Lenten Busy-ness:

an update.

As so often happens during Lent, life has gotten ridiculously busy. On the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula where I work, there is action everywhere. The rectory in Wiarton, where I currently (primarily) live has been listed for sale. This means Parker and I have to try and keep things tidy for viewing. Not easy to do in the spring time with a beagle who likes to walk and brings grit, sand and bits in with him every time we get home.

The cottage and church property at Sauble Beach has also been listed for sale. We are planning the deconsecration service for that location on May 12th, 2024 at 4pm. A particularly significant worship service, and a big undertaking of Spirit for those who have been faithful members of this community.

I’m preparing to move to my home in Tobermory. So there is a bunch of prep work going on there.

Planning for spring potlucks in Howdenvale.

Preparing for our PIP student.

Regular Sunday worship at two or three locations: Wiarton, Lion’s Head and Tobermory. Extra mid-week services in Lion’s Head.

All this is the busy work interleaved between caring for people, listening, being present, trying to keep learning and growing and being intentional about rest. For without the essential sabbath rest none of these things would be possible.

I’ve been thinking about my father a lot, and how he taught me to cultivate authenticity. More to come on that. A post prompted by the book study we are doing with our friends at Tobermory United Church, on Brene Brown’s “The Gifts of Imperfection.”

And this week, we will get caught up on two more segments from the series “Coming Home”, which was prepared for Lenten Studies in three forms: online, in-person over ecumenical lunches.

Like the beagle carrying bits of grit with him, I carry bits of all the activities and things going on - my mind and my heart are full to overflowing most of the time. It is chaotic.

I miss writing my stories and reflections - I feel the need to go off to a quiet place to pray - to write - for there is a backlog waiting to get written.

But this is how life is for now.

In between, there are some hikes and lovely pictures :)

Life is good.

The oscillation between intense busy and deep, sabbath rest.

All this busy-ness will soon come to a head:

as Jesus enters Jerusalem in a celebration of Palms.

And all our Lenten busy-ness will come to rest at the foot of a cross

from which hangs

the sure and certain knowledge of mortal death,

redeemed by the sure and certain evidence

of the life-everlasting.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash