On the road presenting workshops @ St. Columba in Durango, CO. Gave a session on Online Social Networking to a great group of parents this morning. Will give a repeat of that session plus a chat with 50 middle schoolers tomorrow morning before flying home (if the weather holds).
What I’m learning –
- This “on the road” business ain’t all bad. I’ve been getting little tugs and nudges for the past couple years telling me that I really ought to consider adding an itinerant component to my ministry. I’ve tried my best to ignore them, but they keep coming back. When my host (more on this superhero later) invited me to come all the way to Colorado I decided that maybe it might be time to give these tugs the consideration they deserve. There’s something to be said for the chance to come into a parish community for a couple days and share in the journey. Leaves me with much to ponder.
- Next to the Pacific Ocean, the Rocky Mountains are just about the most incredible, awe-inspiring, “hey stupid, if you ever doubted the existence of God just look at this” kinda vista there is. Wow. Beautiful. In the past 24 hours I’ve met seven people who came here on vacation and decided never to leave. I can so see why.
Who I’ve Met –
- My host for this adventure has been Mary Ralph. Mary is the kind of lady that keeps our Church on track and moving forward. This lady loves God, loves the Church and loves her some teenagers, and she really has a handle on what Bob McCarty talks about when he says “we are not called to be the embodiment of all giftedness, but rather the orchestrator of gifts.”
- Mary’s husband, Bob, is a stand up guy as well. Works full time managing a pediatric department, studies hard and plays hard. Dude has some awesome hobbies. Listening to him talk about snowshoeing up a mountain in order to ski back down – very cool.
- Apparently there must be some sort of Iowa magic going on in Durango, ‘cause I’ve met three people in the parish with ties to my home state, including the pastor, Fr. Jim. What a guy. Most impressive moment – at the end of Mass he asks if there are any birthdays in the house, and then proceeds to call each person with their hand up by name, without prompting. Way cool – but what else would you expect from in Iowa guy?
Where I’m Headed –
- Home (again, provided the snow everybody’s talking about isn’t enough bog down the airports). While this on the road stuff is fun, home is where my heart is. Got a full week of meetings and ministry moments waiting for me. And at some point I gotta get my taxes taken care of. Woo Hoo!
Final Thought
- While I’ve been out here I’ve been reading through Mike Patin’s new book “A Standing Invitation.” It’s a collection of prayers and reflections on prayers that Mike has found meaningful over the years. The one that has hit me hardest and stuck with me strongest is this:
Disturb us, O Lord, when
We are too pleased with ourselves;
When our dreams have come true,
Because we dreamed too little.
We arrived safely,
Because we sailed too close to shore.
Disturb us, O Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess,
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity.
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, O Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wilder seas
Where storms will show Your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push us into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
- Sir Francis Drake