We’re in a heat wave, folks. I know this is news to no one.
I know it’s summer, it’s supposed to be hot. I still dislike it; I do not tolerate heat well.
I’m back to carrying a bandana wherever I go. Yesterday I forgot to put a clean one in my purse, and used paper napkins from the funeral home to blot my face during the funeral in the un-air-conditioned church.
People are actually really understanding, however. I felt bad that I did not wear an alb or stole, a garment symbolic of baptism and discipleship, but no one thought less of me for presiding in my shirtsleeves.
Because it was too. darn. hot.
I envy pastors of previous generations, I guess I’m talking about the glory days of Christendom, who knew the families of those they buried. I wonder what it was really like. It’s to be expected that I didn’t know the family of yesterday’s funeral; I was filling in for an out-of-town colleague. They were a sweet family, I really enjoyed getting to know them while planning the service. But it’s bittersweet; I’ll never see those folks again.
It’s ok, doing such a funeral is pure ministry. It’s not about me but simply linking God into the process of saying goodbye. But of course part of me wishes it was the beginning of a relationship, instead of a moment in time.
Last Sunday’s sermon included some musing on time, courtesy of Ephesians and this great blog post by Katie Munnik. The idea of God revealing the mystery in the fullness of time, the idea that God holds past, present, and future together all at once, is amazing to me. The truth that God has chosen us, is gathering us into that fullness of time, is beautiful to me.
On the one hand, I have no desire to be traveling to New Orleans in July to be with tens of thousands of people, working 18-hour days in stifling heat and humidity. On the other, I’m a little jealous of my colleagues who are shepherding their youth to this life-changing event.
Fiona Apple has a new album out this summer, which I just discovered and downloaded yesterday. It’s good. I missed her in Grand Rapids by a week; considering making a road trip to Ohio in September to catch another leg of her tour.
Off to translate this week’s Ephesians text. After ten-plus years of mostly preaching on the gospel, other texts are speaking to me. Grateful for the way the bible continually has new insights to reveal (I believe this is a Spirit-led process). As Mark Powell said back in the Mark class I took, my first semester at Trinity: when you ask new questions, you get new answers.
