The first few days of my sabbatical left me feeling dazed, confused and inadequate. By most standards, this wasn’t the ideal start to a time of rest, study and creativity. I guess I just needed to get it out of my system… or maybe into my system. Dazed, confused and inadequate are pretty good […]
Today I misread the parking signs around Grand Avenue over lunch and left with an obligatory contribution to the City of St. Paul. A parking ticket. I was careless. I was in a hurry. I deserved it. The police officer explained that the people who live in the apartments on either side of the street […]
I have a love-hate relationship with routine. In one sense, I love it. Routines help us get things done. In another sense, I don’t love it. Routines have to be done again, and again, and again. That’s what makes them routine… and also mundane. Add a few years and you have a genuine rut. Today the […]
The year was 2009, and I can remember the meeting vividly. The Leadership Team of our congregation passed a sabbatical policy for called staff. I felt it was a nice gesture but honestly had no intention of using it. I love my job. It doesn’t get much better than walking with people through the ups […]
Holiday travel time is upon us. Chances are at one point or another in the next month or so you will travel somewhere for an extended period of time. I know how it is with traveling. Packing is the worst part. As my family has grown through the years, it has gotten rather ridiculous. How […]
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 I like to think of myself as a calm, collected person living in the moment. That’s probably because it’s not so true. I have battled anxiety for as long as I can remember. […]
When I was in college I took music composition lessons with a seasoned composition professor. He was the most patient and loving man, and truly wanted all of his students to succeed. One day I brought in a new choral piece. It was a dynamite dazzling gift to the choral world. I proudly brought it […]
Over the last two years, God has led me on a journey of deepening my discipleship. By his grace, the beautiful simplicity of Jesus’ teachings has been revealed and rooted in me. As I listened to Jesus, a marvelous picture of the Christian church became clearer and clearer. Unfortunately when I looked at the broader […]
If you are anything like me, you like to have control of your environment. Whether it’s for security or efficiency or necessity, we typically like to keep things in line and have some idea about what’s going to happen in the future. We make strategic plans and organizational charts. We have insurance policies and contingency […]
“Where do I belong?” For a long time, this question was answered for people before it was asked. For so many, the hometown, the family business, the traditions of the culture made the question of belonging a non-issue. But things changed as mobility, education and communication advanced. The question of belonging became more of an […]
