R is out grocery shopping with M so I have a few moments...

• There are times in life and ministry when one just has SO much to do--and it's ALL urgent AND important--that it just becomes laughable. I actually prefer those phases to the times when I could, theoretically, get it all done if I just burned the candle at both ends. There's no way in the world I will get everything done in the next few weeks, so the pressure's off.
  
  
• Having people over for R's birthday, and having such a good time doing it, was a catalyst for us to realize that much of my social "itch" gets scratched from blogging and other online friendships, and even "real-life" friendships that are long-distance and maintained through the Internet. What that means, though, is that we don't have as many shared friends as we used to. We're figuring out what to do about this--we realize that while we are not a "daily morning devotional" kind of family, hospitality is one of our "spiritual disciplines" if you will, and we haven't been doing it as much lately. Incidentally, I'm reading in The Suburban Christian that people host others in their homes an average of 8 times a year. It used to be much more. We're talking about incorporating this more regularly. It doesn't have to be a big production, in fact true hospitality is usually about creating a comfortable and inviting space, not staging a three-ring circus.
  
  The other thing this has meant is less time spent blogging. It feels good, actually, to focus on some other things.
  
  
• I'm making very slow but steady progress on the Perimeter Ride story. I also got my comments back on my short article for the Lectionary Commentary series and they were constructive and positive. I had been assigned the Old Testament story for Transfiguration Sunday. Talk about setting the bar low. Who preaches the OT on Transfiguration? Actually it's a perfect assignment for me because that's exactly the kind of thing I would do. Anyway, the editor for my piece wrote, "This is full of some rich insights... You make the text an inviting one to choose on a Sunday when most would gravitate to the Gospel without much of a look at this one." Next assignment, due in November: Ash Wednesday and Lent I. Also Old Testament texts...
  
  
• C had a wonderful time in the Punchline State with her cousins. Our only rule for the weekend was that they could not, under any circumstances, take her to The Most Wonderful Place on Earth because we would like to have that joy ourselves. And, they obeyed. I think they did a lot of swimming and also played mini-golf. We picked her up at the Metro earlier today and she seemed much older. It's nice to all be together again, and so wonderful to have a kid old enough to really share a lot about the weekend. Although the favorite activities seemed to be "being with J&J" and "eating donuts."
  
  
• M starts day care this week. Say a little prayer and/or think good thoughts, whatever it is you do--I think we've found the right place for her, and I'm grateful and proud as punch that we were able to put off day care for more than 8 months--but transitions are tough on little ones.