The lecture, the week

-
Well, the 200 minute lecture is history. Yippee!!!!

I took three days last week as vacation to finish writing it. Glad I did, too. I needed every bit of it. Overall, I think it went fine; I had good feedback, and I felt good in the moment. I was "me," which was pretty important since the topic was authenticity! :-) If they succeed in getting the audio posted on the website for the Series, I'll post a link.

RevDrKate had a beautiful post the day before the lecture, which, with her permission, I used as an example of growth toward 'the authentic self' and how self-reflection can be such a wonderful aid in that process. Thank you, Kate!

After the lecture ended at 1:00 yesterday, a friend took me to lunch--my friend is the mother of Julia, the precious 2-year-old we're all in love with here at my house. My friend brought Julia over that evening, so we got to babysit again. Thank goodness Beautiful Genuine Drummer Girl was here--she and D helped play with Julia for the two hours she was at our house. I was extremely tired. As I told my colleague in ministry this morning, I wish these kinds of things didn't wear me out, but they really do. I was pretty much a zombie this morning at church.

The week ahead of me promises to be especially busy. I don't normally see more than two or three counselees or spiritual directees per week, but I've been postponing some folks in order to work on the lecture. That means that this week I have six counseling appointments...I'm preaching next Sunday...It's the final week for the current Companions in Christ group I'm leading, plus we have a retreat on Saturday for that same group...I have a Courage to Lead retreat coming up in just two weeks, after which D and I leave on a much-needed vacation together (can't wait for that!)...Right before all that, though, my two BIG monthly events at the church take place (a concert series and an emerging-church style worship service), so I'll have to spend some time this week doing all the marketing for them. Whew!

I'm stressed and really tired. In the midst of finalizing the lecture, I've been working through a big decision (more on that in a future post), which I ended up actually having to make last week. The timing wasn't great; I wish I'd had some time to think it through without the pressure of the lecture on me, but ... Oh well. I trust that I've done the right thing. God is with me, always there and so eager to help me turn fear into courage, ennui into excitement, pain into joy. When I remember that, I am only grateful.

Comments

RevDrKate said…
Oh Katherine, I am so happy to hear it went well! I was praying for you through the day yesterday and have been checking your blog hoping you'd post and update us! I totally get the exhaustion factor...and yipes what a week a'coming! Glad you have some well-deserved time to rest with D coming up in the not-too-distant future.
October 21, 2007 at 8:23 PM
Elaine (aka...Purple) said…
So glad everything went well. I am envious of you attending a Parker Palmer, "Courage to Lead" event. It is on my "must do" list.
October 22, 2007 at 9:23 AM
Diane M. Roth said…
glad to hear of your success!!!
October 22, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Jan said…
Katherine, I've missed you, since this is the only place we seem to "meet" these days. I'm so glad the speech went well.

This week certainly sounds busy. You will be intentionally in my prayers, dear friend.
October 22, 2007 at 12:31 PM
Katherine E. said…
Thanks, everyone. This blogging world is such a gift...Jan, I've gotten to know you better this way, and love you even more. And it's just so amazing to "meet" all of you incredible people through your writing. People used to write letters to maintain friendships throughout their lives; I guess this is our equivalent...
October 22, 2007 at 7:42 PM
Jan said…
Katherine, I agree about this being similar to letter-writing. I used to be a big letter-writer, but no more. I get intimidated by long letters--am more of a "card" person now. And blogging is more fun at this moment in my life! Love to you, my friend.
October 22, 2007 at 8:26 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"The Bible does not close discussions; it seeks to open them"

-
From William Sloan Coffin in The Courage to Love: The opposite of love is not hate but fear. If we are to broaden our vision and enlarge our hearts, we must allow risk to enter our lives, permit doubt to walk hand in hand with belief. It is a mistake to sharpen our minds by narrowing them. It is a mistake to look at the Bible to close a discussion--the Bible seeks to open one.... The Bible is no oracle to be consulted for specific advice on specific problems; rather, it is a wellspring of wisdom about the ambiguity, inevitability, and the insolubility of the human situation. It sings praises to God who...provides minimum protection but maximum support.... Finally, the Bible is a signpost, not a hitching post. It points beyond itself, saying "Pay attention to God, not me." And if, as the Bible claims, "God is love, and she who abides in loves abides in God, and God abides in her," then revelation is in the relationship. In all Scripture there is no injunction more fu...
Read more

Mother's Day...and Children Everywhere, It Seems!

-
Image
Diane has such a beautiful post, " Mother's Day Reflections from a Non-Mother. " She expresses so eloquently much of my own feelings. Thank you, Diane. I blogged last year about the grief I finally was able to experience at not being a mother. (See: Two Souls ) And I was so blessed to receive comments from dear Lovely Passionate Feminist and from blogging friends that, to this day, have stayed with me and given me such solace. LPF, GannetGirl, Linda, Jan, thank you. (GG, I am holding you in prayer, holding you in prayer, holding you in prayer...) This past year I have seen mothering in new ways. Although I am childless, children are playing an increasing role in my life. The children at my church, to whom I am "Pastor Katherine," are amazing. I'm with them for a couple of hours once a week, but many have revealed their hearts to me. It's probably the best thing about my "job," relating to these children, loving them. This picture shows some of ...
Read more

Returning?

-
Giving birth has always been a powerful metaphor for me. Not that I relate it to physical pregnancy, but since I started awakening, 20 years ago now, in my early thirties, I could feel the creative element in life moving within me, making me something new. I'm listening to Jennifer Berezan's CD, "Returning." She chants throughout: returning, returning, returning to the Mother of us all... This music is haunting, smoky, with rhythms that sink to the beginning of time itself. She recorded the music is a subterranean temple/tomb used by the Neolithic people of Malta. The 3-level labyrinth has 33 chambers, stairs, passageways, all carved out of the limestone with flint and antler tools. Some of the chambers, 5.25 meters beneath the surface, are egg shaped. Maybe now you can begin to imagine the haunting quality of this elegant sound. Our local public radio station aired an interview yesterday with a scientist who is using DNA markers to track human populations movements ...
Read more