Last week my manager asked my co-workers and myself to contemplate several questions from an organizational, team and personal perspective. The following are the questions we were given for a personal “inward reflection”: • What did I learn about myself?  • What do I want to ensure I continue?   • “Because I had the chance to go through a pandemic, I …” I found the entire exercise to be helpful, but these last three questions, in particular, were good to reflect on. Still, in the end, it felt like an oversimplification to reflect on my personal “sacrifices” and what they have taught me (while, truthfully, it has been more of an inconvenience than a sacrifice). Sure there are things that have been more acute because of being classified as an essential worker and later being able to shelter and work at home. I do want to have gained some better

Two things: 1) At the end of last week I was invited by the mayor’s office to contribute toward a collection of faith leader messages addressed to city residents.  The intention was to offer words of encouragement during the anxieties of this pandemic.  In the message I suggested this time has similarities to two of the major storylines in the Bible – Exile and Exodus.  The 4 ½ minute video can be viewed HERE and you may recognize some of the other clergy in the playlist.     2) Despite our inability to be together in person, we are going forward with Membership Sunday this weekend.  In our recorded worship service we’ll hear brief faith journeys from each of our nine new members, who will also lead other parts of the service.  Our preparation time via Zoom included reading through and discussing our Membership Commitment statement, newly written last year, a

The rains came! Here in Thailand, from somewhere around mid-November until mid-April we don’t see any rain. And, in the midst of no rain the farmers begin to burn their old crops. The pollution gets pretty bad. Really bad, actually. As soon as April comes we start to check the skies for rain clouds and praying that they come sooner than later. This year, right smack dab in the middle of the burning season, we found ourselves in the midst of a pandemic. Don’t go outside, you say? Already planning on staying inside.  A perfect storm of horrible. Then a couple of weeks ago the rains came and the air was breathable again! And if that wasn’t enough, several short days later, after nearly three weeks of single-digit newly reported cases, the Thai government has started to slowly open things back up again! There is a particular song that we

My father would insist that significant events be acknowledged and commemorated. His tributes were often simple. If we were on a trip, he would find a cupcake and a candle and noisemakers and sometimes hats. Everyone nearby who could gather did, and faces shining and smiling, we would sing happy birthday. His motivation, which was pure and joyful, was to say, “I see you and you mean something to me.” I learned that desire to remember and memorialize. We are in the middle of this pandemic, so I don’t know yet the meaning of it and everything I’ll remember. I find I’m taking moments to remember other things. On Monday the 4th I sat in my breakfast nook, staring out the window at 12:24 PM and counted the 13 seconds of the Kent State shooting 50 years ago. I remembered my own experiences from that time and I looked up