It doesn’t seem possible that I’m into the second week back from our trip to the Holy Lands. The experience, the learning, the excitement of the trip was all very good and very worthwhile; I am so glad I was afforded the opportunity to go. Thanks to all who made that possible.

But there is true phenomena about going away from any organization for an extended period of time, which I experienced in the Marine Corps, in my family life and now for the first time, in my congregational life. Even though I extract myself from the organization, it’s routines and it’s business, they all still go on – day in and day out, week in and week out. So upon my return I have this sense of needing to “hit the ground running” because there is a lot of catching up to do. Most of my first week back was spent doing a lot of “administrative” catching up. Then the snow hit and life shut down for a couple of days. Yesterday I got to make some visits there were way overdue and as they turned out, extremely profound. Those visits, plus some news from each of our two sons, and a few minutes to reconnect at home too, and Monday was gone. Today started with a renewed commitment to doing major sermon preparations, from which I am taking a break to do my other renewed commitment work – write on the blog regularly.

I can tell most of this month will be catch up, but I hope that in God’s time it will all work out. Blessing to all who shall read these words.