Since the 31st, if not before my brain has been in a wash of thought preparing for a sermon and also writing a testament assuming it was my last day to live. I have also been reflecting on events going on in my life, taking time to listen and feel the stories, worries and joys of those around me. It has been an amazing time.
Friday I spent the day sitting with my fellow classmates as each of us present portions or the entirety of the 16 section testament we each wrote and reflecting upon them as a group. It was a wonderful experience as we opened ourselves up to one another, gained new insight, and received some healing and confirmation (at least I did and I am sure others did as well).
Saturday I spent the day guiding and sharing with others, preparing the Friday Prayer for Peace services for next month, and working on Sunday’s sermon. I struggled with the sermon, trying to find the words and recasting it over and over again during the past few weeks. The theme, the scriptures, it all was a struggle. Yet by Wednesday I had come to a place of peace of it, and it started to form more clearly and yet was still not there. Saturday night worked upon the sermon it was recast once more and finally came to that place of rest and peace it needed to be for near finalization. I went home and went to be early, with the sermon floating through my head.
I awoke early, but laid there for a while and then got up. As I went to take my shower I found I had no water, my pipes having frozen in the night. So I found myself getting dressed, going outside to see the 6inches or so of snow that had fallen and shoveled my way to the Visitor’s Center to secure a set of keys to a near by un-occupied apartment, shoveled my way there and took a shower and went back to my place before heading over to the church, to think, pray and do final preparation.
At about 9am as I stood outside to listen and reflect upon the tolls of the Temple bell, my phone rang and it was one of the pastors, who was also presiding over the service. he was calling me to let me know they were canceling church do to the snow, as we talked he indicated that it was in part due to them not thinking the parking lot would be cleared. I mentioned that it had already been cleared, and he told me to wait and that he would call back. A few minutes later, received a call and church was un-canceled.
The service I feel went well, and while my nervousness caused a few hiccups to the sermon at the start, I think it went well, and I found the words providing a conduit for the Spirit to touch my heart, and I think as I looked upon the faces of those worshiping and proclaiming the Word with me, at least one or two others as well. After the service I shared with my church family in fellowship over a potluck meal. Headed home, my path from road to door filled back in between the wind and the inch or two of new snow, so I found myself re-shoveling the path before heading over to the VC, where I would spend more time than I had anticipated. (I went to return a set of keys to the church). As part of that I found myself going out with Mike and shoveling the path from the VC to the Temple for the first tour of the day, and then upon returning staying around until closing, before heading home. soon after I arrive someone would arrive to try and unfreeze my pipes, and then after pausing and thinking it might not get done, I hear water running and I rejoiced.
This is already a longer post than I would like, but I still feel there is more to say and so I say it briefly. A week from today I start Spring term. as mentioned in previous posts, I will be taking several classes. Several weeks ago in the midst of reflecting on various aspects of call, I choose to taken on some extra independent home study courses. The texts arrived last week, and today once I finish this entry I will start the first course. So perhaps I have engaged in education overload…
Peace,
— Lyle II