October 27, 2015 · 8:40 pm

Sabbath Keeping . . a Mental Health Spiritual Practice

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Yesterday I took what I named a “nearing the end of the season” bike ride out to Harrison Lake.  This is a beautiful ride in the autumn of the year – one I’ve made each of the last three years in late October or early November.  Once again I was not disappointed by the artistry of God’s paint brush.  The picture hardly does justice to the hues of yellow, orange and red that bounced off the earth’s canvass against a perfect blue sky.  I was reminded, once again, that one of my four favorite seasons is Fall!

Added to this Sabbath Monday experience (as a pastor Monday is usually my Sabbath) was the challenge and thrill of the ride. Continue reading →

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Filed under Christian Faith, Spiritual Formation

October 1, 2015 · 4:06 pm

A View From the Rear

This past Saturday I did something I had been wanting to do for three years.  I volunteered on my bicycle with the Columbus based “Mill Race Marathon”.  What an interesting experience.  Some 35 cyclists were involved this year supporting the Full and Half Marathon and the 5K.  We were interspersed among the 3500 or so runners and walkers on the streets of our fair city on a cool September day.

As a newbie I did not want to be in a position with too much responsibility. For example, no leading a runner off course, or getting smoked by an elite runner I couldn’t keep up with.  No, when the volunteer form was submitted I checked those positions that were more toward the middle or end of the course.  Little did I know that rookie volunteers must be assigned to the trail or sweep position, as a rule.  My assignment, along with another cyclist, was to be the trail on the last half of the full marathon.  This meant bringing the final runner in to the finish line.  This meant six plus hours on my bike (I elected to ride the entire route) with much of it at speeds that ranged from two to four miles per hour.

It may sound like it, but I am not complaining.  I had a blast doing this. Continue reading →

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Filed under Cycling, Ministry, Uncategorized

August 2, 2015 · 6:12 pm

Overcoming Tunnel Vision

Overcoming Tunnel Vision

The difference between a mid-summer bicycle ride and one of an early spring variety is measurable. You can literally measure the growth of the crops as you ride past. By this time of year, especially with all of the summer’s rain, the corn forms tunnels along some of the county roads that I ride. What began as a small kernel has emerged into a tall plant, fully tasseled, and producing grain.

To my untrained eye those corn fields look pretty healthy and Continue reading →

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Filed under Cycling, Leadership

April 1, 2015 · 3:51 pm

God Speaks

Daffodils  The attached picture is a scene from my morning walk from parking lot to office during these early days of Spring.  It was taken today, during Holy Week, as we make the annual pilgrimage with Jesus through the events of his passion.  It captures both the essence of where this week is headed – the hope and promise of new life; and reveals the residual holdings on of the what the next few days of the week bespeak – death, decay.

Notice the crumpled leaves hidden in recesses and alcoves of building and landscape that have clung through the winter. It’s so hard to let go of that which mires us down in the stuff of our lives and selves.  It’s always hanging on, around the edges, in the crevasses and the shadows – like a dead leaf that just won’t give in and blow away. Continue reading →

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Filed under Holy Days, Spiritual Formation

February 27, 2015 · 3:18 pm

What do you do with disapointment?

One of the hardest parts of leadership can be disappointment. It doesn’t matter where you are leading; if you dare to lead, you will experience disappointment. You might be disappointed in the outcome of an event, project or initiative. You might be disappointed in those you lead and those with whom you collaborate. The disappointment might center on a colleague who didn’t follow through, or a volunteer who proved less committed than first thought. It might settle around how your group did or did not engage. You may even be disappointed with yourself. Disappointment is inherent to leading. It’s not a matter of if, or even so much when it will hit; what’s important is how you deal with it.

So, what do you do when you are disappointed as a leader in any of the above mentioned possibilities? What do you do with disappointment?

As I reflect on that question I want suggest just a few steps that have emerged over time, in my own practice of leading. These are steps I try to follow when disappointment makes an appearance:

Step One: Examine the source of your disappointment Continue reading →

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Filed under Leadership, Ministry, Pastors, Uncategorized