SEVEN

H E A R I N G

S I L E N C E

God was not in the windstorm, nor the earthquake, nor the fire, but

in the still small voice.

Elijah was not able to hear God until it resounded

in the sound of sheer silence.

My extroverted friends go on about the value of silent retreats.

I've only been once, twenty years ago.

I found the excessive body language and note passing distracting.

This was not a silent retreat, but a week of work.

But I relished the quiet that accompanied the work.

The mind wandered:

into good and not-so-good places;

through reflection and creativity.

I don't think there was an A-ha! moment.

Other than it was quite obvious from time to time

that I was not alone in my thoughts.

From morning chapel to the quiet of my lopsided bed I was not alone.

Even in the drama of my dreams.

The sound of sheer silence:

the time when it is so silent I can hear.

EIGHT

H O L Y

N O W

It was odd!?

Prepping right up until the very last minute

(and a bit beyond) and still ... it felt lacking.

Not that what happened wasn't good;

it was "tov" - even "tov me-od"

very good, at times, very good.

Have you ever been rushed,

trying to fit it all in,

and discover that the rushing got in the way

of gettin' "it" done?

I could have added just four more clicks

(I should have seen that one coming)

and it would have had the chance to add a layered impact

But the busyness got in the way

and the words were on their own.

Then

Nervous

Encouraged

Graced

Enchanted

Holy Now

NINE

T H E

P L A N

I welcome this final week before structure returns.

Sometimes (a lot of times for me), structure is good.

Spontenatity takes work and patience.

It's not always for me.

Yet, as a minister,

I am in the business of mystery,

of uncertainty,

of faith.

Too much structure can block the Spirit.

But too much inattention can frustrate

my relationship with this Spirit.

So there's that word again: balance!

It keeps coming up,

even when I don't plan for it.

TEN

T H E

F O U R

R s

This was a enlightening week.

With four of the thirteen weeks gone

in this time of Rest, Reflection and Rejuvination,

I found myself Re-thinking.

This time could not simply be limited to my 'spare' time.

I needed to be away, even when I am still in town.

Good advice: take ownership of your sabbatical!

And it is good.

I've been retraining the finger; fighting a sinus blockage

trying to be ready Celebrate with song.

Jasmine is renewed and sounding great:

Well, that makes one of us!

I will be Ready;

I am being Renewed,

Refreshed,

Rejuvinated!

ELEVEN

R E S T F U L

W E E K

Sabbath

Without a schedule, things just happen

I rested, reflected, rejuvinated

Now and again, these opportunities arise

Every once and a while, time comes to us; not the other way around

For the next couple of weeks, it should be like this

Leading the puppy; following the puppy

Under it all is an excitement for things to come, and yet, today ...

Handshakes were optional, as was the bread and cup

One more news story reminds us of the drawbacks of togetherness

No relationship can escape vuleranility; this time is no different

One way or another we will get through this,

Eh?