Weekly post

April 2, 2007

Dear friends,

I have survived the week that included two exams, a quiz, three papers and two sermons, in part because one of the papers has been postponed. The visiting professor for Religions of Africa is now back in Zimbabwe, where Robert Mugabe is struggling to hang on to power. At the moment, there is no electricity in Zimbabwe, so the professor cannot receive e-mails. As a result, he has granted an extension on the paper. We are all glad to have the extension, but not at that cost.

In a couple of weeks, the son and I will join a group of a dozen or so youth and chaperones to see a Broadway traveling production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in Greensboro. The confirmation youth have been studying the Old Testament this year, and are excited about seeing part of it come to life. I'll be helping lead the annual Good Friday lock-in and am planning some role plays that I hope will be fun and thought-provoking.

In only a week, I'll be giving a sermon in class on Psalm 103:1-8. Some ideas have been percolating, but I'm not there yet. Inspiration, come quickly! Likewise for the sermon I'll be preaching on John 21:1-19. All reasonable ideas gratefully accepted.

Bet you thought I was going to say, "In only a week...." something else! Well, I'll deal with that on the day it happens. I'm putting on a brave face in the meantime. But truly, this is a good place to be at this age. Being in this place, on this track, headed for ordination ... really, that's my gift to myself, a gift I could not have come up with were it not for the foundation and cheering section that is my family. Bless you and thank you.

Grace and peace,
Beth