Lent - Week 1

Many pastors from the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church attended the "Our Life Together" event at St. Luke's UMC in Indianapolis Monday and Tuesday of this week. The theme of our time together was "Stillness, Awareness, and Playfulness" and our guest speaker was Dr. Kirk Byron Jones. I usually attend this annual clergy retreat for a couple of reasons; they are times of learning, worship, and renewal for me and secondly, I love to connect with my clergy covenant group and other clergy colleagues and friends. This year proved to have and be everything this clergy person's soul needed and wanted. 

During my time in Indianapolis I also began a half marathon training program which will keep me in shape and provide discipline over the next 14 weeks. During those two morning on the treadmill at the hotel I listened to Anne Lamont's book "Small Victories", read my Lenten devotional for each day, prayed, and huffed and puffed through the miles. I don't have anything very profound to say about what I heard, read, and prayed over except to ask each of you..."Are you taking some time during Lent each day to be with God?" If you are, awesome! If you are not, get started! God is waiting for you. 

The icicle picture is the view out my window at the church this afternoon. Yes, it is sideways......another day I"ll take the time (maybe) to straighten it out. What it is supposed to show is that the snow is doing a bit of melting today. It's still early, but to me that is a sign that "Easter is coming!" May you find God in any stillness of heart, mind, and soul that you are gifted with today!