Living in Sacred Space

MARCH 2020 LOCATION:  QUARANTINED IN MISSOULA, MONTANA Dear Friends, I thought that I might go ahead and recommit myself to this BLOG as one way to stay in touch with those that I care for as a Pastor and care about as human beings.  My past experiences have been somewhat helpful in dealing with this current reality.  I hope that this post from a couple of years ago will be helpful.  I am in need of a little patience right now! In Loving Partnership Ron “No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig.  If you tell me you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time.  Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.”                                                                                                                                 --Epictetus Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV) 31  but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,     they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,     they sha

A missionary society in London wrote to Dr. David Livingstone and asked, "Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send (men) to join you." Livingstone wrote back, "If you have (men) who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want (men) who will come if there is no road at all." This short conversation from the historical record of the great missionary Dr. David Livingstone hits me right between my "disciple" eyes. I must confess that I am part of that generation of boomers who has had a propensity to consume rather than contribute--take rather than give. In fact,  author Marva Dawn in her book entitled, " Reaching Out without Dumbing Down" says it well: "The boomers search for a church to meet their needs instead of commitment to the church through which to serve."   There is another phrase that has capture my attention recently.  You have heard John Wesley's q

The weather was beautiful in the Puyallup Valley on Satuday, August 1, 2015, and "the mountain" was out: Mt. Rainier.  So my friends from Texas and I loaded up in the car and began the trek up the highway to "Paradise."  Locals can easily tell this "green horn" what he did wrong.  You don't go to Mt. Rainier National Park on Saturday in the middle of the summer when the mountain is "out".  The traffic was crazy, and, unfortunately, "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot." In otherwords, "there wasn't any place to park in order to get to 'Paradise.'"   As we traveled down the mountain I was reminded that "Paradise" really isn't a destination, but instead it is about life-giving and life-affirming relationships--it can be journey with people you love. You see, I might not have gotten to park at"Paradise" in the National Park, but I spent four hours with friends driving in my car

It is about to happen.  What you ask?  My youngest daughter, Becka, will leave for the university. Saturday, August 1, 2015, Becka and her cousin, Will Tucker, will begin the drive to the University of New Mexico where she will be part of the incoming Freshman Class of 2019. I was just starting to get use to the idea that Rachel is entering her last of Law School at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. and now Becka is beginning this exciting new chapter of her life. Needless to say, "I am a very proud father."  But, more importantly, I am grateful for the beauty that is incarnate in each one of my daughters that reminds me of the best qualities that were their mother's, Linda Jean Myers.  We miss Linda Jean, but I am surrounded by the beauty which she valued. My home will be much more empty on Saturday....I know....they always come home, but it will be different from now on.  And yet, God's grace surrounds me as I begin this new and exciting chapter of my livi