Category Archives: Daily Life
Monday Margarita
A home visit today, plus a funeral, hospital call, and news that a dear parishioner has died in hospital in Hillsdale. It was good that I could decompress later over a margarita with my wife and friends. Daily walking, practicing … Continue reading
Everyday Superstars
I had the oil changed on my car today at Lentz Automotive. I was standing at this counter to pay my bill, reading a thank you letter sitting under the glass. The woman who wrote it thanked them for taking … Continue reading
My Purpose
I went to an oral surgery office today, where they have pictures of boats in the waiting room. They removed three of my wisdom teeth, the fourth having been taken out 30 years ago. My dentist urged me to do … Continue reading
Shopping As Hell
Ann Althouse on how shopping at Target, a large retail store, is like being in Hell. But I do understand the feelings of dissociation that can envelope you in a store, especially a large store with long aisles full of … Continue reading
Eeyore Watch
I turned 50 on Monday, and my wife gave me an Eeyore watch as a gift. Since my father named me Christopher Robin, I have long loved the stories of the 100 Acre Wood, and the character I resonate with … Continue reading
Earthworm
This morning I walked four miles on the upper trail, the part above M-52. I parked in the LISD lot. LISD is the office of the Lenawee Intermediate School District. While walking I meditated on 1 Corinthians 3, and I … Continue reading
What Is Owed
Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Romans 13:7
A Tree With Many Trunks
The day began before dawn at Island Park with an Easter Service led by my wife. She included the ‘kindling of a new fire,’ which we used to light candles to represent the light of resurrection. It was a beautiful … Continue reading
Scrabble
I delivered Meals on Wheels this morning. In the afternoon I made three home visits. That makes 33 visits so far this month. A visit happens at home, hospital, or occasionally at church. At a restaurant sometimes too. At the … Continue reading
At Embers
At Embers bar and grill in Tecumseh this evening, where a psychic sat in the next booth, read cards, and told people about themselves. It felt odd to have a psychic and NASCAR in the same room, now that I … Continue reading
Time In the Shelter
Jesus loves you, but only in groups of 41 or less. The rest he will love later. This is the far wall at the homeless shelter our congregation is staffing this week. I am spending a lot of time in … Continue reading
14th Anniversary
Today is our 14th anniversary. We were going to celebrate at the Lonestar steakhouse in Dundee, but that was before I went all vegan crazy. So now we are going to have a quiet dinner at home with roasted vegetables. … Continue reading
Ashes, Ashes
I burned the old palms last night, preparing ashes for tomorrow. This morning I walked four miles on the trail, beginning the day in silence and darkness; later I took part in a second day of training to become a … Continue reading
Memorizing Poetry
From an article on memorizing poetry: Memorized poems are a sort of larder, laid up against the hungers of an extended period of solitude… The best argument for verse memorization may be that it provides us with knowledge of a … Continue reading
Kindness
A dear friend died, and out of kindness he gave us his car, a 2004 Chevy Impala. Since my old car, a white ’96 Geo, was the older of our two cars, the blue car is now my car. I … Continue reading
Missing the Signs
This is the back door to the sanctuary, pulpit side, where a sign says Please Keep This Door Closed. Often I find the door propped open like this and close it. In the winter especially we don’t want to heat … Continue reading
A Safe Neighborhood
A New Year’s Day morning walk in Oakwood Cemetery, which predates the Civil War. The founders of Adrian are buried here: Addison Comstock, his wife Sarah, and his father Darius. (Not the graves above, though.) Michigan governor Charles Croswell also … Continue reading
Relational Gifts, Missional Gifts
For Christmas my wife bought me two pair of jeans to broaden my stock of clothes that fit. She also got me a cover for my iPad to compliment my Kindle cover she bought three years ago. Both feature beautiful … Continue reading
The Porta Potty Man
I woke early Sunday and got up to walk. It was 21 degrees (F), with clear skies. I dressed for warmth and drove to St John’s Lutheran on North Adrian Highway. The Kiwanis Trail goes behind their property. I parked … Continue reading
Special Events
Lots of special events in the last three days: a retirement party for a physician (above), an Advent Tea with a program on Christmas carols, a service of Lessons and Carols at one of the colleges, and last night a … Continue reading
