From the pastor

September 14, 2003

My first awareness of the morning was of its darkness. Daylight hours are becoming conspicuously shorter. And when a cloud cover accompanies the tardy sunrise, the dimness of the new day sedates me. An argument starts in my brain. A few brain cells urge me to get up—the alarm has rung. But even more brain cells insist that getting up in the dark is unnatural. Surely there must be a Bible verse against it. Then a few brain cells get together and form a compromise: I must get up, FIND that Bible verse that says "thou shalt not get up when it is still dark," and go down to the church and tell the people who come to early worship that maybe we should meet in the p.m. instead of the a.m.

As tired as I may feel getting out of bed, I thank God that I am not like those who took the youth group to holiday world yesterday. They gathered a little before 6 a.m. to spend the entire day with 20+ kids in the car and at an amusement park. I also thank God that I am probably not as tired as all the family of Ken and Lisa White. Ken and Lisa had a beautiful wedding in our sanctuary yesterday afternoon. It was a lively event with all their family and friends.

I also realize that I am probably in a better mood this morning than my Cardinal fan friends. It was a big sports day around here yesterday. The Cardinals, Cubs, AND White Sox are all contending for first place. And the Illini just about pulled it off out in the Rose Bowl. For sports fans, the quiet and haze of the morning is a few hours of Sabbath respite before another day of games and competition quickens the blood.

The house is a bit quieter than normal. Both girls are now back at college. I took Alison to DePaul last Monday. With both of them gone, the cat seems more eager for my company. And each day I make a few adjustments to their absence. I clean the candy cupboard out to make room for the candy I like. I adjust the radios so they don’t ALL play the country western that Alison has set up. I take a couple items of clothing that still linger in the laundry room and place them in their bedrooms. And I take out my Bradley coffee cup and my DePaul coffee cup, and alternate, and make each hot drink a celebration of this growing and adventurous time of their lives.

I celebrate healing this morning. I was able to mow the grass yesterday—for the first time since I broke my hand. It is much easier to mow my own grass than it was to talk my daughters into it. It’s also much easier to do it myself than to look out on the yard and be reminded of a bad haircut. Oh well, even those most precious aren’t perfect.

The Church Council meeting tonight is open to all interested persons. We will be talking about our church’s mission, vision, and values. We will also be reviewing a tentative budget for Grace Years and Grace Street. Please join us.

--Mike

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