An Interim Ends

Every time that I have been "called to serve" since retiring,  I have strongly believed that to be God's doing.  I have had four interim opportunities in the past four years.   I have always expected each time, that it will be the last, and indeed,  that could certainly be the case.

This time, I have preached for the past three months, filling in between the last pastor, and the next Interim, who arrives tomorrow.   Those weeks included Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter.  It also included Pentecost Sunday and Mother's Day, all of which are some of my favorite occasions for leading worship.   I have served this congregation before, so there is a very special connection there.   They had a specific need, and I suppose, so did I.   My time there these months fulfilled both my need to preach occasionally, and their need for a temporary pastor.

 For me, the good part about doing interim ministry, and having an end-date, is that it keeps me from emotionally and spiritually taking on the full load of responsibility.  While I might not have been entirely ready to give up preaching,  I definitely was and am ready to give up being the pastor in charge.

So, today, I could step away with gratitude, and without sadness.  I believe they will be in good hands.

It has been a long and arduous journey getting to this point--where I am at peace, and have no unfulfilled ambitions, or burning needs to accomplish. Contentment is a very very good place to be.  I highly recommend it.

This is not to say that I do not have goals;  indeed I do.   It is just that they are smaller, and less compelling, and pressing.  Mostly they have to do with doing things that bring me joy.

Learning to live in the present moment is a big part of serenity.

At certain moments,  serenity is mine!

Garden Battle Revisited

These plants were supposed to be cucumbers, climbing up the black iron trellis.  But alas, the critter is back.  My guess is that it is a woodchuck, though I haven't actually seen it.  It's hard to imagine that it could be the exact same one, because we trapped and transferred that woodchuck ten miles away.  But the hole under the sun room is dug out in exactly the same spot as if the animal remembered from last year and came home.

When I first saw signs in my garden of the plants being eaten, I said, oh well,  I'll just plant flowers, so I went out and bought some marigold-looking flowers. (couldn't find any actual marigolds).  And the next day, the tops of the flowers were gone.  It ate my flowers.

I should just give up on gardening, except for tomatoes.  There don't seem to be any animals that will eat the tomato plants.  At least there is something that I can grow.

For the past few years,  the critter ate off my climatis plant when it first put up shoots from the ground.   In fact, up until this year, I have never even seen any blossoms on that plant.  Perhaps because of the late arrival of the woodchuck  (who after all had to travel ten miles),  the plant got a good headstart and is now producing flowers.

I live in a residential area with lots of houses.  I would not expect for there to be deer, woodchuck, rabbits, etc.    But they are around, and seem to prevail in my garden battle.

On the positive side, we do have a rambling rose bush planted just a year or two ago, which has increased in volume tenfold.

And the trees are growing enough to provide just enough shade to sit under.

Birthday Week

Opening Night of Grease

I really do like to stretch my birthday celebrations out as long as possible.   We had a family gathering early in June, because that's when V&M were home, but that was a bit early, for both Father's Day and my birthday, so further celebration was called for.

If hubby and I are going out for a celebration, I actually prefer to do that at lunch, rather than in the evening.  We went to a nice, very fancy, upscale restaurant in Ithaca the day before my birthday.  I do, once in a great while, like to pretend to be among the privileged and affluent, though most of the time our lifestyle is not at all like that.  I just like to occasionally pretend.

Then on the actual day of my birthday,  I got lots of Facebook greetings, and lots of wonderful cards in the mail.    Oh yes,  I opted for a piece of birthday cake, rather than a whole cake.  On Monday, I found a beautiful piece of coconut cake at Wegmans, and had a celebration with that.  It was very delicious.  And now I'm not tempted with all the rest of the cake!

Last night (birthday evening), we went to a production of Grease, the musical.  I didn't realize it until we got there, but our seats were on the front row, floor level.  The play's action took place on the same floor level, not more than two or three feet in front of us, literally!  Neither of us remember seeing Grease on stage.  Of course, we have both seen it in a movie.  It was a rousing, lively, most entertaining production.   Gerry especially enjoyed it, as the story was set in the fifties, and he recognized the music, and could even follow the dialogue!

Monday night I am having a "girls night out" with the daughters who live in the area  (all but one, who doesn't)   Everyone is excited about going to Just A Taste, a restaurant that specializes in tapas, a kind of Spanish appetizer.

After Monday night's dinner outing,  I will declare my birthday officially over!   It's been a good one.  I guess I have to put it away for a while, and wait for the next one!

Happy Birthday to Me

Father's Day Special

I could not be more blessed when it comes to the "father" in our family.   The person to whom I refer is, of course, my husband Gerry.

When we married many years ago,  he had already raised his first family, three children.  Yet, he was willing to take on the task of raising three more, to take a chance on love! I was a single parent who had three young children when we met and married.   I don't think I ever really expected that any man, especially a good man, much less a great man, would be interested in that particular responsibility  (and risk, I might add, as half of all second marriages end in divorce).

As if that were not enough,  he even showed a keen interest in having a child with me, something I had never considered.   And had it been anyone else but Gerry, I probably never would have agreed! [we were both beyond the age!!]

 It wasn't that I had a need for more children.  But the one need I did have, the unfulfilled part of my own adult emotional life, was experiencing a man fulfilling the role of a caring, devoted father, and participating as full partners in parenting.  And indeed, that dream came true.

For quite a few years, Father's Day was a sad time, mostly about the father who had disappeared.  The healing is so complete now, that I rarely ever think about that sad reality any more.

Ours has been an incredible partnership, allowing both of us to be greater together than we might have been individually.   I believe that applies not just to our parenting, but also to our personhood.

Thank God for this special father I am privileged to have married!

Father's Day Special

Family Picnic

Sunday afternoon, we had a family picnic.  Cilla and Zanni were missing due to other plans, but everyone else was there.

What a full weekend it was!  Very early Saturday morning, Gerry and I went to the Cornell Alumni breakfast.  V&M were here for the weekend, also taking in all the alumni activities.  It was Vee's fifth reunion.  It seems that her class broke all records of having the most class members return for the reunion.  Impressive!  Daughter Brenda was celebrating her 20th!  It was her first time going to a reunion.

In the afternoon, off we went to Syracuse to enjoy the very spectacular Cirque du Soleil.  Sunday morning meant leading worship for two services, and rushing home to prepare for a family picnic.  Since we were on the go, I did not really have time to do any cooking preparations, so we just had hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, etc.  I did make a big pot of baked beans, which could stay in the oven all morning.

By early evening, I was exhausted.  So was Gerry, though he would never admit it.

Of course, we took lots of snapshots.   It was a very hot ninety degree day, so all of the photos were taken under this little tree, beneath the shade.

I especially loved a photo that Michelle showed me on her camera, and I asked her to send it.  Because I think it is so beautiful,  I am going to include it here,  without names, of course.

Daughter and Son-in-Law

I hope she doesn't mind!

Cirque: Dralion

I've always wanted to see Cirque du Soleil.  I've seen clips of it on TV, though I could not have described exactly what it is.   After seeing is this afternoon,  I'd say that it is modeled on the idea of a three ring circus.  I say that, because there seemed to be three things going on at the same time.

This version had a great deal of Asian influence  (dragons) and many Asian acrobats.  The acts were phenomenal.

They are hard to describe, so I am just going to list some of the great variety of entertainment categories that we experienced.  But first, let me say that I was very intrigued by the set-up, the staging.  Part of keeping the "three ring circle" going was possible because characters and dancers dropped down from the "space station",  a stage-contraption in the ceiling of the arena.   From time to time,  dancers or troops would emerge from openings in the floor of the stage.   There were group numbers, and occasionally one individual was featured.

A number of clowns worked the audience, and also tormented members of the audience with their antics.  They kept picking on one young man in the third row, dragging him up onto the stage and pulling all kinds of cruel tricks on him.  There were a number of those scenes that made me laugh out loud harder than I could remember doing in a very long time.  Eventually, after a long time,  it became obvious that the young man was not just random, but a part of the circus act.

In no particular order, the types of numbers included:

*acrobats swinging and looping and tumbling from those long silk sheets that drop down from the ceiling
*  a group of acrobats jumping rope, three levels high, pyramid style (actually standing on shoulders, and doing a group rope jump!!)
*a juggler who eventually got up to juggling with 8 balls
*tumblers diving through loops
*loop performers hanging from the ceiling, loop performers at floor level
*trampoline jumpers and wall climbers, jumping over, under, around one another at various levels
*a very limber female acrobat who held herself up with one arm and contorted her body in unbelievable ways
*tumblers and contortionists and dancers and singers and an orchestra

I did enjoy it very much.  Many of the performers and acts were just mesmerizing.   It is so hard to believe that all those people could do those things with their bodies  (and loops and ropes and strips of fabric, etc.)


It was a feast (an overstuffed feast) of sound and light and sight, color, music, drums.

Definitely worth the effort!!

Ladies Literary Lunch

The LLC (ladies literary club) held our end-of-the-year luncheon meeting.  It took place in an Art Gallery, so we were surrounded by lovely creations.  Hopefully, that made for some good pictures!  (thanks to NH)!

Part of the luncheon activity involves a "changing of the guard",  passing the gavel, or in this case, passing of the bell to the next president, and other officers.  I am the recording secretary for the upcoming season.  That will keep me busy.

In addition, I will also serve on the Archives Committee.  That committee reviews all the papers given over the course of the year  (approximately 25 or so)  and selects which ones will be added to the archives.   Only two are selected.    I am very thrilled to report that my paper was one of the two!   The title was "Psychology and Faith" and it was based on the book The Road Less Traveled by M.Scott Peck.  The theme for the year was to choose a book that was very influential, or a memorable book,  or a favorite book,  to provide an opportunity for the members to better get to know one another.    The parts of that book paralleled my own spiritual  and life journey.

The other paper was about a family's commitment to "Living the Good Life", or being responsible stewards of the land.  This family remodeled an old barn and grew much of their own food.  

The authors of both of those papers wove together the material in a book with the events in their lives.

I came home and wrote my first press release, which I just cut out of the paper. It seems to have been printed word for word.   I managed to stay within the word count limit.


We have off for the summer and do not meet again until the fall picnic in September.   The new program year has us exploring a variety of aspects of  'O, Canada'.

Senior Games

We are very fortunate that the Senior Games are held in Cortland.   We don't have to "commute" very far!   No doubt, people come from far distances to compete in their sport.  Ours is tennis.  This morning, Gerry played in singles.

Gerry Smiling Through the Fence

 This afternoon, we play mixed doubles.  I'm quite nervous about that.  When I agreed, it was only under the condition that the purpose is to participate, to have fun, without any pressure to win.  We are not in the league with the doubles competitors that come to the Senior Games.   Not that I won't give it my best shot.  I most certainly will.  It's just that 'my best shot' just isn't all that great!

The worst that can happen, I suppose, is feeling frustrated or disappointed.   We both have those feelings frequently, I am sure.   Though, honestly, we don't often have those feelings directed toward one another.  Oh, I know he won't yell at me.  He might shake his head a little bit from side to side.  But he will refrain from any snide comments.

I do enjoy playing doubles, and we don't get to do that together very often.  He plays with his senior men's group.  I play with my senior women's group, and once in a while, we get a chance to play on the same side of the net.

I am hoping for the best this afternoon. The very best would be to laugh a lot and get some really good exercise!!

Later......   Gerry was an absolute perfect gentleman  husband in our doubles match, especially compared to the husband part of the team we played against.  He was ragging on his wife the whole time  (and she was really an outstanding player!)  I knew I was lucky,  but their interaction reminded me just how much!!

What a good husband have I!!

Silver Medal

 

My Hero

I spent much of the day waiting for the delivery of the bicycle I bought for myself for my birthday.  Finally, at 4:30, it arrived.  I knew, of course, that it would have to be assembled.  I waited patiently while Gerry did the assembling in the garage,  trying not to get too anxious.  Finally,  I opened the door and noticed that there seemed to be a problem.  Gerry said that the piece that holds in the handlebars was defective, and the handlebars could not be bolted into place.

I felt like a ten year old kid who could barely keep from crying! I was so disappointed;  I couldn't wait to try it out!   We called the company. They said it might be ten days to get the replacement part.  Then Gerry had an idea for a temporary fix.  He got a C-Clamp and clamped the handlebars to the central piece where it was loose.  That did work!  It is, at least, ride-able!   I took it for a spin around the block.   It is an old-timey bike, without any hand brakes or gears,  just your most basic girl's bike!

A little while later,  Gerry said he had an idea for a little better fix.  He went down into the basement and got a long bolt.  I don't know if he drilled into the center piece or what, but he put that big bolt in there, and that will surely hold it in place, long beyond ten days!   He commented:  "Farm boys have to learn to improvise".

There have been many many occasions in these thirty years when I have been very grateful that I married a farm boy!  They do indeed know how to do most anything.  At least, this one does!  How lucky I am!!

Fifty Voices

On Sunday afternoon,   I accompanied the choir, visiting a retirement home.  We lead a worship service there once a month.  The turn-out is incredible.  Our choir is sometimes between fifteen to twenty members.  Then about twenty five residents come to the service.   My best estimate is there are at least fifty voices.

This time, the set up was a bit different, with the grand piano in the center of the room.   The chair circle in which the residents sat had to be built around it.   The piano, the pianist, and I, the speaker, found ourselves in the center of that circle.

The circle was not very far from the speaker and the piano.   Then we sang the first hymn.  I was completely overwhelmed.  The fifty voices were all singing directly toward me!  It was an incredible experience, and it is hard to explain what it felt like.   Clearly, it was totally different from the sounds of a congregation from the pulpit area.  I felt surrounded with sacred sound, enveloped, uplifted, enthralled, transcendent.

The residents were attentive,  the anthem was lively and got some of the folks moving and clapping.  It was/ is my last one of those services at this time, as my tenure as Interim/ Pulpit Supply ends at the end of this month.  I wanted to do something special for the closing.   So I did the signing motions to the song "Spirit of the Living God".  As one who does not have singing talent,   I do so love signing.

By the third worship service of the day,  I am usually rather exhausted.   But that one was so unique, that I will long remember being lifted up by fifty voices singing "Holy, Holy, Holy".  

That's exactly what it was!