Further Musings

Last week a friend of mine submitted his dissertation.  I asked him if I could read the acknowledgements and dedication section as they are the place where you reflect on the struggle of the last eight years of bleary, demeaning, and demanding graduate school.  It’s a thankful testimony of all the people who walked through this unique stage of life with you.  I clearly remember the emotion of writing my own.  My friend’s dedication made me cry.  A true testimony to the power of Christ in the world.

This prayer was posted over the toilet in the house we ate in last night.  It’s an ironic name given that only men notice it there.

That said, it seems blessedly wise to me.  It may be particularly useful to someone who is paid to know things and tempted to prattle on about them.

I may print out a copy for my office.

Seventeenth Century Nun’s Prayer

Lord, You know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occassion. Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody. Helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but You know, Lord, I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the endless recital of details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others’ pains, but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occassionally, I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint – some of them are so hard to live with. But a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, Lord, the grace to tell them so.

Amen

Last week we traveled to Arkansas to attend the wedding of two of our favorite people.  It was lovely to have so many CH friends there.  It was nearly three consecutive days of laughter and joy.  Loved it.

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A week from today we’ll be sitting in our new house in Greenville, SC.  Our house is mostly bare walls and cardboard boxes at this point.  Last week was a long string of last visits to friends houses.

Yesterday the church threw us a goodbye party, complete with Cosmic burritos with as the brunch fare.  The floor was covered in brown paper with questions for people to check off.

1. I own something one of the P’s made.
2. I’ve dropped in on the P’s.
3. I’ve eaten Cosmic burritos with the P’s.
4. I’ve played a sport with the P’s.
5. I’ve tried a new food/drink/restaurant with the P’s.
6. I’ve resolved to be more like the P’s.
7. I’ve shared a holiday with the P’s.
8. I have something I need to return to the P’s.
9. I’ve borrowed the P’s vehicle.
10. I own something that once belonged to the P’s.
11. I’ve prayed with/for a P.
12. I’ve talked finance with a P.
13. I’ve cried with a P.
14. I’ve been momentarily stuck in the P’s bathroom.
15. The P’s have kicked me out so they can sleep.
16. I intend to visit the P’s in Greenville.

Thankfully #11 narrowly won out over #14.  Twas a fun and sweet way celebrate/document our time here.

Church will be hard tonight.

This is definitely happening.

The NY Times Magazine is running a long article this week covering the debate about how therapists should and do counsel evangelicals with homosexual desires.  It’s a pretty interesting look at how a secular profession devoted to helping people achieve their own goals engages with evangelicals who don’t want to embrace a gay identity.  Very interesting.

Not so interested in discussing it on the blog but would love some conversation over coffee or a meal about it.

Ever seen a monstera before?  The wife of our most recent pastoral candidate brought one for us from South Florida as a thank you gift for our hosting her and her husband for a couple of nights.  It tasted like a cross between a pineapple and a banana.

I’m guessing the reason they aren’t sold commercially is that only about an inch is ready to eat each day.  The green covering explodes off and you eat the ripe inch underneath.  It is a little disconcerting to have a third eaten, third ripened, third unripe piece of fruit on the table day after day.  It’s like having green bananas and ripe bananas at the same time on the same bunch.

A very strange gift.  I liked it.  Infinitely more interesting than a knickknack.

We also like them and our new pastor is scheduled to start in two weeks.  Praise God!

Apologies to those of you that still check here manually.  I can imagine you get frustrated stopping by so often with nothing new posted.  I am still alive.

I was disc golfing today and asked the guy I was playing with what some of his goals for this year are.  Blogging more often is one of mine.  I miss it.

Here’s a shot from a friend’s wedding this summer.  Thought it might be a nice way to start back in a bit.  I really love this photo.

Tonight I’m thankful.

I just finished dinner with a friend who I’ve met with weekly for the last year.  He is newly-wed and on his way to graduate school.  It’s been a joy to watch God work on him, bringing him joy, repentance and real growth.  I’m full of praises to God for all the good things I’ve seen happen in his life.

I’ve never been involved in a discipleship type relationship before.  I feel humbled and grateful for this one which was a joy to be in.  It’s not often I am so consciousness of the Spirit’s work.  Tis awing to behold.

I feel like I say it a lot these days but he’ll be very much missed.

This weekend we bid an early goodbye to yet another Chapel Hill community stalwart.  After enumerable breakfasts at Weaver Street and a constant supply of wry jokes, we’re losing him to a counseling program.

Though from these pictures you might say we frightened him into it.  At the very least we’ve given him ammo for lots of examples in his classes.

You’ll be very much missed my friend.

I like how I didn’t even make it in this last one.

Here’s my connection to fame.  I don’t like this dog but I do know it.

Warmth.  Shelter.  Undemanding hospitality.  Exhausted students sheltering in another’s home.  Praise God.

Chilly, hard but very much worth doing.

You know you’re old when a 23-year-old approaches you at church, mentions that he’s interested in cross-generational friendships, and finally realize that he means you.

Two friends had an unusual one year wedding celebration.  Some of the best pictures I’ve ever seen. It’s a shame what happened to the dress but what a way to go!

For their wedding Drew wrote a song about sharing Wendys together.  Continuation of a theme eh?!

Earlier this week we had the C’s over.  The light on Kaelen’s eyes was pretty dramatic and she was a good sport about the shot.

Today in class I asked one of my students, who’s a local high school senior, if the architecture at their school is as brilliant as Kaelen’s sister describes it.  The class laughed when I said I had a good friend who was 15.  I think it less amusing than amazing.  I’m pretty thankful to have friends who are 15 years my junior.