Tuesday night at Windermere

I am sitting in the room at Windermere where we have been meeting listening to the news of each ds about the district churches. I have just read the "A Full Cup and a Steady Hand" blog spot to Nancye, our dean. She has now looked up up my blog and is interested. I am grateful. I am waiting for Kendall to stop talking to the bishop so I can see if he has read that entry...I had not heard if he had or not.

What a group we are!!! Sue and Sandy are talking now across the table from me; rs and Kendall are talking in the kitchenette; Nancye is now getting ice, and everyone else has gone to their rooms. It has been a busy day. And I am tired. Hopefully tomorrow I will be more rested...I got about a third of my full time churches described, but have 2/3 of them that I will do tomorrow. My feelings have ranged, over the past two days, from euphoric at the thought of some of my churches (most of my churches...I can't say "Faith: Grain Valley" or "David Hackett" without smiling, for instance); to "how in the world are we going to take care of the issues that are presented," from financial difficulty to the reports on churches that are in turmoil because of folks who can't get along; to joy at being with my colleagues; to sadness, deep sadness, when we hear of pastors who are burned out or fed up and need to get out of this thing I love so much ("thing" being the United Methodist Church" or "the ministry.") I do put my trust in God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I remember how Mr. Wesley expressed his feelings after his heart warming experience, that before he had always felt conquered, but now he was conquereor. Help me remember that, Lord.