Souvenirs

It was a surprise today
rows of vendors
hawking their wares in the halls of the Presbyterian Center in Louisville.
fancy handbags
jewelry of all kinds
Mary Kay cosmetics
books @35% off
It was tempting all right.
I went for the books.

so now this evening
I am remembering the money changers in the Temple.
Was this a similar situation?
Why is shopping so much fun?
and one of my significant vices of late?
Would Jesus drive us all out with a whip?

I think of those who have so little
who are paralyzed about their future
and facing closed doors
those who can never do any shopping
unless it is for absolute essentials.

Maybe something in one of those books will help me help them.
Maybe not.
Maybe buying a little Mary Kay will help that woman pay a bill
and survive for a little while longer.
Maybe not.
She didn't have many takers.
I don't know why some people have so much
and others so little.

But I am grateful for a new Bible
even as I ponder deeper issues.

The Moment I Felt Closest to God

Who would have thought it?
God showed up this morning at the Presbyterian Center in Louisvile
in the form of a sprit filled black choir.
O my!
O my!
We rocked for a little while
and the world opened with possibility.

Veterans Day in Louisville

He stood tall,
towering over the rest of us
who were sitting at white linen covered tables in the hotel ballroom
where we are trying our best
to absorb parliamentary procedure.

"I ask for a point of privelege," he stated.
"In Padukah, Kentucky, it is eleven minutes
before the eleventh hour
of the eleventh day
of the eleventh month of the year.
I would like for us to pause
and to pray for all of those in the armed services."

We paused while he prayed eloquently
for those who serve
and for their families
and with gratitude for all of those who have ever served.

It caught us quite unaware in the meeting,
this surprise
and endearing moment of grace.
Then we quickly resumed our work
into the intricacies of motions
and substitute motions
and knowing when they could be deemed perfected.

Role Playing in Louisville

We spent the afternoon role playing,
the seventy-five of us incoming moderators
who are taking a crash course in Robert's Rules of Order in Louisville.
We took turns acting out a live Presbytery meeting.
The simulation felt real!
microphones
contentious issues
people jumping up to speak.

I was a candidate trying to get ordained.
I embellished my role a little,.
(maybe too much)
blew kisses to the crowd.
waved,
told them I loved them,
gave "semi-satisfactory" answers to the questions.
It brought the house down.
It was good to laugh,
my little personal right brain corner of the day.

Louisville

Right off the airplane you know you're in a different space.
The gift shops are selling barbecue sauce, honey and maple syrup
all packaged to look like whiskey bottles and flasks.
This is after all the home of Kentucky bourbon,
Then there are the statues and pictures of horses lining the walls.
There's an information desk by the baggage turnstiles.
A gentle smiling woman called the hotel shuttle for me.
unusual.
Most places you have to fend for yourself.
Outside easy friendships formed as we waited.

It's easy to spot the Presbyterians here.
We all wear glasses
or most of us anyway.
We're older.
The women are heavier.
We look like librarians.
A lot of the men have beards and or mustaches,
carefully trimmed of course.
nothing too flashy.

the hotel is old but elegant and graceful.
There's a wonderful four poster bed in my bedroom.
The cheese grits for breakfast are to die for.

Day One of this moderator training is parliamentary procedure.
Help me, dear Lord, to stay awake
and learn what I need to learn.
May there be some little corner of this day
that has something fun
and right brain in it.

Bless all my peeps back home.
Keep them safe and smiling.