I’ve got a few weeks of travel just ahead of me, with two weekends speaking in the Mid-West and this picture made me think of the trip. Before I fly I always like to methodically plan out what I need, gathering all “my stuff” and putting it in it’s place. There are many pieces and I like to be efficient but fear that I always take too much. Visions of my father getting ready for a camping trip are somehow coming to me right now. Maybe I’m a little like this bird. My cookie is too big so it takes a little longer to get airborne. Maybe a little like the hand in the cookie jar phenomenon too.
This trip I have two weekends in a row full of preaching and teaching with meetings in between and more networking in Chicago. For the teaching part, I usually like to have handouts and tools for people to keep using after I leave. Anyway, that requires a little more organization. I examine each talk I give, really, and try to adapt and add to my stories from what I keep learning from visits to the mosque, relationships I’m building, etc. I enjoy this aspect of my ministry immensely but it takes some planning and organizing. I suppose my tendency also is to want to deliver a 9 course meal when something more like a snack is what is needed. Every once in a while, however, I do find people who want the full meal deal, and more. That is cool when that happens. Another part of getting ready involves the creative side, the stuff that keeps my imagination alive. I like to add pictures to my PowerPoints so keep looking for the best way to communicate a concept visually. Isn’t it true that a good picture paints a 1000 words?
On another note, today I received both good and bad news. First, let me tell you the bad. Not real bad, just a bit of a downer. We found a house this last week that looked just perfect for us. Had enough space, great location, nicely refurbished and ready to have friends over. Carol even awoke this morning and said we need to make an offer before I leave town. Then we got the call from our Realtor. “Our house” just came off the market this morning! How could that be? Someone else got in line in front of us. Darn, that was a bummer. We’ve been on this journey most of the year, doing research and watching the market to try to time a purchase when prices and interest rates are low. It may seem trivial, but today it feels anything but.
The good news came just the day before and I’m still enjoying this one. My Imam friend accepted my invitation to join me for a class I am teaching at a church later in May. He is willing, let alone brave, to step into a church to share with my class about Islam. I plan to roll out the red carpet and be as hospitable as he has been to me but I wonder if everyone at this church will behave. I’m praying that it will be so and that our time together will be good. Very good. Won’t you join me in that prayer?
If you’d like to know more about the whereabouts of that event or have questions or comments, leave me a comment. I’m here for you and want to build a bigger team.
