Lasting Impressions

For the concluding blog in this series,  i will interview myself so to speak with an inventory of "best ofs" and other superlatives

What was your most uncomfortable moment with best results

    That would be last week's boat ride  back 6 miles from shore in a noreast wind on Lake Erie in 3 footers in a 16 foot semi v bass tracker....as my friend Jon, the skipper said...."I wouldn't want to have to do that again.' But the good news... the resulting fish grill was out of this world...Ask Jeff and Kathy Bost


Most painful experience..
    That would be in the Atlantic aboard the Lady Stuart in 8 foot swells, being thrown against the bulk head wall repeatedly trying to land fish....my body the next day looked like Poseidon had a "bounty" out on me...

Most amusing experience...
ok here it is , the tease from last week.  At a church in Florida at the time of the "our father" ( no eucharist, so this was the climactic moment of the liturgy) the congregation held hands....a bit awkward, but I can roll with it no problem, until we began to sing the Melotte Lord's prayer solo as community song...I staggered like I was getting rocked on the Lady Stuart...( see above reference) trying to sing and not laugh....most weren't singing very loud, if at all ( typical Lutheran folk) so I figured what the heck...and I belted out "FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY FOR EVER....AMEN. I wonder why no one talked to me after church?

Cutest kid ever
   That would be Zachary from Saskatoon, who was on the cruise ship and a fellow snorkler...My kind of kid
( except when he found out I was a Penquins' fan and declared: "Sydney Crosby is a baby!"  Excuse me Zach?  Do you want to be relegated from cutest kid to most obnoxious kid in the same blog" Honestly, this little guy was a highlight of the whole 2 months.

Favorite fish species on the reefs....
I actually spent 20 minutes one day following one of these Stoplight Parrotfishes watching it feed....I say " "it" because one of the unique features of this species is that it can change genders... in Grand Turk...absolutely fantastic...

Best overall moment

 outside of  some cruise moments with Sue Ann...mmmm.... ok I'm back
I would have to say it was meeting my new friends from Crookston Mn. who invited me into their world of Daddies-at-their-son's- hockey tourny in Warroad Mn...One thing this sabbatical affirmed for me is that I still treasure relationships above every thing else. And making new friends, well, I believe friendship is at the heart of our faith and knowledge of God.

Most surprising revelation
    That country music can keep you company when you are all alone living in an ice shanty for the better part of a week...favorite song ...Luke Bryan's  "I Don't Want This Night to End"....Who new?

Best novel read ( actually listened to)
   Nelson DeMille's "The Lion"
Best Non-Fiction
   Eldredge's "Wild at Heart"

I would do it again if I had a chance
   Crash Minnie's funeral...loved Mt. Carmel church and the kitchen ladies

A how cool is that ? moment
   Listening to Garrison Keillor while traversing the back roads of Minnesota...I have been a fan for 30 years, but never listened while tooling around "Lake Wobegon"

Best Meal
Kathy Garner's seafood quiche...made with swordfish...ok real men don't eat quiche,...but how can you resist something like that?

Most awe inspiring sight

    The night sky on Lake of the Woods...the clearest I have ever seen the heavens....unfortunately no aurora and it was 0 degrees while I was looking north at the dippers, but it was breathtaking to be all alone on the ice at midnight staring into the most beautiful of light shows possible

Most inspiring worship
closing Eucharist at Luther Seminary' winter convo...why?, because I accepted an invitation to sing in the choir that was formed for the occasion.  Again, a reminder that the liturgy's music when invested by  participation ( I was born to praise the living God) carries one's faith

Enough, I may include some postscripts, as " I don't want this sabbatical to end" ...but its purpose and my mission to "relax, renew, and recreate will forever change how the "rest" of ministry will play-out....
I have nothing but gratitude in my heart for having had the experience

A time apart's setting sun

From Manitoba's border to 30 miles from South America
..6000 miles driven , 6 novels listened to, 4 books read,  6 congregation's visited for worship,fishing in ontario, minnesota, florida, and ohio,..making new friends, hanging out with old friends,...
5 sites snorkled, and the chance to be with Sue for our 35th anniversary cruise and a quick stop to be with Marta in Atlanta, I write this penultimate post with some satisfaction and great gratitude for the time away.
The valentine cruise was completed as we disembarked on Ash Wednesday, an interesting swing of indulgence to the beginning of my annual fast. Today is the eve of my return to the office of word and sacrament. How does one measure the significance of being away an extended period when ones identity has been associated with the continuity of day to day life as a parish pastor?  Like most things, to be determined after a while back in the saddle...My last blog in this journey will be a  list of  best of/most memorable experiences.  Here's a tease...
Most amusing experience worshiping in another Lutheran church...any guesses, ?  I still laugh when I think about it! Then I feel bad, because for those good folks it was the climax of their worship!  But my God, it was classic..Want to know?
You have to tune in next week for the finale
Until then this is sabbatical short-timer William, with a very grateful heart! Renewed, relaxed, and recreated.