At 52

When my mother turned 52, she got her drivers license for the first time and returned to school to get her college education. Her baby (me) was 16 and I guess that seemed to be a good time for her to do what she had wanted to do but had never done.

When I turned 52 last December, I was in the midst of recovery from a chemical depression, a district superintendent, in the midst of counseling that was helping muchly, and wondering what my 52nd birthday year would begin. So far this year, I have toyed with (some seriously, some not): going back to school to get my (what was once called) M.L.S.--master of library science; not returning to Kansas City this summer when I went to St Simons with Caleb; selling the SSI condo and buying modern design KC condo; applying for jobs at seminaries in order to work with...well, seminarians; writing a book; losing a lot of weight; getting comfortable with my present weight but getting in better shape; getting a couple new kittens; and well, many other things, too. Some of this toying I have lived out. Some were mere fancies. One that I am living out is: turning my apartment living room into a mid-century, Danish modern marvel. I bought three small chairs with ottoman and built in desks on two at River Market Mall, plus two really cool 50s lamps and two "gravel pictures" (colored stones that I think use to come in a kit like paint by number) and I was inspired by one of my favorite places in the Volker-39th street corridor, Boomerang, at its huge warehouse sale this weekend. There was SO much really good stuff. I went three days in a row (it was only 5 minutes from our place)...I bid on a couch that I didn't get (but I was glad I didn't get it...more on that later), two kitchen bowls, a cool old ash tray that can be used for many other things than ashes (and it has a cross, of sorts, painted on it??? Maybe an Ash Wednesday ash tray...nah...), and bid on and got, for $20, four Samsonite chairs (see picture above) that I am painting four different colors. I spray painted one a buff color tonight and thus the resulting picture. The original is on the left...rusty frame, but gorgeous line. Yesterday I went to Retro Fusion downtown, looking for that ephemeral DML (Danish Modern Loveseat) and I was told that I had a great eye for very good Danish modern. And to think, two months ago, I barely had an eye at all :-) And I found THE LOVESEAT on line last night. Brandy is sending it to me via Greyhound (seems fitting for a 50s loveseat) from St. Petersburg later in the week. Here it is, in its simple loveliness, too:

No, I'm not wild about the paisley either...I plan to re-cover the the cushions in a cranberry-colored fabric. I also have ordered a rug (clearance through Rug Nation....wow, do they have some NICE things and not to pricey) from San Antonio. I think right now the rug is the only thing not "used" that will appear in the living room. Can you tell I am really in to this?

And..on the ds front, what I have done is to go more with my own strengths--especially spiritual formation stuff, and that is how I am leading the pastors this year. This week we had two pastors meetings, one on each side of the district, where I unveiled THE READING LIST (not whole lots of push back, but some, that I am asking all full timers to read four out of seven books this year and come to a book study, too). We are also concentrating on the four "days apart" that will be intentional faith development.

So, I guess, at 52, I am learning the truth. Follow your bliss before it gets any later; get to know the sales guys at Boomerang, in order to not only have somebody help you get your stuff in the car, but just because the blond guy, in particular, is one of the nicest, most helpful guys(and gay as Joseph's coat) I have met in retail in a while; go with your gut in leading your district; and hope that indeed, it IS true that cynicism and loneliness that seems rampant in the United Methodist ministry can be overcome by growing in grace and spirit. And practicing the means of grace. And learn the difference between an Eames and a Le Corbusier. It could yield you much joy.