They did call and ask if I wanted to cancel, but I remembered my seminary days, and was never deterred by weather, so I decided that I would at least make my best effort to be there.
The first memory was of those seminary-driving years. For six years, I traveled 200 miles (100 miles one way) to seminary in all kinds of weather. Never in all those years did I not make it. (though I did get there once and they had closed!!). I discovered that if I allow myself plenty of driving time and drive slowly, I could usually get most anywhere, and that was my theory today. Because the conditions were so poor, I did not want to drive much over 30 mph. The frustration comes when there are big pick up trucks behind you, impatient.
But I made it there just fine, despite the poor conditions. And that's when I was hit with all the memories of my very fruitful, very active, very exciting years in that church as pastor. They were good years. Our daughter went to high school there, so we were super involved in everything in the church and in the community--sports, concerts, school board, etc. Being inside the church made me remember so many special occasions of worship, baptisms, meals, conflicts, funerals, relationships, etc.
I wish I had known what kind of group it was. (my assumption of a book club was wrong). It was in fact, just a bunch of people from the church, mostly couples, who get together for lunch once a month. Had I known, Gerry would really have enjoyed being there. But he did enjoy the new six inches of powder on the slopes.
I said that I was delighted and surprised by the invitation. I had assumed that all my book talks were over, as I did many of those last year. One friend commented, "Well, it takes another year for most news to make it to Moravia."
And I do suspect that there is some truth to that.
 |
| This is what my view looked like most of the time. |
No comments:
Post a Comment