Behind an able man, there are always.

The above title shows you the exact wording of the funny fortune inside John's cookie tonight. This beats my all-time favorite, which read, "Alas! The onion you are eating is someone else's water lily."

I returned through more sleet and snow from a two-day retreat with other priests in the diocese to find that John fell on the ice while walking the dog yesterday, and now has a sprained ankle.

On my way back from the retreat, I stopped in Iowa City for a luncheon at the home of the new president of the University of Iowa. She hosted twelve of us from the Association of Campus Ministers. Her chef prepared some lovely dishes and the conversation was exceptional.

After I unpacked, it was time to head to our home parish to accompany the Taize Eucharist for Advent. So afterwards, we decided that some Chinese takeout sounded good. But we're not so sure about that "able man." There are always...slippery sidewalks?

Vespers

The Campus Ministry team at St. Ambrose University (where John has professed botany for 25 years) invited him to officiate and preach at a special vespers service today, to formally recognize his priesthood and ministry. There's a lovely reception planned afterwards, too.

I was pleased by all of this, but imagine my surprise when the team invited me to co-officiate! They said, "We want to see a woman in a collar around here." So, we've prepared our suffrages and collects and it will be great to lead a service together -- even if some folks won't know what the heck to call me...

Manchester Orchestra

Aaaargh, I did it again! I proved my ignorance about popular music, when I really didn't mean to.

After tonight's Taize Evening Prayer in a beautiful space with the biggest crowd the chaplaincy has had since last spring, I settled in at a table of what appeared to be grad students. Hunting for a way in for conversation with one of them, I noticed that her mug advertized "Manchester Orchestra." Since many of the undergraduates who come to our church are string players, I made an assumption here, too. I said, "I noticed your mug. Do you play in an orchestra?"

They were so very nice to me, when they could have rolled their eyes and laughed. "No," she said, "actually, The Manchester Orchestra is a band from Atlanta. She added, "They played on David Letterman about two weeks ago." "Ah," I said, but I wouldn't have seen that, either.

Really, I don't live in a cave. It just seems like it some nights.

Sometimes God sends a dream

One of my readers asked for stories about campus ministry. It's been hard work, primarily because I started with no existing student group -- no, not one! The previous chaplain had not been able to function for some time (about three years, according to most sources), for some very valid personal reasons. But I came on board to build up a program from dust.

Apparently I was discouraged when I went to sleep. We now have a steady group of students who come to church each week, but the group at present numbers 5 or 6. Three of them are music majors and play in the demanding university orchestra. At our campus ministry committee meeting last night I asked my committee to join me in showing up where the students do their work. So, for instance, two of them committed to attend the first orchestra concert of the fall, next week. I'm pushing for attending plays, readings, lectures -- wherever our undergrads or grad students or faculty are spending their good energy, we need to show up. Showing up matters.

During the night, between episodes of wondering if we're ever good enough for the work God gives us, I dreamed that I was in a classroom where several voices were breaking in more loudly than mine when I began to speak. Suddenly there stood my former spiritual director, K, whom I last saw in Evanston in May. She took over the room, hushed the others, and rested her hand ever so lightly upon my arm. When I was in tears, she pressed more firmly, so that I could not doubt that I was supported.

Sometimes God sends a dream, and upon awakening, we see circles of golden light dance near the ceiling. And then it is not so hard, after all, to start a new day.

I Must Be Dreaming

Right after celebrating three graduations in our family, I flew off to Philadelphia with two good friends to attend a conference sponsored by the Episcopal Preaching Foundation. If you long to hear ten sermons per day, for a whole week, this is the place for you!

Then, the adventure began: we were stranded in the Philadelphia airport, since all flights to Chicago were cancelled due to weather. So we returned to Chicago a day late, barely leaving time to pack up and head home to Iowa for my meetings with my new colleagues in campus ministry.

After a full day in Iowa City, I came home with:
a key to the kingdom (and to my new office)
a new laptop -- with Bibleworks!
a parking space
nifty business cards
an enthusiastic support staff
and a whole list of ministry associates to contact

I'm going to be really busy! For now, though, I'm off on a self-imposed retreat for these last 3 days prior to our ordination to the priesthood on Saturday. I ask for your prayers.