Transitions & Life Liturgies

What William Bridges calls the neutral zone in transitions shows up in the disruption of daily routines or what I like to call life liturgies. I am in my fourth week in a new office but I still do not have a fully functional routine. I don't quite yet know where I put my cell phone. I don't have a routine for gathering my stuff before I head home. Most of the time ... all is well ... but I forget things, misplace things more than usual.

The in-between time creates subtle below-the-surface uneasiness that one simply has to live through.  It helps to stay aware and attentive.  For me it means slowing down and being full of care. It provides an opportunity to prayerfully consider fresh approaches rather than simply seek a way back to previous routines. It includes an invitation to pray which brings a better chance for the emerging routines to become faithful life litugies.

Jesus said: Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. - Matthew 6: 34 MSG Now, where's that cell phone!

Patriot Dreams

My father was a first generation American. His mother, Clara, was from England (never quite lost her accent). His father, Samuel, was Scottish. He and his brother, James,remained in Scotland to work and pay passage for the rest of the family to come to America. James died in an railroad accident. Dad was named for his uncle whose dreams were unfulfilled.
My grandparents and father were proud to be citizens. This took shape in my life with my father's devotion to the flag.  I remember helping him construct a homemade flagpole on top of our garage. My daily responsibility (as a young Boy Scout) was to raise the flag.
Dad had an inordinate trust of elected officials and persons in authority.  The other side of my family (my mother is from Arkansas and her family roots go back to the early 1800's in North Carolina) seemed to distrust elected officials as fools and crooks. I don't know. Perhaps familiarity breeds contempt.
It's just that on Independence Day when I think of the freedom forged by those early colonists, I also think of the pride and devotion of my immigrant grandparents. And I hope the stream of persons seeking new life in America will be blessed.
O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years ...
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul in self control,
thy liberty in law.

When teachers become friends.

A former professor, the Rev. Dr. Bruce Rahtjen, died recently in an unfortunate accident. Bruce was my professor of Biblical Theology at Saint Paul School of Theology. He was brilliant, charismatic and some of my best learning moments occurred in his classes. He also was tremendously supportive when my father died while his student.
Bruce transitioned away from United Methodist ordained ministry and became an Episcopal priest. His journey also led him away from the seminary into the parish. We found ourselves serving congregations in Independence and reconnected. It was interesting to experience the shift in relationship.  I discovered that I had experience and insights that were helpful to this man who had not been responsible for a congregation for some time.
We became friends ... meeting regularly to discuss our ministry and spiritual lives. I celebrated his ministry at St. Mary's in the urban community in downtown KC. Bruce invited me to share in the school for deacons that he led in the diocese. Later I encouraged his reconnection with the UMC through the Melrose congregation.
There is something marvelous about the way relationships develop and mature. I learned much from Bruce; enjoyed the repartee that marked our conversations; and grieve his passing from this life and world.