Life's a sermon

It seems that now that I'm about to begin my final year of seminary, everything that happens, everything I do is fodder for a sermon.
I think the days of being a "normal" person may be over.
For instance, Friday night I went to Logan's (my nephew) football game. As I struggled between trying to keep my eye on Logan and on the ball, I realized that that's what life is all about. If the game is being played correctly, theoretically I shouldn't see the two in the same circle of vision. Logan, as an offensive line player, should be keeping his target player out of range of the person with the ball. Just like life, we don't see trouble when it's coming, but we want to be as far away as possible. Such sermon posssibilities. By the way, Marquette won, outscoring Wisconsin Lutheran 27-20.
Then on Saturday I attended the wedding of the son of some dear friends. There were many things that occurred that day that would make wonderful wedding sermons. But what struck me most was something the father of the groom sort of said during his toast to the newlyweds. He told of their son, who he and his wife adopted as an infant, as being a failure-to-thrive baby. The child, with the help of a good medical team and loving support from all corners did thrive and lives life as a wonderful, caring adult. The unsaid, implied message by the dad was that marriages may have tough times too, perhaps times when it seems like it may be a failure to thrive, but with love and support from all corners, that too will thrive and be a beautiful thing.
See what I mean, there is always a message and a lesson in everything we see, say or do.
Prayer Corner: Thanksgiving for successful surgery for Mary; prayers of healing for Denny; prayers of comfort for Jean; prayers of healing for Christian; safe travel for Mary; a successful and insightful school year for all students; and loving guidance and support for the Delaney family as it embarks on the adventure of seminary.

Another year, another blog attempt

As I prepare for another school year, my third, and supposedly final, at Nashotah House Seminary, I have decided to try the blog again. I am feeling much stronger than I did a year ago. In fact, when folks ask what I did this summer my favorite response is "get healthy." And that is very true. I have dedicated myself to getting healthy and trying to resolve any lingering issues from the dasderdly bad health that found its way into my body two years ago. While there are still a few residual concerns, I for the most part am healthy and believe I can say with full confidence that I have more energy and feel much stronger than I did two years ago.
I made a commitment to myself after my last hospitalization in May that I would be as healthy as possible come the start of classes in September. I did that by praying the daily office three times a day, allowing myself time for nine hours of sleep a night, if that is what my body needed, resting, moderate exercise, resting, reading, seeking answers from doctors, resting, following doctors' advice and, RESTING. It worked and I am now very excited and energized to start another year of classes.
As I considered resuming this blog, I thought about what I wanted to do with it and what's important to me. In addition to writing of my adventures, I hope to add a prayer corner to each blog. Please, if you feel so inclined, share via e-mail, or blog comment, any prayer concerns you have and I will list them at the end of the next post.

Prayer Concerns
Calmness and confidence for Mary as she prepares for surgery; knowing the presence of the Holy Spirit for Jackie as she accepts her mother's death; safe travel for Roy; safe travel for Mark; safe travel for Shane, safe travel and moving preparations for Jane and Jill; physical healing for Logan; support for Nashotah's new dean, Dean Salmon; for Ryan and his family as he prepares to join the ranks as a Nashotah seminarian.