Some days I think I might have a pretty good idea of what it’s like to live in an environment where it seems your world is spinning faster and faster and you can’t keep up. Or where you are one of the puppets in the puppet theater and the puppet master is having a hey-day trying out new scenarios and skits. Or where someone else is calling the shots and you’re doing your best to dodge the bullets.
It has seemed to me for eighteen months or so that Mr. Pat and I have been living our lives from one day to the next, in a reactionary or responsive mode. There is a concussion, so there is a brain scan. There is something we didn’t expect to see, so there is an MRI. There is a brain tumor. It’s cancer. So there is radiation and chemotherapy. And more MRIs. The specialists suggest what works best, and we follow their lead. Trusting, knowing, they wouldn’t steer us wrong. Talk about feeling at the mercy of others. Talk about feeling out of control. And helpless. Or losing energy. And compassion. Some days it is really hard to put on my game face and go out and slay the dragons. Or set aside my own what-ifs in order to help another find their hope. But I think we may be experiencing a shift in the wind. It’s beginning to seem that we are less reactionary and are instead more forward thinking. We are asking questions of ourselves and others. We are remembering many fond memories and are making more. We are again, after eighteen months, able to make some plans for the future. We have again found some peace. I cannot tell you why this is, only that it is. I am once again able to breathe in deeply. And exhale fully. And I am grateful. Grace and peace … --Pastor Pat
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Last week we had our Blessing of the Backpacks and Book Bags during worship. While preparing for worship, I came across a “video meditation” offered by United Methodist Communications. You may enjoy it also at www.umc.org/what-we-believe/united-methodist-back-to-school-blessing. Here’s the blessing used in the video.
Back-to-School Blessing
Guide my spirit deep within. Help me think and help me play, This whole school year, day by day. As I move from class to class, Guide my footsteps; clear my path. Keep my tongue to speak your words. Let your will for me be heard. In every subject high or low, May God's excellence be shown! Keep me strong to reach the prize, To grow in grace, becoming wise. Whether far from home or near, May I hold God's precepts dear. To do my best at every task; For this blessing, I do ask. Help my family be a part As I lift my mind and heart. As I study, work, and pray, Be with them throughout the day. Of whom much is given, much is required. May learning be your greatest desire! Grace and peace … --Pastor Pat A year ago, Mom asked us four kids if we would help her host her family’s reunion. She had just returned from attending the Kaenel family reunion that her brother and sister-in-law had hosted in Minnesota. Our answer? Sure, and how would you like us to help?
Having worked in the food industry for much of the past two decades, Mom wanted to provide the food and make much of it herself. The guys would be in charge of the meat and baked beans. The gals would make potato salad, macaroni salad, chocolate sheet cake, and anything else deemed necessary. And the big day would be the first Saturday in August. Two to three weeks prior to the big day, my sister and niece went shopping for groceries and supplies. And two days prior, the food prep began. Thursday was potato salad day. Friday was macaroni salad and cakes day, along with setting up tables and chairs and decorating the venue. And then it was Saturday! Time to welcome and get acquainted or reacquainted with family from towns and cities in Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, and Virginia. Time to share photos and memories, laughter and life. Time to determine who has their dad’s eyes, or their mom’s smile, or which cousins have Grandma’s eyebrows or Grandpa’s hairline or nose. And before we knew it, it was time to say, “See you next year in Missouri!” And to thank Linda and her husband Mike for inviting us all to reunion in their neck of the woods. I’m not sure how it happened but there was a LOT of food left … I mean, a LOT of food left! I think Mom was happy to be able to share the extra food with her family. The next day during worship as we celebrated the Lord’s Supper, I couldn’t help but wonder … could sharing the reunion food with family be anything like when we feast at Christ’s heavenly banquet? I mean, doesn’t it make sense that the banquet food Christ serves abundantly would be our favorite foods? Just like our moms would make? Grace and peace … --Pastor Pat A couple of weeks ago I was invited to Schuyler, Nebraska, to pray and offer a blessing at a very special ceremony. On July 19th was held the groundbreaking for the Habitat for Humanity house being built with family partner, and soon to be homeowner, Yessica Marino.
Many times I pray spontaneously, and my sending forth blessing was spontaneous and celebratory! But for the main prayer of this special occasion … in order to capture the fullness of its significance … I wrote my prayer. After the groundbreaking ceremony, I read the prayer again and recognized that, except for a couple of specific references and changes in tense, it could be a pastoral prayer offered during worship. To be clear, some phrasing was suggested by Habitat for Humanity, but those who know me will hear my phrasing, my voice, as well. Gracious and loving God, Creator of All, Giver of all that is good, You have linked our lives so that all we do affects one another. You have caused people of faith to ask you, O God, “How can we help? What would you have us do?” And you, O God, cast your vision. And you, O God, brought people together. And you, O God, guided your people in your good work. Continue to guide the good work that will be done in this place. Strengthen our efforts to build adequate and affordable homes. To blot out ignorance and prejudice. To bring community together. To bring hope to all who see this work, your good work. In the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, May it be so. Grace and peace … --Pastor Pat |
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