From my first week at Bethany I knew I wouldn’t be able to continue my predecessor’s practice of a daily blog. Perhaps I can keep up with a weekly blog, I thought. I did a blog, sometimes even a few times a week, when I was in Corrymeela … but that was only for three months. And whenever I traveled for 10 day trips after that.
There have been a number of times over the past two years when I have got to Friday and thought “what in the world can I write about this week? … I’ve got nothing.” And that’s when I turn to my colleagues (mostly Dana) for wisdom and a suggestion is made.
Sometimes I know at the beginning of the week what I want to write about. It may be about the biblical theme that week, an article that I have read that I want to share, something personal going on in my life, a movie I have seen or a book I have read …
Those times are a gift. They make my Friday mornings a breeze as once I sit down to write the words flow.
Other times I get to Friday … and I’ve got nothing.
Like today. I had a few ideas for today, but they all kind of fizzled. They had to do with gratitude, awe, mystery, and faith. I scoured our website and my phone for pictures to remind me of all the memories of the past two years. I thought I had a clever idea about using the picture of my three Jesus-es (above) on the mantle in my office having a conversation about their experiences observing me over the past 2 years …
Bobblehead Jesus – about the playfulness, the laughter, the innovation and surprises.
Jesus with glowy hands and the tiny loaf and fish – to remind me of all the God moments and miracles I have experienced here as your spiritual leader.
Jesus that glides and blesses – my first Jesus Action Figure – to remind me of times of change and challenge. Twenty five years ago Jennifer Watts (good friend, chair of Christian Development at St. John’s, and staff person at Tatamagouche Centre), and I did a workshop at a national UCC conference in Waterloo called “Renovations”. The workshop was about the church and popular culture, and we wrote a dialogue between our two Jesus Action Figures as a springboard for conversation. The conference, as the title might suggest, was about the changing church. I have been talking about this stuff for a long time it would seem.
Turns out I didn't have as many ideas as I thought … I got a bit stuck.
I may or may not bring these items as props on Sunday … along with the new guy … the little pocket Jesus that Rhonda Schofield put in their midst before our service on Good Friday. Dana has a box of these guys in her office – some folks already have one (like the folks in the faith study) because “everybody needs a little Jesus.”
In the end, I have said all there is to say. On April 11, in my reflection about The Upending of Wendall Forbes, I said why I felt it necessary to leave full time work at this time. It is 90% health (both mental and physical) related. I need a reset.
Over the next couple of months you will find me catching up on my favourite mystery series, knitting, getting back to aquacise classes, and hopefully re-introducing myself to the physiotherapy exercises I am supposed to be doing. We are going to Ontario for a couple of weeks in August, primarily to see Bonnie Raitt perform in Hamilton … as bonus moments we will dog sit Murphy for a weekend, and maybe catch a Jays game (the jury is still out on that one.)
Below is picture from my covenanting service in October 2024. It seems like a moment ago. I am filled with awe and gratitude at the opportunity to have been among you these past two years. Plus, a picture I found that I created from my jars of beach glass during Covid times … clearly I had too much time on my hands … but it does represent a calmer state of mind than I have right now that I aspire to …
Many blessings as you continue your journey. You have been a blessing to me.
Martha
