"I'm what the world considers to be a phenomenally successful man. And I've failed much more than I've succeeded. And each time I fail, I get my people together, and I say, "Where are we going?" And it starts to get better." - Calvin Trager
Thursday, February 12, 2004 I'm finding it more difficult to find time to post than I thought it would be (probably should try writing shorter ... tough for me).
My spiritual life has been suffering since I've been on sabbatical -- something I should have seen coming but really has caught me a liittle by surprise. Somehow I figured that the extra time to pray, read, reflect, etc. would allow me to reconnect in ways I had been unable to. Two problems with that. First, that "extra time" doesn't really exist! Being a full-time dad pretty much takes all my time. It's great, but there isn't a lot more time available. Second ... and this is the piece I should have seen coming better ... so much of my experience of Christ comes through my community -- particularly in worship -- and being cut off from that community means more than just missing people.
Of course every problem is an opportunity. In this case, an opportunity to seek Christ more deeply in relationships like my family, and in new places.
I imagine our seniors might be experiencing some anxiety or dread over the kind of separation I'm experiencing this semester. It's definitely tough being away ... but every problem is an opportunity. And every time we meet Christ in a different place, we get a new experience of the divine and that changes us. And what could be better than that?
EGR resources and connects the church to embrace what one person, one congregation, one diocese and one church can do to make this mission of global reconciliation happen.
Want to find out more ... check our our website at www.e4gr.org.
"Christ's example is being
demeaned by the church if they ignore the new leprosy,
which is AIDS. The church is the sleeping giant here.
If it wakes up to what's really going on in the rest
of the world, it has a real role to play. If it doesn't,
it will be irrelevant."
- Bono