No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...

Can it be the last Sunday of Novemeber already? I was just preparing for a week of vacation at the end of October. What happened to the last 4 weeks? That's what it feels like to me. It has been incredibly busy around our house and the church between the Traci's, the kid's, and my schedules. School projects abound. We had our annual congregational meeting last week which meant reports, budgets, and nominations. Advent is just around the corner. There is a Hanging of the Greens service to finish writing/adapting, cantata just around the corner - not that I'm singing so don't panic, but I am one of the narrators - Advent sermons, Christmas Eve services to prep and a wedding on New Year's Eve for our good friend Troy Tatum.

All of this to say that, life is hectic. That's nothing new for most folks. It is kind of like we've merged into traffic on an interstate loop and traffic is moving so fast and is so thick that we can't make our way over to the exit. I think I probably need to listen to the pastoral advice that I offer others and slow down and focus on my spiritual disciplines. That means discerning when to say "Yes" and when to say "No", taking sabbath time, practicing lectio divina, and extending and receiving hospitality.