• Storm front

    A picture from the St Pete Times – almost the same view I had from my office this morning.

  • Confession – I am a child

    I am childlike. In some contexts this statement could be seen as a compliment. It’s not meant to be one this time.

    I hate to cook. I love to cook.

    I hate the idea of cooking on the drive home, after a particularly long day at the office. Once I get home and start slinging pots, pans and ingredients… I’m in love.

    I’m not particularly creative, daring, or good. But I’ll take the occasional chance. Like tonight. I don’t know if I’ll be able to replicate one of tonight’s dishes – if anyone wants me to when it’s finished. I lost track of spices. All I know is I started with rinsed quinoa and chicken broth.

    If I were more mature, I think I’d look forward to cooking. I’d see through the haze of fatigue to something I enjoy. It would be something I’d look forward to after a bad day.

    I suppose none of that matters now though. Right now I’m having fun.

  • Not so bad

    A friend recently observed some kids will dread an activity – until they get there. Then they have a blast.

    Church was like that for me this morning. I really thought it was going to go badly. Beth was in rare form, and my fourth grade teacher sat next to me. Yes, the one I wrote about recently.

    But there are a lot of things to love about Easter Sunday service. It’s festive and upbeat. As a bonus, you get all the folks who don’t normally come – and bring with them a wonderful change of pace. Like the woman who sat a few seats over (next to my fourth grade teacher). She sat down holding her insulated coffee mug. It’s never occurred to any of us stuffy Lutherans to bring coffee to church. Or the old woman who didn’t turn off her phone – and answered it – during the sermon.

    Some folks were visibly upset. Me? I thought it was great they came. Maybe they have no intention of coming back. Maybe they were just there to fulfill a sense of routine, or a promise made to someone. So what? I think most of the regulars are there for the same reason, just more often.

    Some folks undoubtably see it as a lack of respect. I see it as a bunch of new folks in church not accustomed to coming – with just as much joy in their voices and kindness in their souls.

    It all added up to a great morning.