A New Direction

So, if you're following along, you recognize that I once again hoped to write "now and then" when I got back from a trip.  Then, I came home.  Four kids.  My wonderful wife.  A house.  A church full of people that I love and care for.  Preaching deadlines.  Writing deadlines.  And, of course, no more blogs.  That seems to be the story of these things.  In my defense, I've just finished a book that we're using for the current sermon series and will be using in the future as a part of our discipleship track.  Not sure that it's online yet, but soon you'll be able to find a copy of it here.  I also have another blog that I'm writing for, and a deadline for that.

But honestly, travel just seems far more exciting than normal life.  I think about posting, but I'm not sure what to write.  Who wants to know about my day full of meetings, or the trials of moving four kids in any one direction?   I'd do a play by play of the Little League game I'm coaching, but how many times can I write: "Ball Four.  Another walk."  Soon or later it will get old.  We're getting the basement water-proofed as we speak, and while we're genuinely excited by the prospect of usable space downstairs, it doesn't necessarily make for scintillating reading.  More laundry.  More dishes.  Laughter.  Some tears.  Joy.  Boredom, at times, although they seem to be precious few.  We live normal lives, for the most part.  At least, as normal as a pastor married to a part-time dance instructor, part-time horse rider/trainer with four kids eleven and under can be.

So, with some encouragement by my aforementioned wife, I'm going to take this blog a different direction.

Our lives are normal.  The lives of those around us are normal.  But in the midst of all that "normalness" (which I just knew spell check would have an issue with!), there are moments of extraordinary.  Bits of beauty in the midst of the mundane, if you will.  Now and then, those things might happen in our lives.  However, most often, it's in the lives of those around us--those who are a part of this incredible community in York that has become like a family away from home for us.

Someone should tell those stories.  I think about that all of the time as I talk with the people that cross my path each day.  Incredible stories.  Fascinating pieces of grace.  Someone should tell these stories.  And so, I guess I will.  I won't make promises on how often, or how long, or how many--but I'll try.  I'll do my best to honor my friends by telling their stories with grace.  Of course, I'll only tell stories with permission, and when necessary, I'll change names to protect the innocent and the guilty.  However, finally, the stories can be told.  And if anyone's interested, I suppose I'll tell some more.  There's certainly a lot of us out here in York, and that means lots of stories to tell.