  Now, we provided a meal on their last night here.  Friends would meet with them tomorrow to load.  And new friends would become a part of their lives in a new part of the world tomorrow.

Someone has said that when you know six people in an extended network, you know the world.  I guess I’m halfway there!