Musings... "rest & growth"

Well finally we are home! Jen and I walked off the NCL Getaway on Sunday morning at 9AM and arrived home at noon on Monday after more than 24 hours of travel! It’s been a long time since either of us have been awake that long or tried sleeping on a bench in a public place!

We are both deeply grateful to have had the time with each other and with my son Justin and his fiancé Emily. We sailed from New Orleans to Costa Maya, Belize City and Cozumel but unfortunately missed Roatan because of a national election that was to occur on the day we were scheduled to be in port. We shared lots of deep and meaningful conversations over good food and drink, snorkelled in the Gulf of Mexico, and napped almost every day! So yes, the time away was worth the painful journey home!

Having said that, it is never lost on me how deeply fortunate I am – this morning trying to find a comfortable sleeping position on a padded airport bench drove it home yet again – and I was reminded to those I saw sleeping in doorways in New Orleans the week before and those in our own communities who try to find rest on places much harder than an airport bench.

This Sunday our Lenten theme will have us exploring ‘rest & growth’ using a story of a fig tree as told by Jesus. A few significant (troubling?) threads will likely be woven into my reflection on Sunday: loss, absence and grief…

I learned on Tuesday that my dear friend and colleague Kendall Harrison died suddenly. This is a big loss for me. Kendall and I weathered and learned a lot together and his absence is profound, and the grief is significant.

I am also very aware that my absence from Sackville United has been significant over the past number of weeks. As a result of my need to make use of vacation, study and over-time leave, it has been too many Sunday mornings since I have offered leadership at Sackville United Church. This was not intentional. The dates as selected for time away for my renewal and rest, unfortunately fell disproportionally on the Sundays that I was scheduled to be at Sackville United Church. I am sorry for this. I have missed being with you too.

In closing, it is good to be home! I tried to sleep this afternoon – but that didn’t work! So, I spent the afternoon responding to almost all of the emails in my inbox and writing my Monday Musings… please forgive any typos as my eyes are starting to droop! Sleep will come easy tonight!

Lloyd

Justin, Emily, Jennifer & Lloyd

Looking Ahead

I will be working from home on Tuesday morning. I will devote the morning to having a first look at the text for Sunday as I prepare for the Lectionary Study Group at 10:30AM and following my time with that group I will finish responding to the backlog of email messages. In the afternoon, should the weather be fit I will be in Sackville for visits at the hospital and nursing home.

I anticipate being in Sackville on Wednesday as well for Coffee with Open Sky at 10AM and a couple of meetings in the afternoon and evening.

On Thursday morning following Cultivating Hope (see below) I will be in Moncton for pastoral visits at the Hospital and three senior facilities followed by a Zoom meeting later in the afternoon.

Friday will be devoted to writing a reflection for Sunday and I am hoping on Saturday to get over to the Island to see my mom and dad.

On Sunday I am offering leadership at Visions United Church. Following the Spirit Gathering at 10:30AM the congregation will be having their Annual Meeting. Steve Berube will be offering leadership at Sackville United Church and this gathering will be broadcast via Vimeo and Facebook Live.

On Sunday March 30th I will offer leadership at Sackville United Church and Julia will be at Central United Church. On this Sunday Sackville and Central will have their Annual Meetings.