there isn't anyone out there who isn't Seymour's fat lady

pear trees in bloom, daffodils lifting their sunny faces, a much-needed slow office day, welty's existential courage, salinger's religion, and rest.

remember, rejoice, repeat

remember again that the mountains really are just 20 short minutes away, roadtripping with youth singing in full voice, hugs from friends, early morning bible study and the people who wake up early to make it, nostalgia, the energy of college kids, seeing old friends and making a bunch of new ones, watching my youth be front row instigators, good brethren preaching, and reminders of what it is I hoped this would be.

in like a lamb on drugs

all the moms on my facebook friend list who respond immediately to my public facebook whining with motherly assurances and comfort, sunshine and thunderstorm, lunch with the chatty retirees, examples of patience in the face of bad news, and bradford pears bursting into bloom.

blergh

a job that only requires a text message or two to stay home sick, parents who answer their phones and are perfectly happy to entertain the inevitable whining of a pitifully ill adult daughter, blessed sleep in my own giant bed, netflix, novels, and slowing down.

tune my heart to sing thy grace

coming home after a week away to friendly cousin faces lounging in my living room, waking up to eric and alec's full steam ahead morning excitement, apples to apples before 9am, classy bowling alley shoes and snacks, trisha's incredible peanut butter brownie torte, running into church people all over town, the acoustics of the hylton's concert hall, joseph martin's piano arrangement of come thou fount played live, over a hundred voices singing spirituals, meredith's cultural connections and generous invitations, and packing so much delight into a single day.

retreat!

gathering a gaggle of BVSers in ORD, making the rounds in the Elgin offices and catching up with a bunch of friends, german laughter and irish accents, reading by the fireplace on a blustery march day in illinois, stories of transformation, henri nouwen, naming the saints, barbara brown taylor, singing a capella, s'mores and campfires, affirmations from dan, hugs from cal and kendra, and continued invitations to be part and parcel of these people's lives - good, bad, and everything in between.

funeral punch

cathartic cleaning, bacon egg and cheese, a long and spirited funeral leaving me with a vivid picture of a beloved woman i never met, wine + cheeses, jess' eggplant parmigiana, and good food and good conversation with some new good people.

weekending

starting the day off with a trip to the gym, divining the classic church lady sherbet reception punch, loitering in the charming used bookstore downtown full of nooks and crannies and towering shelves, splurging on a stack of used books at the not-so-charming but handsomely staffed and very well stocked bookstore out in the strip malls, reading and writing and catching up on conversation, and the first real day off in several long weeks.

practice the practice

Here's the thing, of late: There is too much, of everything. Too much to like and too much to hate and too many moments to properly sift through. So I'm teaching the Examen to a whole new gaggle of people, telling the stories of how I stumbled into this practice out of complete accident and then kept at it, and meanwhile completely neglecting to actually practice the practice myself. Of course there are confidentiality considerations, and a newfound regard for personal privacy, too, but nonetheless. Renewed commitment! Examining, daily.

First up, this day.

I like today because of...

the ways the internet allows us to connect and share stories and encouragement, a new green cardigan, worshipping with the community on lenten wednesdays, talking theology, getting invited into people's lives, a dozen lively jr. highs at youth RAP, beth(any)'s straight up offer to host a vent session, and rain on the roof of my house.

what a weekend

a constant stream of visitors during homeless night - keeping us occupied and donating food for SERVE, industrious fort builders, sleeping outside cocooned in blankets, donuts and coffee brought by a blessed mom in the morning, returning to my warm bed, the interrupters, entering the lenten season with confession and prayer and silence, sitting in worship with a 6th grader (reading the scripture on her KJV ipod app, answering questions about communion and liturgy, giggling a little and wondering a lot), a bunch of jr. highs running through the mall on a scavenger hunt, sunday afternoon post + latte ritual, and talking fasting with the youth.