Sabbatical -- Day 35: The Ramp is Open. The Ramp is Closed. The Ramp is Open. Your flight is canceled.

July 30

Time to depart the condo and head back to Lexington. We got up and cleaned up. Went to the rental car place to pick up our car for the trip to Punta Gorda. Bad tire. We will upgrade you, they said. A GMC Terrain. Ok.

We packed up and started north. Still no gators along the highway. Haven't seen one live gator in the wild this whole trip.

We arrived at the Punta Gorda airport about 2:30pm. Way ahead of schedule for our flight out at 5:42pm. When we walked in the terminal there was Dr. Jim and Rev. Petie McLean. I knew they had been in Florida this past week. Still, what a surprise to see them in the terminal. We visited a bit. Allegiant wouldn't let us check in until 3:30 they said, so we sat and waited. About 3:45 they started checking us through and through security we zoomed, and right into our second surprise of the day. Sydney Burdette, one of our very favorite servers at Malone's was there.

Sydney and Dallas have been sort of buddies here and there. She's not quite 19 yet and took a weekend away to go see a friend. She sat with us at the gate and provided immense entertainment. She is filled with snark. Good snark. Funny snark. For 18, she's quite a mature, thoughtful and dedicated human. We feel like her grandparents in some ways. We enjoy her.

The first delay was announced when the plane we were set to take arrived from Knoxville and sat on the ramp without pulling up to the gate. Lightning. It was quite a while before the gate agent said, "they've opened the ramp, please get ready. When we get these passengers off we are going to hustle you on."  Didn't happen.

The ramp is closed. They waited on the plane. We in the terminal.

I walked into the little shop that had a news stand, a bar, a grill and some snacks. Eric Hastie grabbed me. What a surprise. Eric and Bennett were set to fly from Punta Gorda to Lexington so Bennett could get a CT Scan at the Markey Center.

The ramp is open. The passengers deplane.

Get ready everyone.

The ramp is closed.

We visit. We wait.

The flight is canceled. It's 7:30 pm. Weather they said. Except that the flight next to us, the one headed to Raleigh is loading as we are told our flight is canceled. Methinks the aroma of bullsugar is in the air. Raleigh flight departs. We are stranded. Sydney, we confirm has a ride and a place to stay. We are uncomfortable leaving her there, but she assures us she is ok and will text us when she gets picked up.

What are we going to do?

I book a room at a local hotel called the Punta Gorda Waterfront Inn. The reviews online look decent. Eric Hastie comes in and says, we are headed back home to Naples, come stay with us. I just booked the room I tell him. We have rented a car he says. Let us take you to the hotel. So, off we go. They decide to stay at the hotel too. The reviews lied. More about that in Tuesday's post.

We check in and eat in the Hurricance Charlie's restaurant.

The room they give to me and Kelly won't lock. So they move us to another room. It's a humongous suite with a jacuzzi. Not bad we think. We have a bayside view of Charlotte Harbor. Not bad.

So, the day began ok. We said goodbye to the condo which we enjoyed so very much.

We were surprised at the airport to see Eric and Bennett, to receive such gracious kindness from them and to get to spend some quality time with them.

The gate agent had a hard evening. It was obvious she had no clue they were going to cancel the flight. She did a good job for her company. So, I thanked her and told her a couple of my patented stupid, corny jokes, and I wished her a good evening. Flight is rescheduled for 2:45pm on Tuesday. Thunderstorms are in the forecast. We will see what we will see.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 34: Entering the Void

Bulletin Cover from FCC Naples - The Current depicting the Zen Void

We got up and headed to worship at First Christian Church, Naples -- the Current. Here is a link to their website FCC Naples -- The Current. Worship was not what we were used to. It was unique in many ways.

The website for FCC Naples tells how the pastor enjoys Quantum Physics, and that worship and life at FCC Naples is a blend of ecumenical traditions including Zen Buddhism. All of that was evident in worship -- and from my point of view in a delightful and refreshing way. We were well greeted at the door. Seating was around round tables. Coffee and food was evident all through worship as was a clear friendship and respect among those who were gathered. Pastor Michael led the band at the keyboard. He was enthusiastic, affable, and full of life. 

At our table we were seated with Grace and Dorothy. We came to discover during conversation that Grace is married to Brian McLaren. Wow. Wow. What a treat that turned out to be. Don't know Brian McLaren? Here's the Wikipedia link: Brian McLaren

Above is the bulletin for the service. Note especially the Tuning into God Frequency. This was a period of silence where attendees were invited into silent centering prayer to bring themselves into the moment. A dash of Zen here.

Notice also that the sermon is replaced by Contemplation and Discussion. Yep. Pastor Michael gave a 7 minute homily on the passage at hand, heavily dosed with quantum physics, psychology and a 21st century post-modern sensibility. Then, he took a handheld microphone, walked to the tables and asked people to openly discuss what it means to quiet one's mind, empty one's self, and "enter the void," as did Jesus. The discussion was free and lively and all participated. It takes a tremendous courage to trust your congregation to engage in a conversation like this. 

Let me say a bit more about that.

Conversations that matter necessarily require a space where people feel safe to speak; a space where there is no judgment, no reprisal, no fear of being labeled or shunned. There are rules for conversations that take place in those spaces. Conversations that matter are not easy. The environment has to be right, and mutual respect has to be the air that is breathed. That was clearly the case in the worship space because people spoke freely.

One might have surmised such a space from looking at the church's website. Their inclusion of Buddhism and other faith traditions would be one clue. Also, they are an Open and Affirming Congregation, meaning they welcome LGBQT people into the full life of the church. It was a safe space and the variety of people present and their manner confirmed that.

It was an enlightening experience and one that bore fruit. The church has a ministry called Food Angels. The woman who administers it and I had a conversation after worship about Plant A Row for the Hungry, and we exchanged resources and ideas. Her name was Dara Albert and there was a great write-up about her in a Naples magazine.

The afternoon was spent in quiet repose at the condo. We went to Napoli by the Bay for a pizza dinner and to the beach at sunset. We rescued a starfish.

And here's two photos to finish the day.

I took this picture with the phone touching the sand.

 The sea was absolutely flat and calm. All week it has been boiling with the swells ripping into the shore. Tonight it was like glass. Devoid of any real energy. Lazily lapping the sand. What an interesting change.

Peace and Love,

Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 33: Local Knowledge

July 28

We went to breakfast at the Cove Inn this morning. A tiny little coffee shop, hole in the wall place that Mary Jane had suggested. It was time travel. When we walked in the place was packed. I'm told if we were there in the early spring we would have waited an hour to get in. The flat top had a grizzled old fellow cooking. It wouldn't have surprised me to look over and see the butt of a cigarette stuck to his lip. It was warm inside. The service was attentive to say the least. They were turning tables. I ordered bacon and a couple of pancakes which were the size of the hubcaps on my dear departed '54 Chevy. I didn't finish all my food.

From there we went to a local furniture store on North US 41 called, Scan Design. Here's their website: Scan Design. What an interesting place. Great furniture. The two gentlemen running the place had no idea but I was about to engage them in a long conversation on local knowledge. They were gracious and informative. Both men were dressed snappily and delightfully and they carried on an animated conversation with me about where to live in Naples if you're a local, where to eat, what the local politics was about and how welcoming the community was. They also dished on how great the weather was between October and May, which allowed them to live through the sauna of July.

After the furniture visit we went to 5th Avenue to look up a store Mary Jane had suggested to Kelly. Here's a link to everything 5th Avenue in Naples. Fifth Avenue. Kelly bought some jewelry. I sat in the shade on the sidewalk watching people. The amount of shapes and sizes and colors and languages of people was quite fascinating. There was an African dialect, Italian, maybe Polish, Spanish, French, German and something akin to Jersey Shore.

Then it was on to souvenir shopping. Shopping isn't easy for me, but I hung in there.

Dinner was at Kelly's Seafood Shack on the Bay. We have eaten so much that we actually shared an entree; a first ever for us.

The evening turned a bit cooler and I sat on the screened in patio for a while and watched people and cars some more. Cars. The cars here. Wow.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical Post - Day 32: Date Correction. Over Halfway There, Livin' On a Prayer

July 27

Well, I have calculated dates wrong, and today is the day for correction. It's actually Day 32. Over halfway through the sabbatical.

It was a beach day today.

Yes, I got a bit of a burn. Not bad for an old, fat, white guy.

It was interesting to watch the birds and the people interact. My pelican photos didn't turn out at all. The pelicans would body surf on the waves next to people seemingly unconcerned about the people floating next to them. Then they would rise up into the air and plunge to the water again.

There were some gulls and crows along the beach too. They were foraging for the dead fish that were washing ashore.

There were lots of families with children. It was hot. There were no clouds. Not the kind of day that you would suspect locals to be out much. I saw no old men in speedos either. Bonus.

Dinner was at Ridgway Bar and Grill. A little pricey. Ok. A lot. But it was a good decision and we were able to order summer specials that came at a lower rate. The restaurant was not crowded at all. On a Friday night in Lexington it's difficult to get a seat anywhere. The dining was relaxed and the food was delicious. Our server, Terri, was fun. She talked about her dogs. She talked about her life in Naples. She was a joy.

After dinner we drove along Gulf Shore Dr and marveled at homes that probably cost above $50,000,000. It is beyond comprehension in some ways. Back to the beach for sunset.

Wealth and privilege are on display everywhere in Naples. Of the kind I have never seen in a concentrated area and time frame. Rolls Royce. Bentley. A McClaren. Lambos. Ferraris. Houses that have full staffs year 'round. Opulence on steroids. It just pushes the boundaries here and that has caused me a great deal of reflection. I will never know wealth like this in my life and neither will 99% of America. The 1% are everywhere here. And wow, do they have the goods. Life among the wealthiest is so far removed from what I experience that it is difficult to understand. My zero turn mower is in the shop back in Lexington and will cost $900 to repair. That's a budget buster for us. The kind of wealth one sees here is simply beyond my ability to comprehend.

Everyone here is nice. I have not witnessed one wealthy person being a tyrant to staff in restaurants. (The wealthy probably aren't eating where we are.) I have not seen a Mercedes, Rolls driver be uncourteous in any way. If the super wealthy have been near us, they have been undetectable. So, I have no indictment to offer for those who are among the 1% based on the way I have experienced life here, but, I have been raised, socialized, taught to believe that such wealth is anathema, and that rich people are not nice, and that super wealth is to be condemned. I have been preached a gospel that says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich person get into heaven. I have been taught that wealthy people are immoral, selfish and uninterested in the plight of those who live in poverty.

I suspect that much of that is actually true, but I also suspect that the truth is nuanced. I wonder. Is wealth inherently evil and against the will of God? Are wealthy people living a life that is counter to the Gospel? I have seen poor people be significantly more generous than they could seemingly afford and I have met arrogant and selfish wealthy persons. But that's not the whole truth. It's a part of my experience, but it isn't the whole of experience.

I am enjoying this week very much, but I do sometimes feel like an alien in a strange land.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 29: Red Tide, Red Bull, Red Line

July 26

No energy today. By 9:00am it was 90 degrees. Sat outside a bit, but it just sucked the wind out of me.

Southwest Florida has been experiencing Red Tide conditions for months. This week a whale shark floated onto the Sanibel Beach. They suspect the Red Tide killed it. There have been a larger-than-usual amount of sea turtle fatalities this year. Again, they suspect Red Tide. Red Tide is officially known as Harmful Algal Bloom or HAB. It sends spores into the air and causes respiratory problems for humans. Every time we go near the ocean, Kelly starts to cough. I did get on the beach on Tuesday night, but I coughed a bit too. So, we have had no beach time. I spent some time at the pool. But, the closer we get to the gulf side of Naples the worse it is on Kelly. We are hoping that it changes tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I had zero energy today. I laid around the condo. Napped a bit. Read a ton of news instead of reading the book I should have been reading. Snacked on fresh fruit and really sharp white cheddar cheese. When late afternoon came calling and it was time to go somewhere to eat I popped open a can of Red Bull. It was the very first time I had ever tried it, and there is no doubt it will be the last. To me, and this is my opinion only, it tastes like fizzy cough syrup. No thanks.

We ate dinner at the Riverwalk Restaurant, on the bay side, on the water. It was ok. The food was good enough. The ambiance plenty good. But, it was hot. We drove down to the Naples Dock at Crayton Cove and walked out onto the pier. There we met LEO the Jack Russell and his owners who live aboard a 50' Gulfstar sailcraft. They bought it in March and live on it. Here's a photo of her.

A lot of people dream of living aboard a boat, but Brad, LEO and the spouse of Brad (She didn't introduce herself) are actually living on the boat. Living on a boat is not an easy thing to do. There is always work to be done on the boat. He built, by hand, all new chainplates for the boat this spring and had $4000 of rigging laying on the deck, waiting to be installed. Something is always breaking and needing repaired on a boat. It has to be weatherproofed annually when you live on the boat. It sounds romantic, and if you are up for the challenge, it is, but there are few who are up to the challenge. Nothing on a boat this size is cheap. Brad mentioned that his credit card had a thin red line he was about to cross. I feel for him. With Tula Mor, our Ensenada 20' we can count on spending about $1000 when something goes wrong. With Two Amigos, the Gulfstar 50', it's about $10,000. Brad mentioned that BOAT meant Bring Out Another Thousand. Like, I said, I feel for him. But, watching her pull away from the dock and into the bay was a pretty sight.

I suspect we rise to the challenges we face most of the time. Sometimes we get to choose our challenges, like the Gulfstar 50' and sometimes we don't, like when your dear loved one dies suddenly and without any time to plan. Challenges can make us better people. It happens sometimes when we are tested that we find the mettle of our spirits, meet the challenge and prove ourselves courageous and determined. Sometimes organizations that go through challenges find new and creative ways to pull together and persevere. Sometimes. Sometimes challenges roll over us like waves, rendering us foundered and in need. Whatever challenges we face, we pray that friends will stand with us, that God will give us a vision and a direction, and that we have the strength to meet the day.

This is the day the Lord has made.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 28: This Road Ends in Water

July 25

I got up early and walked the four blocks to Bad Ass Coffee on S. Third St. I was hoping to buy a bag of coffee for the coffee pot in the condo. No such luck. They had foofoo flavored coffee and not one bag of regular coffee to sell. Still, it was a good walk. I drank Maxwell House coffee that was in the condo and cringed every sip. Kelly said, "you really are a coffee snob." I own it. Yes. I am.

Kelly worked all morning and then just after noon we departed for Everglades City. I just wanted to see the Everglades. I have heard so much about them all my life. I can remember this television show from when I was a kid, "Gentle Ben." I remember this young boy and his dog on an airboat. I just wanted to say I have been there. We drove all the way down and across a causeway until the road ended in water, (with acknowledgement to Andra Moran who wrote and recorded a song entitled, "This Road Ends in Water.")

There was barely any cell signal at all but I was able to get this screen shot of where we were. So cool to end up there.

We traveled up 29 to Miles City hoping for a glance of a gator by the road or a panther. Since we were traveling through a Florida Panther preserve we could hope, right?

When we hit I-75 to travel back to Naples, Waze told us we were 1300 miles from I-75 and Winchester Rd -- home.

We ate dinner at Pincher's Crab Shack on the bay at Tin City in Naples and it was fantastic. Here's a photo of the Hot Crab and Cheese dip.

Afterward we rolled up to Vanderbilt Beach doing some sightseeing, then ended up back at the South Beach Club, feet up at the swimming pool.

Today I understood why Ray and Mary Jane come down here so often and why they deeply love this place. First, there is the family history with Mary Jane's parents, but there is also this calm that comes over you here. The pace slows. The people all speak to you. The traffic is friendlier. There is a pervasive spirit of well-being. I know that comes with privilege. I completely understand that 99% of the world's population does not get a place like this or a week like this. I am aware. I am awake.

However.....

..... A change of perspective helps one to see things differently, to see through the eyes of another. Today I completely understand why Ray and Mary Jane love this place so. And that understanding has changed me just a bit -- and reminded me to try and see things from other people's perspective. Oftentimes when talking to Mary Jane at church about needs or meetings she will say, "I am going to be in Florida." Today, I see that from a different point of view.

When I was a kid growing up in Oklahoma, believing I was descended from Native Americans, my father used to say to me, "never criticize someone until you walk a mile in their moccasins." Trying to see things through other people's eyes is empathy and understanding, it is willingness to be open to a perspective that isn't your own, may be vastly different from your own, and deeply authentic to the person who holds that perspective. It is listening to understand rather than to respond. It is seeing good in another even though they differ from you. It is a willingness to expand.

I sure hope I can carry this openness with me in the days and years ahead. Thanks again, Ray and Mary Jane.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical Days 24-27: The Journey Takes Some Turns

July 21
Saturday. No power. No will. It was hot in the house. We didn't do very much. Couldn't.

We continued to move stuff for Dallas. Set up a stereo system, old school style with a receiver and three way speakers.

About 6pm we decided to stay at a local hotel. We have been thinking about a Memory Foam mattress so we decided to stay at Griffin Gate and sleep on a Tempur Pedic for research.

July 22
Woke up to rain. No power at the house. Watched the British Open at the hotel until checkout time. Went home and finished the British Open on my iPhone. Helped Dallas move some more stuff.

My sister, Melanie, has two sons. Andrew and Alex. Drew has decided to move to Colorado to turn an avocation, landscape photography, into a vocation. They arrived in Lexington en route to Colorado about 7:30pm. With no power we put them up at the Hilton Garden Inn and decided to stay there ourselves. Dallas came and met us at Harry's and we treated the boys to dinner.

Left to Right: Jerry, Kelly, Drew, Dallas, Alex

July 23
Got the boys off on the next leg of their journey. By the end of the day they had made it to Salina, KS. I'm quite familiar with Salina. When I was in college and playing intercollegiate golf we played many a tournament in Salina. The only tournament where I was medalist in college, (well, at least I did win 1), was at Salina Country Club. My seminary roommate is the pastor at First Christian Church in Salina.

The power came on at the house. Kelly went to the office and I did laundry all day and moved some more stuff for Dallas, installing a subwoofer on the stereo system. Packed. Got ready to leave for Naples, FL on Tuesday.

July 24
Woke up early. Got to the airport on time. Boarded our Allegiant flight for Punta Gorda. This was my first Allegiant experience. The seats -- not very cushy. Don't recline. The tray tables -- more like tray faux tables -- tiny.  The legroom was decent. The flight crew was great.

On the plane I started to read my third book of the sabbatical; "Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks," by Dr. Diana Butler Bass. Fifty pages in, it's an awesome read. Her work is so deeply researched, footnoted and chronicled. She writes with a deep academic knowledge and ability but with the heart of a person like the rest of us trying to live life as best we can.

Reading "Grateful" on the Allegiant Flight

In 2014, Dr. Bass was the keynote speaker for the Regional Assembly of the Christian Church In Kentucky. It was my job to get her to the hotel safely, provide a gift basket, (Elmwood Inn tea, Woodford Reserve Bourbon Chocolates, Blue Mondays and some Maker's Mark), and to transport her from the hotel to the venue and back. We had a lot of time to talk and we discovered we were born just days apart in February, 1959 and our only children were born just days apart in October, 1997. We talked about theology and poetry and lots of good things, When she wrote her previous book, "Grounded," she kindly recalled the time we spent together. To be mentioned in one of her books has thrilled me beyond measure.

Needless to say, I buy her books and I am a fan.

We arrived in Punta Gorda without issue. Picked up our rental, a Nissan Versa, drove to Naples and found the condo. We are here thanks to the gracious generosity of Ray and Mary Jane Rush, Ed and Shannon Saunier and Walt Ecton. This condo has been in their family many years. When a sabbatical was granted to me, Mary Jane (MoJo), was quick to offer us a week here. We are absolutely blown away by the kindness and generosity that they have shown us. MoJo wrote out a huge long list of things for us to do, places to eat, and how to do anything we might want. We are even allowed the use of the Condo Car. We are grateful.

In her book, Dr. Bass talks about a circle of gratitude. You do something for me. In turn, I do something for you, and it circles back. It becomes a burden rather than a gift. Before I started reading today I might have said, the kindness of the Ecton/Saunier/Rush family is something we will never be able to repay. The thing is -- it's a gift from them. To repay it in some way would be to cheapen the gift. We are simply grateful that they thought well enough of us to gift us this week. Oh, we will offer kindness in return as a way of saying thanks, but a gift should be appreciated as a gift. Thank you Ecton/Saunier/Rush families.

We ate dinner at the Olde Naples Pub and walked to the pier; closed due to hurricane damage. But it was nice to get a toe in the sand and see the sun hanging low over the Gulf.

Historic Naples Pier

It's been a long day. There were schedules to keep today and I had to put on real shoes for the walking and the flying. I was back to sandals by 3pm. My feet have relaxed. The everyday shoes felt cramped (well, they were brand new and this was the first time I had worn them) and they hurt my feet a bit. Shoes off. Feet up. Hair down. Relaxed mode engaged. What a gift to us this week will be.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

P.S. -- I just wanted to add that Diana is candid about her own life and struggles in "Grateful" in a way that truly reached my heart. This book is a really good read, folks, and Diana is a hugely decent human being.

Sabbatical - Day 23; Walk On Through the Storm

July 20

Short post. Power is out. Blogging with the iPhone as the source of internet when you've got one bar isn’t ideal.

I was outside on the carport when I heard a roar. The rain was already a wet blanket over the landscape. The roar grew louder and then it hit. The airport says they recorded gusts to 70 mph. It was at least that and it was sustained for a moment. I admit it scared me. I thought for a moment it was a tornado. 

When I went back outside a bit later I was packing Dallas’ things on the trailer, turned around and noticed this.

We have lived in this house since 1999 and this is the first snake I have seen. I believe it is a Gray Rat Snake (Pantherophis spiloides), but I am not certain. It was largely unconcered with me, and I was not anxious at all. I am glad the snake is around to eat all the vermin. The yard is full of moles, voles and field mice. I appreciate any help I can get in limiting their numbers.

Loaded up the trailer and moved some things in for Dallas. He will be living with 5 other architect students. Here's a photo of the house.

The power was out at Malone's, hmmmm, sounds familiar. So, they were closed. Instead of Malone's we went to Honeywood at the Summit at Fritz Farm. I have been wanting to go. I am a huge fan of Chef Ouita Michel, and she attends Midway Christian Church. Dinner was off the charts amazing.

Here's my dessert.

Back home to a dark house. No air moving. Warm. 50,000 people in Fayette County without power. Grateful for the roof over our heads, that we didn't suffer damage. May not be the best night's sleep, but that's a minor struggle compared to some.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 22; No Mow

July 19
Took the mower to Central Equipment this morning. Looking around at their repair queue I would guess they've got more than 200 mowers ready to be serviced. A week to ten days before diagnosis, and maybe a week for repair after. Hmmm. There will be no mo mowing for a few days. Sorry neighbors.

Continued reading the Sermon Without End. Finished listening to the podcast from Hidden Brain. Put a piece of furniture together for Dallas' move. Spent some time in the hammock fighting off evening mosquitoes.

I wish I had read Sermon Without End a couple years ago. There are some parts of it that I think would have helped my doctoral project be a little better. I am hoping that the reading and the podcasts are opening my mind to new thoughts and ideas about preaching and conversation.

I also spent some time watching the British Open and paying attention online to Brittany Lincicome at the Barbasol Championship at Champions at Keene Trace here in central KY. I had high hopes she might make the cut, but after a round of 78 it would be near impossible for her to be playing on Saturday.

In tomorrow's post I intend to focus a bit more on what I am reading about Conversation and preaching.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 21; Stop! Hammock Time!

July 18 PM

Our mower, a Ferris IS 500Z broke beyond my ability to repair it today. Before you get to questioning my mechanic chops, let me say that I grew up wrenching things thanks to our family's constantly moneyless situation. Last year a hydraulic hose on the mower split and I was able to repair it. This year, there's another hydraulic leak, and I can't locate it or I'd be working on it.

The little bit of time I got to mow I spent listening to an NPR podcast called, "Hidden Brain." The episode I was listening to was called, "Creating God." Danged interesting. I will have to return to it. Here's a link to Hidden Brain

So, since I only got a portion of the yard mowed, and yeah it looks kinda funny that way, I returned to my reading projects for sabbatical. My current book is, "The Sermon Without End: A Conversational Approach to Preaching," by Ron Allen and O. Wesley Allen.

Ron Allen is Professor of Preaching and Gospels and Letters at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianpolis, IN -- and he is a preaching hero of mine. His works on homiletics speak to me deeply within my spirit and have helped encourage me along the way toward Preaching as Conversation. Preaching as Conversation was the title of my Doctoral Thesis, with much thanks to Ron Allen.

O. Wesley Allen, Jr. is one of the most prolific writers on Preaching as Conversation, a very nice person, and an intellectual powerhouse. He is Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Preaching at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. He was for a time the Professor of Homiletics at Lexington Theological Seminary, and while I was in the doctoral program at Phillips, Wes was kind enough to spend a day with me talking about Conversational Preaching. I will not forget his kindness.

The book begins with a history and analysis of Christian Apologetic Preaching by placing different theological traditions in neighborhoods. From an apartment complex to a gated community the Allens delineate historical and current theological understandings of Christian Apologetic Preaching. The middle portion of the book lays out a case for Preaching as Conversation. I am ready to take on the final third of the book where they will explain what Preaching as Conversation in a postmodern world might look like.

It's not a riveting book. It's a well-researched and practically applicable book. It's academic. It's been incredibly enlightening so far as is everything I have read from Ron and Wes. I'll write more when I finish the book.

Sometimes reading makes me sleepy so I set up my Eagle Nest Outfitters Single Nest hammock yesterday and promptly climbed aboard and fell asleep. The day was a bit cooler and a bit less humid and there was a lovely breeze. Stop! Hammock Time!

We ended the day working on some projects that will help Dallas move out of the house on Friday. He's been back with us since April. Friday he will move in with 5 other architecture students. It's crazy having him home. As a young adult his presence changes the dynamic of the household. I will also hate to see him leave -- just as my parents hate it when it comes time for me to head home. Ah, but that is the ebb and flow of life. Time passes. Like Geddy Lee sings of Tom Sawyer, "he knows changes aren't permanent, but change is."

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 20: Use Your Walking Feet

July 17

Things have slowed down this week, to a walking pace. I mostly don't have to be anywhere at a given time. That caused an issue this morning. I was reading and failed to take into account the time that was passing. I had a haircut scheduled for 11:00am, but was only slightly late. Lunch with a longtime friend scheduled after that -- and that friend is bound by a tight clinical schedule.

I am not used to using my walking feet. Not at all. Usually I have running shoes on. I move from person to person, place to place, pastoral care subjects one right after the other. People drop into the office without calling ahead, and it happens daily, so I don't ever really know what my schedule is going to be. I really, truly, love this about my work at the church; the people just dropping in. I think it says something about my relationship with them and theirs with me that is overwhelmingly positive. Believing that to be true I have adapted to it joyfully -- but, it does sometimes mean that I have to rush to do the tasks set before me in a day or a week. That's no complaint but an explanation of why I keep my running shoes close by.

On Monday I talked to a pastor-friend who was recently on sabbatical and I told my friend that sabbatical was difficult. There is a void that has begun to form. A void of hurry. I am so used to the hurry that I am this week, which is the calm, no travel, nothing scheduled, down-time week, suffering withdrawal from the hurry. Today I couldn't tell you where my running shoes are.

So, when it came time today for Dallas to need me, I was actually mostly available. We went mattress shopping. We went shopping for storage drawers, sheets, pillow cases, a wardrobe rack. We went to Sleep Outfitters, Value City Furniture, At Home, Target. I wasn't in a hurry. I wasn't as distracted as usual. There were no text messages to return, no phone calls. It was him and me in the car together. Walking feet. Slower. Less-distracted than usual.

And yet, there is still that withdrawal thing. Checking my cell/computer/phone every so often. Even as I tried to be fully present I still think of Katherine Claire, and Carol Ann, of Ruth and Lisa.

July 18
I am writing this on Wednesday morning. I have decided not to take the boat to Cave Run and just leave it there at Captain Hooks and pay a storage fee. That has freed up my day. I have thought of playing golf or fishing, My running shoes have been put aside, but my feet aren't quite used to these walking shoes. A new frontier of discovery is opening up.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 19; Olivia Bougainvillea Iguana

July 16.

On Monday, I read the final words of Southernmost, a novel by Silas D. House. In case you aren't familiar with Silas House, let me offer a brief introduction.

Silas House was born in Lily, Laurel County, Kentucky in 1971. He grew up mostly in Leslie County. He has degrees from Sue Bennett College, Eastern Kentucky University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. Silas is an author, poet and playwright. His works include, "Clay's Quilt," "A Parchment of Leaves," "The Coal Tattoo," and "Eli the Good." His plays include "The Hurting Part," and "Long Time Traveling." Currently, Silas is Associate Professor of Appalachian Studies at Berea College.

This is the Amazon summary of Southernmost.
"In this stunning novel about judgment, courage, heartbreak, and change, author Silas House wrestles with the limits of belief and the infinite ways to love.

In the aftermath of a flood that washes away much of a small Tennessee town, evangelical preacher Asher Sharp offers shelter to two gay men. In doing so, he starts to see his life anew—and risks losing everything: his wife, locked into her religious prejudices; his congregation, which shuns Asher after he delivers a passionate sermon in defense of tolerance; and his young son, Justin, caught in the middle of what turns into a bitter custody battle.

With no way out but ahead, Asher takes Justin and flees to Key West, where he hopes to find his brother, Luke, whom he’d turned against years ago after Luke came out. And it is there, at the southernmost point of the country, that Asher and Justin discover a new way of thinking about the world, and a new way of understanding love.

Southernmost is a tender and affecting book, a meditation on love and its consequences."

I was, as they say, feeling all the feels, when I read the last words of the novel. As a preacher, the story included elements of ministry, church and small town that came near to me. That is to say, I can identify in some ways with the characters and the setting. I can also identify with a love so intense that one might be willing to make desperate sacrifices for the sake of that love. There is a good amount of critique in the book. There is a good amount of darkness. There are also redemptive moments and characters in the book -- and I am not going to say any more about that because I want you to read it. Perhaps if you do we might engage in a conversation about The Everything.

Today, I also started to read my next sabbatical book, "The Sermon Without End: A Conversational Approach to Preaching." It's going to be right up my preaching alley. More on this book in a later post.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 18; I Can Worship Anywhere (there's internet)

As a part of the sabbatical renewal and research I am trying to avail myself of lots of worship styles and ways. This morning I decided to worship online.

First, I joined Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa, OK in worship at 9:15 this morning. Asbury, while a UM congregation, is a mega-church. I have been in the building once to a Celebrate Recovery meeting and it is massive. Massive. My guess is they worship between 3,000 - 4,000 people in person each Sunday. When the feed went live there were 140 of  us watching the service online.

Asbury United Methodist Church, Tulsa, OK

Asbury live streams their worship in HD. They use multiple camera angles, video messaging, chat while the sermon is going on and more. It's a dramatic production. They had a full orchestra in the pit this morning.They repeated their mission and purpose often. They blended contemporary and traditional elements. There was a sermon series called, "Extreme Ownership." The whole service seemed to embrace an "all in" vibe. The sermon emphasized passion, purpose and practice. I alike alliteration so that worked okay for me.

After worshiping with Asbury I worshiped with The Riverside Church in New York City. The Riverside Church is an historic congregation with a long history of great preaching and social action. The building is magnificent. The pastoral staff was diverse as was the congregation. There were male and female, hispanic, African American and Anglo folk leading and worshiping. The sermon was a bit better suited for me than the one from Asbury because it dug deep into a lectionary text, was filled with quotes and analogies. Some of the phrases used were a bit formulaic, but overall it was a solid sermon.

The Riverside Church, New York City

Both congregations used a service called LiveStream, and they broadcast their worship as it is happening. Both congregations offered online giving. Asbury has video screens that are used for lyrics, announcements, reminder of the mission, and as sermon illustration and testimonials. The Riverside Church had no screens.

OK, I will admit that I chose to worship this way today so I could be home for the World Cup Final, vive le France. But, it was a good day of worship research and I took a bunch of notes to share with FCC Winchester. So far this sabbatical I have worshiped with a UM Church in Lawton, OK (in person), a UM congregation in Tulsa, and the historic Riverside Church in NYC. That's quite a list.  This coming Sunday, July 22 I will likely visit First Presbyterian Church in Lexington (in person). The Union Church in Berea is on the list for August, and so is Central Baptist Church in Lexington. I may try one congregation that puts me out of my comfort zone, but I am not sure about that. I am looking for places that will inform the work I do.

I finished mowing the yard just as a huge downpour thunderstorm hit. I washed the sailboat and scrubbed it after the storm. I will finish scrubbing the boat tomorrow and begin waxing and polishing. I think I will get the boat to Cave Run on Wednesday. Maybe.

The two churches that were streaming live today have made a huge investment in technology. Probably a couple hundred thousand dollars each. Cameras. Producer boards. Lighting. Sound. Streaming service subscription. I am not sure why. Church is about community; about being together in fellowship and service. Worshiping from the internet leaves a lot to be desired; especially for the investment required. Something to ponder.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 17; Ice, Ice, Baby

I slept late. I got up late. I watched Belgium humiliate England. I went to a birthday/graduation party for my nephew, Armaan. The air conditioner on the Tahoe was blowing air a bit lower than ambient. I went to WalMart and bought a can of refrigerant and installed it. Ice, ice baby. Watching the NASCAR race from Kentucky Speedway. A low key day. Sabbath rest.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical Days 15,16 -- Lord, I was Born a Travelin' Man

I left Mom and Dad's house just before 8am Central Time and headed to Kentucky. I decided I would stop at Green Turtle Bay on the way home and retrieve my fishing gear from Plumb Fun, Clyde and Jodi Heflin's 30' Columbia sailboat. That decision determined my route home. I would drive on I-44 (Route 66) to Springfield, MO and then transition to US 60 -- the road I live off of in Lexington.

US 60 in Missouri is nothing like US 60 in Kentucky. In Missouri it's a divided 4 lane up to par with the interstate highways except that it's not limited access. It winds through the south of Missouri through Mountain View, Cabool, Mountain Home, Poplar Bluff and Sikeston. A portion of that drive is through the Mark Twain National Forest, which has poplars, pines, oaks and rolling hills. Once you get north of Sikeston you cross the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers on two bridges that are narrow two lane. Wide loads are not allowed.

I arrived at Green Turtle Bay in the late afternoon. It was 94 degrees and I quickly grabbed my autographed copy of "Southernmost" and took up residence in the cockpit of the sailboat. It was hot, but there was a nice breeze on my face, and I read until dinner time. After dinner I took my spot again and watched the sun go down determined to sleep on the boat.

Silas House autographed my copy. Feet up. Relaxed.

Sunset at lake Barkley

 It was probably 85 degrees in the cabin, but there are fans inside and I slept pretty well until 3:30am. After a short interlude I slept again until almost 5. I got up, picked up the trash, got the boat ready to zip up and was on my way to Lexington by 5:30am.

I arrived back to the house on Hume Rd about 10:30 am, and the first thing I did was shower the sweat from the night before off of me. Unpacked. Went to Winchester, then to my doctor appointment. It was Friday, so off to Malone's we went.

Since the sabbatical began I have put about 2,700 miles on the Mustang. I really enjoy that car. While driving back to Kentucky I listened to several podcasts. I have found, and written this before, that On Being with Krista Tippett is up my alley. The conversations are always about spiritual matters, but might surprise you with the guests who talk about spiritual matters. I listened to an interview with Yo Yo Ma that was absolutely mesmerizing. I lost track of time listening to it and ended up not getting lunch until about 2:30pm. I listened to another episode where Krista interviewed a renowned physicist. Good stuff. I also listened to several episodes of an NPR podcast called Invisibilia. Some of episodes of that show were awesome and some of them left me yawning as I drove.

The podcasts are stretching my mind. Giving me new questions to ask. That's especially true of the On Being podcasts. I find myself straying in tangents of thought when listening because they provoke me to think.

For pure fun I also listened to several episodes of the David Fleherty podcast. They were all good.

Here are links to all three podcasts. If you have a favorite you would suggest, drop me a comment.

On Being with Krista Tippett
Invisibilia
David Fleherty

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 14, The Final Countdown

One can understand why I am not leaving my parents' house the same day my sister did. They will be lonely tomorrow. Dad says it will be the a hard day, but I reminded him the last ten days have been filled with the whole family and many good things. He agreed. Nonetheless, tomorrow will be an empty day for them.

The passing of time is a natural thing. It is natural to the universe that we know. Time and space together in a dance of birth and life and death and rebirth. Endlessly recreating what God set into motion. Expanding into the unknown and creating new life as it expands.

I have wondered about time/space for about as long as I can remember. How does time pass uniformly? What is the totality of the known universe? If the universe is expanding, and for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, what is on the outside of the universe contracting? What is it expanding into? Is God bound by time and space?

Lindsay, my nephew Jeff's wife, and I talked briefly about this at dinner last night. I suggested God was outside time and space and that physical law; natural law; the laws that govern all matter and being which were created by God, is immutable. She disagreed. By the way, she has a biology degree so she's trained in scientific thought, but she's also a deeply devout evangelical Christian. She said that Jesus couldn't walk on water if God can't alter physics and time/space. It is a point worth pondering.

Anyway, the final countdown for my departure from Tulsa has begun. Tomorrow I will head back to Kentucky. A quarter of the sabbatical is behind me.

I have not completely separated from the church as was the plan. I have had four text messages from church folk today and I have responded to them because they concerned the health of people. It's so very difficult to separate. There is no doubt in my mind that's the good meat of a sabbatical, this forced separation. It repudiates co-dependence and fosters a mutual but not all-consuming journey. A little distance would be helpful to us all. And yet, I am still thinking about the church every hour. People. Illnesses. The elevator repair. The thoughts don't go away. In one sense that means that a portion of the sabbatical has been less than successful. This isn't supposed to be a vacation where we can stay in touch. It's supposed to be a separation for a while -- for a sabbath's rest. I have a ways to go to get there -- if I ever do.

I have started reading Silas House's novel, "Southernmost." It's going to be good for me. I have been listening to podcasts. I worshiped in an interesting place. Many things are going well. But, I have already begun to think in terms of the sabbatical ending. The countdown to the last day is already begun. I am trying to turn that around tonight, be present, be in the moment, breathe. And so there is this, with which I will leave you tonight.

To a Waterfowl

BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT

Whither, 'midst falling dew, 

While glow the heavens with the last steps of day, 

Far, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue 

Thy solitary way? 

Vainly the fowler’s eye 

Might mark thy distant flight, to do thee wrong, 

As, darkly seen against the crimson sky, 

Thy figure floats along. 

Seek’st thou the plashy brink 

Of weedy lake, or marge of river wide, 

Or where the rocking billows rise and sink 

On the chaféd ocean side? 

There is a Power, whose care 

Teaches thy way along that pathless coast,— 

The desert and illimitable air 

Lone wandering, but not lost. 

All day thy wings have fanned, 

At that far height, the cold thin atmosphere; 

Yet stoop not, weary, to the welcome land, 

Though the dark night is near. 

And soon that toil shall end, 

Soon shalt thou find a summer home, and rest, 

And scream among thy fellows; reeds shall bend, 

Soon, o’er thy sheltered nest. 

Thou’rt gone, the abyss of heaven 

Hath swallowed up thy form, yet, on my heart 

Deeply hath sunk the lesson thou hast given, 

And shall not soon depart. 

He, who, from zone to zone, 

Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, 

In the long way that I must trace alone, 

Will lead my steps aright. 

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 14, AM Edition

When I first contacted my sister, Melissa, about coming to the States to see Mom and Dad she was hesitant. "Won't it be hard on them to say goodbye?" My response months ago was, yes, but seeing you again will make a huge difference to them. It's worth it.

This morning that is playing out as Melissa is headed to Norway. Mom is in tears. Dad will be when Melissa walks through security. (He and Mom decided this morning Dad should take Melissa to the airport.) It's a difficult morning.

Mom won't likely see Melissa again. Maybe Dad won't either. It's difficult to know.

We all come face to face with our mortality at some point. More often than not we have to say goodbye to our parents. I have walked that path with a thousand families since I was ordained in 1984. I am familiar with its contours. I have seen the anguish along the way. The pathway is just a little ways further for me and my siblings. Like so many of you who I have walked with, we will be sad, but we will persevere. Moms and Dads can mean so much to us.

For now let me channel Graham Johns. "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." It's a difficult morning, but one I am grateful to be experiencing.

Farewell, baby sister. Travel well. Come and visit us again, and make a place for us to come and see you and Jon Olav.

Peace and Love,
Jerry

Sabbatical -- Day 12; Jonesing for the Extra Sharp

It's Monday. Mom goes to dialysis on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Every week. 4 1/2 hours at a time. Week after week. Dialysis makes her healthy. It also makes her sick. It is a two-edged sword that cuts both ways. Without she would die. With it she lives a bit.

When she went to dialysis I went to Tulsa to get my Weber's fix. 

Weber's Superior Root Beer and Hamburgers celebrated their 85th year a couple weeks ago. The owners Rick and Jennifer Bilby and their daughter, Michelle, run the place. It's a generational family business. Rick has been working there 41 years. It's one of my favorite places on earth. The food is always excellent and the root beer is even better. It's made from the same starter batch used 85 years ago. 

Dad's brother, Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Kathy came up to see Melissa today. They stayed through dinner. 

When we started planning what to eat we decided on a traditional Grandmother Maxine Dallas, my mom's mom, dinner. Pimento cheese sandwiches with sliced ham and bread and butter pickles. I went to the WalMart Neighborhood Market and perused the cheese aisle. The Extra Sharp cheese makes all the difference. Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Pimentos. No mayonnaise, ever. 

We visited well. Mom did OK. Not great, but OK. She stayed with us a long while before needing to get on her bed. When Ronnie and Kathy left we plugged up the BBC Comedy, Mrs. Brown's Boys (thanks Mike and Sonja). Dad and Melissa and I laughed hard. 

Melissa came out of her shell today. One of her high school friends retrieved her and they went shopping and eating. For Melissa her comfort place was Schlotzky's. To each their own. I am really glad she was able to get out and enjoy her friend.

Tulsa has changed a massive amount since I was a kid. Some of the changes are for the better and some are not. 

I went to Riverside Drive today to see what I could see of A Gathering Place. A Gathering Place is a 66 acre recreational and entertainment park being developed along the Arkansas River that runs next to downtown. You can, if you like, read a little about the project here A Gathering Place for Tulsa. The park received an initial $465 million dollar gift from the Kaiser Foundation -- the largest private donation to a public park in US history.

There wasn't much that could be seen. It will open in September, and God-willing I will be back at Christmas to see it. 

As Tulsa has grown, or as the subdivisions and suburbs have grown, the inner part of the city has lost some of its charm. The total population is higher but the number of public school students is down and has shifted geographically. Schools have closed. Crime is up. It's a mixed bag of good things and not so good things. And I guess all of life is like that. Each day, really. Highs and lows. Dark and light. Good and bad. We handle it as it comes at us. Sometimes we have to see the humor when things don't go the way we planned.

I went to Phillips Theological Seminary today to pick up the two hardbound copies of my Doctor Of Ministry Project. Finally, I would have in my hands, a book that I had published. Exciting. I went to the library. The copies were quickly found and placed in my hands. As I turned to walk out with them I noticed that something wasn't quite right. Sometimes. You just have to laugh.

Peace and Love,

Gerald R. JOHNS Jr.

Sabbatical -- Day 11 -- Friends Matter

I got up very early this morning to go to worship at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Lawton, OK. It was a three hour drive. Easily the longest commute I have ever made for worship. Their new pastor is Dr. Sonja Tobey. We were Doctor of Ministry classmates at Phillips Theological Seminary. She and her husband Mike and I have become very good friends. Sometimes friends drive three hours to see a friend graduate, or to attend worship. Today was Sonja's fourth Sunday with the congregation.

Lawton is in the southwest corner of the state. Owasso, where my parents live is in the northeast corner. The topography changes from Tulsa to Oklahoma City through hills and oak forests to rolling plains around the capital was interesting indeed. But the topography changes near Lawton were stunning. I probably had not been to Lawton since 1982 when I was a student at TCU and student minister in Archer City, TX. I had forgotten the Wichita Mountains towered over Lawton.

Worship was good. St. Paul's building is very contemporary. Here's a few pictures.

The space has flexible seating and was very open. It had the feeling, to me, of a living room in a house. I was very comfortable there. The exposed rafters leave a lot of space for creatively hanging worship banners and the like. There was a single contemporary worship song and the rest were traditional. The words for all things were on the screens.

After lunch we went to the Wichita mountains for a long, refreshing drive. What an amazing landscape. Here's a bunch of pictures.

I drove back to Owasso tonight. It was a good Sunday.

I am trying to visit a lot of varied worship spaces while on sabbatical. Today was a good one. The blend of contemporary and traditional was interesting. Also, the way they made room for the service dog was great. They had a Welcome Center with good information. I was well-greeted. I really liked the space too. Their choir doesn't sing during the summer and they have a casual early service at 8:15. I think I learned something today. Sonja is very creative with worship decorations. 

I mentioned previously in a post that I discovered on Day 1 that this sabbatical was going to be about the people I encountered. Larry Stewart, a member of the church recounted for me today how he was stationed in Kentucky in the Army. Sonja and Mike matter to me. Friends matter. I don't have a whole bunch of friends outside the church where I serve. I just don't. When I get a chance to feed a friendship I think I need to do what I can to feed it. I am resolving to do better with that. I am grateful for the friends I have, especially those who know me the best and yet continue to agree to be my friends. And, I made a new acquaintance today that was more than fun. Sonja and Mike's daughter, Briana, was with us. What an interesting and intelligent and faithful and energetic young woman she is.

Also, today I missed Graham. I had a lot of time to think while driving: 6 hours. I sorta talked to him about a preaching idea I had and tried to hear his reply in his voice. I learned a lot from him.

Peace and Love,
Jerry