"Down Time"

Some of you may have thought that the lack of new entries on my blog recently has been because I've been busy building up my new church here in Schulenburg, Texas. I wish that were the case. Actually, the reduced activity on the blog is more the product of "down time." Ever since the first of the month, Lydia and I have been "down" with a persistent cough. We've had few other major symptoms, and have actually felt pretty good during those rare moments when were weren't coughing ourselves into exhaustion! We're under a doctor's care now, and have been on antibiotics, steroids, cough medicine, and are now scheduled to see a lung specialist near Houston in the next few days. Our doctor assures us that this isn't going to kill us; but there have been times when I almost wished it would. I'm still carrying on with my preaching responsibilities; but visitation and other projects I had planned to start have been significantly slowed. Of course, this will pass; and I fully expect that when everybody else gets back into the normal post-vacation schedule, we'll be getting into our work rhythm and establishing a normal way of doing things in a new call. One minister I knew several years ago said that it always took him several months really to get his new pattern of work and routine established whenever he accepted a new call. That's even more true when you're hampered by any kind of sickness--no matter how seemingly minor--during those first few months. Now, I realize that during such interludes, many people come to new and great insights about life, work, God, and other mysteries and philosophical truths of the universe. Unfortunately, I have come to very few such insights since July 31 when this all started. However, since you have read this much of the present entry, and since many of you are faithful readers of this blog, I will distill what wisdom I have for you in a few sentences! First, I can't wait for college football season to start in a couple of weeks. And second, sometimes, it can be liberating simply to acknowledge that you're sick and not try to pretend otherwise. As I have been lying in bed, too exhausted to pursue any additional work on many of these afternoons and have had my XM Satellite radio to keep me company, it has been rather liberating to find myself listening to a rather inconsequential major league baseball game, admitting that was about all I had the energy to do at that moment. Sometimes, we just have to admit that not every day is meant to be a day of great achievement. As we renew ourselves and recover our health--be it physical, emotional or spiritual--it's good to realize that some days are meant simply as opportunities to be renewed and prepare for other days and other adventures--now and in the world to come!