You Asked for it...

Orangeblossoms tagged me with this while I was away...so here goes:
Breakfast Items That Are Critical To My Happiness:
One word: COFFEE.
not just any coffee...rich, dark coffee preferably from a french press (or aero-press, an easier version of the french press) or espresso.
I do love breakfast foods--pancakes, eggs, cereal, etc. but critical is the word--the world would end if I did not have coffee every morning... no joke!
People I Would Most Like to Share a Table With On a Cruise:
Joel, of course...that's because I like to share a table with him as much as I can. :)
Then I'd have to say friends, as I never seem to get enough quality meal time with my friends!
Rudest Thing Said To Me This Week:
That's tough....I've been home with a cold most of the week, so I have not had that many rude comments...now the two weeks' prior proved plenty of rude comments...
Rudest Thing Done To Me This Week:
See above...
Jobs That Have Made Me Go, "Huh?"
Lately it's been police officers assigned to airport restrooms.
Jobs I Have Had That Concerned and/or Confused My Mother:
None. I've actually had jobs she's supported.
Favorite Curse Words That I Can Use In Front of Children Without Too Much Fear of Repercussion:
This is a tough one... I guess frick and snap sum it up. This of course means I censored myself.
Curse Word That I Use Most Frequently After Leaving the Children:
Those who know me, know I like variety. :)
Most Honest Bumper Sticker I've Ever Seen:
Snape was framed.
Changes I Would Make If Money Were No Object:
working to end poverty and care for those dealing with pandemics like AIDS would be to the top...caring for the environment would be next...giving my friend Nicole a whole chunk of money for her church...endowing my church with money to pay for apportionments for the next 100 years...
then I would travel, and do some fun stuff with Joel.
Favorite Piece of Technology:
I love technology-- so tie with lots of things: wifi laptop, tivo, ipod, ps3/psp, treo...the list could go on...

Orangeblossoms--this is not very clever--I blame the cold medicine.

I'm tagging Karen, Molly, and Nicole.

Made me laugh this morning

As I return to the natural rhythm of life at home, mornings often bring the practice of drinking coffee and reading the paper. As I opened to read the funnies this morning, I glanced at my horoscope, purely for fun.... and this is what today's said: (from the LA Times)
"Not everybody wants to change the world. So when you declare your own personal revolution, don't be offended if all you get is foggy looks."
If only! Ha!

35

me. today.
no longer statistically "young."
yet, young in terms of the Church.
still a voice for the young ones!

Strength for the Journey

Last week I helped lead a spiritual retreat for adults living with HIV/AIDS called, Strength for the Journey. My husband is one of the original founders of this particular retreat, having started it with his mother fifteen years ago. It was my ninth retreat. By now, I know that if you set the table, they will be transformed by God's love and grace. And that certainly happened again this year. So many things caught my attention as I listened this week to the many stories I heard. A young man diagnosed in March, learning he is not alone. A man diagnosed in 1984 who is not only healthy, but a leader in the AIDS community. A camper who struggled all week with another camper asking forgiveness for misjudging the other. Support for those looking to move beyond isolation into community. Community to deal with addiction, identity, uncertainty. And the fact that our rule of life is founded in play and laughter! So many gifts, in the midst of 116 personalities colliding together all week...
I am grateful to the staff and the campers who helped me to see Christ in a new light this past week. It certainly will help me as I spend the week at the Academy for the last time...

Great Quotes....

I was listening to an emergent podcast with Diana Butler Bass (one of our speakers as I mentioned, at the last Lewis Fellows meeting--here are a couple of things she said that caught my attention...
She ended her talk by quoting from Margaret Wheatley's book, Findng Our Way, (I admit I have not read it). Wheatley quoted an East German dissident who said, "When the forms of an old culture are dying, the new culture is created by a few people who are not afraid to be insecure." Diana Butler Bass followed this by saying, "If you feel insecure, that is the ground of hope in a time when a culture is dying." You can listen to this podcast by visiting the emergent village website.

Resurfacing....

I'm just back from a nice vacation....sorry for the absence from the blogosphere! (But not really, it was amazing to have about three weeks with limited or no internet access!)
I had a great trip to Baltimore the middle of July to meet with the Lewis Fellows. We had some terrific seminar time, talking about spiritual formation with Canon Eugene Sutton from the National Cathedral and talking about the vital mainstream church with sociologist/church historian Diana Butler Bass. It is exciting to work with and get to know other young clergy from across the nation as well-- I am inspired and amazed by the incredible work they are doing in their ministry contexts.
Joel and I had two days between our Baltimore trip and heading to Kauai for rest and fun. It is a beautiful island-- and our trip gave me a chance to re-charge my batteries and play.
The work of a pastor is demanding and stressful-- at times it truly feels like we are living the "lambs being sent into a pack of wolves" as Jesus describes in Luke chapter 10. Other times, the rhythm and the beauty of working in the local church moves me and humbles me. Because our work is intense, I appreciate the sabbath time I get-- it pulls me out of focus for awhile, and allows me to connect with creation in a whole other way. Of course, the time I get with Joel to play and focus elsewhere is a true gift in and of itself.
Work hard and play hard. Surely that must be one of the Benedictine rules, right?
If it is not, when I start my own spiritual order, that'll definitely be one of the top rules!
On another front, I'm excited to share that the system did finally come through for my friend-- she will be in the missionary class heading for training in September! Hooray Krista!