Grateful

Dear friends:

I took a few moments today to finish 2015 by being grateful for the goodness which decorates my life. I thought I’d share some specifics with you:

1)      Covenant’s Broad Worship Life: From deeply traditional to casual and interactive, Covenant has launched a broad worship life to reach our changing community. Each service is characterized by excellence in music, liturgy, and hospitality. And, it’s working! For the first time, each ‘worship platform” has seen an increase in average attendance across the year.

2)      Wisdom of our Elders: When faced with the challenge of deciding on a wedding policy, Covenant’s elders designed an open, inclusive, respectful process that sought to honor God and the wide variety of opinions in our congregation. As a result, our congregation remained cohesive and set an example for many other large Presbyterian churches across the state as how best to address this important topic.

3)      Expanded Residency: For the last eight years, Covenant has embraced the opportunity to become a ‘teaching church’ for those heading into ministry. In addition to summer internships and part-time seminary internships, we have now established two full-time residencies in which people new to ministry can learn, grow, serve, and refine their skills. We see this as strong investment in the future of the church and trust it will bear much fruit for years to come.

4)      Bold Education Series:  Both series “Education a Child: Transform the World” and “Race Still Matters” tackled important current topics from the perspective of faith and reminded us that Christian faith is to be lived in the public square. Both topics remain extremely important and will require considerable attention in the days ahead.

5)      Sabbatical: Only the few fortunate get to take them, and this year, I was among those few. Thank you. I tried to use the opportunity for renewal and to return equipped to serve well.

6)      Good funerals: We had a lot this year, but the privilege of honoring a life well-lived and walking with families during difficult days is one for which I’m most grateful. Covenant lost some highly generous, deeply committed, long-term members this year. Losing these leaders also caused me to ponder how well we’re transferring the mantel of leadership to the next generation and how seriously my own generation is embracing the privilege.

7)      Christmas Eve Offering: You have to love a congregation that quadruples its typical generosity when you commit to giving 100% of it to mission endeavors serving vulnerable children. Thank you!

8)      Exemplary Staff: Life’s too short not to enjoy your work, and I thoroughly enjoy working with Covenant’s staff. They’re disciplined, sacrificial, fun, and genuine in their commitment to serve God through their work at Covenant. I’m grateful for them every day.

So, thank you for a wonderful 2015. I look forward to all the good things God will do through our church family in 2016.

Peace,

Bob Henderson

Books and Bikes: A Note on Reading and Riding

The summer continues to be profoundly rewarding, and I'm more grateful than I can express for this time to read, relax and renew relationships. Suzanne and I enjoyed a trip to Atlanta for a book-signing party with friends from Eastminster Presbyterian (the congregation I served directly out of seminary) and an informal reunion with many leaders of that congregation. As it happened, the party was exactly 27 years to the day from my first day of work serving that congregation. I'm thankful for this gracious group of folks with whom I began my career.

Since then, my days have been spent largely with my nose in books and my feet on pedals -- though not often simultaneously.

First, the books. As promised, I continue to expand my horizons with reading material outside my typical purview. In an earlier correspondence I mentioned Jennifer Harvey's book "Dear White Christians," a book whose very premise I find troubling. So troubling, that until the Charleston massacre it would have been a non-starter. Yet, I remain convinced the default perspectives of the majority have contributed to the untenable racial reality in our country, and I think it honors God to to reconsider prior assumptions that helped get us here. Besides, I can't figure out how conducting a moral inventory of my assumptions could hurt and I'm thankful for the space to do so.

In similar fashion, I've been captivated by "Redeployment," an award winning work by Phil Klay about our country's military engagement in Iraq. Told from the perspective of various soldiers, this work offers remarkable -- and often painful -- insight into the experience of those who worked the front line. As one without military service, I again found it helpful to listen to voices outside my normal understanding and let them press me into reconsidering my assumptions. I can't say the book is pleasant (except for one hilarious chapter) but I do think it's important, especially for those of us who have never served in the armed forces.

Finally, I've spent a lot of time reading "American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us," a 700-page tome by Harvard sociologists Robert Putnam and David Campbell, which explores religious trends in American culture and projects future developments. The most interesting part of this read is that the book was first published ten years ago, and the few predictions Putnam and Campbell made turned out to be remarkably accurate. It makes me want to read one of their current books and lay bets on the future! It also suggests that ministers, elders and church leaders can pay attention to secular sources and use their insights to enhance the mission of the church in today's complex world.

Now for the pedals. It's fun to be in stronger physical condition than I've enjoyed for a number of years. In just the last two weeks I've taken time to explore DuPont State Forest and discover its many treasures. In addition, I've ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway, first to Blowing Rock and then, on another day, to Asheville.  When not on pedals, I've laced up the boots for a few hikes in the North Harper Creek Basin, up Grandfather Mountain, and on the Yellow Mountain bald. Usually I've had company and the friendship time has made each endeavor infinitely richer. One particular highlight was trekking over to Montreat to see our high school students and to bid a heartfelt farewell to Neeley Lane as she embarks on the next phase of her good life. Neely served well here and she goes with our every blessing.
 
I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Petra Wahnefried as she concludes her two-year Pastoral Residency with us. It's a brave move to be the the first person in a program, and I'm grateful that Petra risked coming to be with us. Nobody knows the hours she spent solving problems in the middle of the night with Room in the Inn guests, neighbors walking into the office looking for help and developing closer relationships with our local mission partners. Please join me by sending her off with our highest gratitude.
 
This week I'll head to the Dolomites, Assisi, and Rome, and then return for a little time with immediate and extended family. While I'm enjoying my time, I'm also beginning to anticipate a glad return to Charlotte where I very much look forward to being with you again.

Be well, and know that you remain in my daily prayers.

An Intellectual and Spiritual Feast

This update will be a bit lighter, as my schedule has sped up and left little time for writing. I'm enjoying the intellectual and spiritual feast that is called the Chautauqua Institute. Our time began with a moving worship service, which we shared with the Atwells, whose daughter Caroline is dancing with the ballet here this summer. It was a delight not only to sit in the pew, but to do so with some of our own church family. Last evening we enjoyed an Evensong service with exquisite music ranging from Handel's operatic pieces to black spirituals accompanied by a soprano clarinet. The hourflew by and I found myself deeply moved.

Today and future days will include more lectures around the topic of "21st Century Literacies" with much focus on interfaith dialogue. We'll also sneak in a little exercise, four dance classes (swing and cha cha!) and a few other unpredictable endeavors. 

We remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to rest, learn, read, and grow and are taking full advantage of it.

Sacred Nature of Friendship

Years ago a wise mentor -- a supervisor during seminary --  looked up from the scotch he mindlessly fondled before dinner and said, "I hate to tell you this, but you need to know: ministry can be hell on friendships." With no elaboration he took his final gulp, got up, and moved to the table. I didn't know what he meant at the time, but something told me I would learn.

Nearly thirty years later, I think I understand. It is a strange paradox; ministers have the privilege of working day-in and day-out with the finest people, and yet many in ministry describe themselves as "isolated among thousands." One reason is that relational roles are frequently fuzzy. One day you're playing a friendly game of golf with people you enjoy and the next day you're in a committee meeting arguing over important matters like the color of choir robes and whether the desserts at Wednesday night supper are sufficient. Another contributing cause is the constant press of schedule. Three-day weekends away with family or friends are extremely rare, reunions even rarer, and Saturday night dinner parties and dates have a hard stop. Though I count myself among the most relationally fortunate, I think I now agree with my former supervisor.

I say all this simply to thank you for a little extra time this summer and to tell you that while I've enjoyed the time to read and travel, even more I've enjoyed saying 'yes' to friendship, that sacred human endeavor which cannot be done in a hurry. For instance, old friends from Atlanta recently offered to host a gathering with folks from our first congregation and to use the occasion to host a book signing party for Suzanne.  We found such joy in simply being able to say 'yes' with no negotiating or qualifying. Also, last weekend, I loved presiding over the wedding of the daughter of dear family friends. We hardly knew how to act when we stayed late into the reception and even accepted the invitation to the post-wedding Sunday morning brunch, something we had never -- in 27 years -- done before. Next weekend, other long term friends are visiting for the weekend to hike, bike, and cook great meals. I find it all life-giving and deeply joyful.

In John's gospel, Jesus affirms the sacred nature of friendship. When speaking to his disciples near the end of the journey, he says "I no longer call you servants, but friends."  I think if Jesus found a way to cultivate friendship with those around him on the journey, then we can as well.

So thank you. Thank you for the time. Thank you allowing gracious space for reading, exercising, sleeping a bit late, and spending long round hours with friends. It's a gift for which I'm deeply grateful.

What Kind of Job Do You Have?

"What kind of job do you have?"

It was an understandable question, posed innocently by an investment banker with whom I'd gathered at a campground bonfire in Utah. We were talking about how we spent the day -- he rafting and I hiking -- when he began lamenting that his time was coming to an end. Naturally, he asked me when I had to go back, and when I answered, he posed his very predictable question.

It is a rare privilege to be granted sabbatic leave, one for which I am deeply grateful. With nine days down, I'm grateful to press pause long enough to offer a bit of a report. My first five days were spent in solitude in a desert environment, partly to assist in my efforts to detach, but also because I've long wanted to dive into a hefty book "The Solace of Fierce Landscapes: Exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality" in an environment consonant with the subject.  The author, Belden Lane, is a  Presbyterian minister on faculty at a Roman Catholic University where he teaches Jewish stories and occasionally lectures at the Vedanta society. He offers a thorough analysis of apophatic prayer in the Christian tradition and organizes his book in the pattern of classic Christian spirituality: purgation, illumination and union. They are symbolized respectively by the desert, mountain, and cloud. It has been a tough but worthwhile read. The bleakness of the desert augmented my sense of purgation, and I trust later experiences in the mountains will lead to illumination and perhaps even union.

In addition, I've done some lighter reading: two books on St. Francis in preparation for our time in Assisi, an extra 30 minutes a day with the New York Times, and a novel I'm finding too gruesome to recommend. If you're on social media, you also know I've interspersed my time with some epic wilderness ventures in hopes of satisfying my love of unsafe terrain. If you must know more, conduct a search on the "Whole Enchilada" and "Slick Rock Canyon" bike trails in Moab and watch a video or two. I offer that suggestion only now that I'm safely back from the rides!

As I'm sure you expect, I've been eavesdropping a bit on you in my absence and am heartened by what I hear. Worship, weddings, Session meetings, staff meetings, and so much more seem to be humming along just fine, thank you. Yet, I know the effort from both Session and staff is considerable. I'm humbled by your efforts and I'm grateful. I continue to keep all of you in my prayers each morning, thankful for the kind of job I have primarily because of the people with whom I share my days.

Loving God and Neighbor

In recent months a small group from Covenant has been in regular conversation with our Jewish neighbors, primarily over matters of Israel and Palestine. These conversations are typically vigorous and insightful, and, by God's grace, we always like each other by the end of the evening. At one point it became apparent that our Jewish friends held some concern about our appreciation for their tradition. So, we decided to begin our next conversation with a walk through our sanctuary.

We began on the eastern wall of the nave, where stained glass captures the whole narrative of the Jewish scripture. 

The first window on the back right is the creation window, where we can see God the Creator tossing out the sun and the stars with one hand, and with the other, the sea and the fowls of the air. 

Step forward a bit and we find the Passover window. The lamb has been slain, the blood is on the lintels of the door, the angel of death passes by. This day of atonement, now called Yom Kippur, is celebrated even to this day. 

The top lancet of that window includes the ten commandments, while other windows tell the rest of the story.

It's striking that the faith story of Jewish people is literally built into the walls where we worship. And in a recent passage we studied from Mark (Mark 12:28-31)

Jesus suggests this is as it should be, because at the heart of both traditions is the call to love God and love neighbor. It is sometimes difficult to get past the theoretical "what" and to the practical "how", especially about loving God, as most folks find that elusive. However, it is the most rewarding and important work we can do.  

Decades of Dividends

"You have gray hair!" she exclaimed joyfully, extending her arms to offer a warm embrace.

It wasn't exactly the greeting I expected, at least not the first part.

It happened last week at Montreat. I drove up Assembly Drive, looked to the left to check for signs of life at the home of Walter and Jeane Jones, just in case they were in town for the same conference. They were, and when I dropped in, Jeane greeted me with characteristic warmth.

"It's so good to see you. It's almost late enough for a glass of wine. Come on, sit on the porch. We'll start early."

We sat and caught up on friends, family, and laughed about what we call our "halcyon days" of ministry, five years good years together at Eastminster Presbyterian in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Our relationship began when I was called to serve as an associate pastor for congregational care where Walter served as senior pastor. I was straight out of seminary, young, idealistic, and energetic. But, I was also inexperienced (yes, I almost dropped the baby during my first baptism), regularly impatient, and more than occasionally arrogant. The truth is that our "halcyon days" were because Walter made them that way. He was patient with my hubris, generous with opportunities for growth, and modeled for me a ministry of integrity and self-sacrifice. In other words, he was a mentor, so much so that during the past 21 years, I have often thought, "How would Walter approach this situation?" and occasionally picked up the phone to ask him.

Now that I have my own gray hair, gratitude for Walter's investment has led me to invest in others, hoping, perhaps, to pay forward the gift given to me in those early years. To that end, my present congregation, Covenant Presbyterian in Charlotte, has begun a pastoral residency program, hired seminary interns, called young associates, and sent numerous of our members to seminary. As I've interacted with those launching into a life of ministry, I've paused to consider what made Walter so effective.

Five themes emerged:
1. He enjoyed our time together. When I think of my time with Walter, I envision him smiling, laughing, and taking delight, even in my ineptitude. He derived genuine pleasure from my company and treasured the gift of sharing ministry;

2. He was patient. When I began at Eastminster, I had a lot of adjusting to do. I'd been married a whole week, out of school a whole month, and lived in town a whole day. I didn't know how ministry worked, how marriage worked, how Atlanta worked. Somehow, Walter remained patient through my learning curve, even when the demands on his own time were considerable and he would have benefited from a more experienced associate.

3. He was humble. His experience as a naval officer, graduate student academic dean, minister, parent and spouse helped him know what he didn't know. On the contrary, when I came out of seminary I knew a lot -- in fact, a whole lot more than I know now -- and he tempered my youthful hubris with his experienced humility.

4. He created time. Growing churches are always behind on staffing and pressed for time. And yet, I could always ask, visit, talk and check in when needed. He prioritized my success and made himself available to foster it.

5. He maintained integrity. His advice was grounded in the moral authority of his actions. His ends and means cohered. This was, perhaps, the greatest gift. He lived the life to which he called others and reminded me that more than anything, people want their pastor to be a person of genuine faith.

There's more, of course, but to be mentored by someone with those five principles was a gift beyond price. Even more, it was an investment in the future that has paid dividends for decades, and it's now my turn to pay it forward, hopefully by treating others with similar grace and wisdom.

Presbyterians' vote on Israel conforms with our values

This commentary first appeared in the Charlotte Observer on June 28, 2014.

On the afternoon of Friday, June 20, a group of highly committed, thoughtful and informed Presbyterian elders voted to substantiate our religious values with concrete action. By a vote of 310-303, we decided to remove our funds from three U.S. companies that profit from Israel’s military occupation of Palestine. We did not vote to divest from Israel, and in fact hold considerable investments in Israeli companies. Nor did we vote to join the Boycott, Divest and Sanction movement. Instead, we voted to divest – take money entrusted to us by our churches’ members – from companies that profit from a military occupation that violates international law on a daily basis. In other words, we made an ethical choice that coheres with our spiritual convictions. It’s called integrity.

Some suggest that we have been callous to our Jewish friends and neighbors, but nothing could be further from the truth. We even invited Rick Jacobs, the leader of the Union for Reform Judaism, to speak to our gathered assembly – not just once, but twice. My hope is that he will return the courtesy and ask the leader of the PCUSA, Gradye Parsons, to interpret our actions to their national gathering. In fact, Rabbi Jacobs wasn’t the only representative of the Jewish community present. Many from Jewish Voices for Peace were at our assembly vigorously lobbying our delegates in favor of our decision. Some even wrote us a thank you note! In addition, members of my congregation have been meeting regularly with representatives from leading Jewish congregations in our city, affirming our shared values and discussing – sometimes vigorously – our different perspectives on the divestment issue.

Those less familiar with the Presbyterian Church (USA) may not be aware that this is far from the first time we have aligned our investment decisions according to our spiritual convictions. We have a long history of carefully considered decisions about investments that have nothing to do with Israel or companies that profit from the occupation of Palestine. This vote follows more than a decade of discernment and conversation. If anything, Presbyterians act slowly, deliberately and thoughtfully.

In the aftermath of our decision, some have tried to obfuscate the core issue – principled investment of our resources – by spinning a secondary narrative marked by conflict and name-calling. But the Presbyterian story is mostly about a group of faithful Christians aligning our actions with our religious values. These same values lead us to similar actions in our own city like supporting Salvation Army’s Center for Hope, volunteering at Urban Ministry, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, learning from our Muslim neighbors in a joint study group, and joining with Temple Israel in a Martin Luther King Jr. service day.

It’s exactly the kind of integrity our world longs to see in people of faith, and I’m proud to be part of a church brave enough to bear witness to it.

God Isn't Done With Us

 Perhaps the greatest gift of being a pastor is the beautiful people with whom we get to share the journey.

One of them, now well into her eighties, is a person of deep conviction and commitment. In fact, when I came to serve her congregation, she promised to pray for me every day. And she did. Every day, for 15 years, she prayed for me, my family and my work.

When I left that congregation, she said that since she’d been praying for me every day for 15 years, she saw no real reason to stop and promised to pray for my ministry at Covenant every day. And I know she has.

This lovely woman had plenty of strong convictions about social justice, but she could not bring herself to agree with the ordination of gay and lesbian persons. When the Presbyterians started debating the idea 20 years ago she studied, read, prayed, sought different opinions, did everything she could, but she just couldn’t change her mind.

I talked to her recently about another matter, and, as you might expect, the subject of same-gender marriage came up. I inquired gently how she was processing the new guidelines that allow it in the Presbyterian Church. Her answer couldn’t have surprised me more:

“I’m ok with it,” she said. “I can’t say I really like it, but I am ok with it. I’m not sure why. I guess I grew. Imagine that … growing and changing at my age. I suppose God isn’t done with me after all.”

Of course God isn’t done with her, or with any of us. We can be grateful, should we choose to be, even if it means loosening our grip on old certainties, blurring comfortable boundaries, and humbly embracing a new and even uncertain future. 

The Local Option

"Do you have five minutes to explain something to me?" asked a familiar voice on the other end of the line.

"Sure," I replied. "What's on your mind?"

"Somebody wants me to explain this Presbyterian decision on marriage ceremonies … allowing ministers to do same-sex weddings … and whether we're going to do them in our church. Tell me what I need to know about that."

It was a fair question, some would say an important question, but it was not an easy question, especially since for years the answer has been an unequivocal "No, we cannot and will not have same-gender wedding ceremonies in our church."

I explained that for those of us in North Carolina the answer is the same now as it has always been: We cannot perform same-gender marriages in our church. Period. End of discussion.

"But, I thought the New York Times reported that you could? Which is it? Can you perform same-gender wedding ceremonies or not?"

"Do you mind my asking if you're a Republican or Democrat?"

"Yes, I do mind," he said. "Why does it matter?"

"Because the best way to explain this is in terms of states rights. Up to this point,  local congregation have enjoyed no 'states rights" on this issue. All congregations, ministers, and elders in all states, no matter their personal preferences or convictions, had to follow national law. Beginning today, however, some local rights are available. In other words, if you're Republican, you'll probably like this change, favorable as Republicans are toward states rights."

"Explain this a bit more, please."

"OK. In states where same-gender marriage is legal, the local minister is now allowed to conduct a same-gender wedding with the approval of the local Session."

"But I thought the Session already had to approve every marriage ceremony," he said.

"They do."

"So the only thing different is that now the Session can approve conducting a same-gender wedding?"

"That's right," I said, "but not in North Carolina. It has to be legal in the state. So, our Session cannot approve them."

Then he got to the point: "What do you think about all this?

I said, "It boils down to this: I trust our elders. In 25 years of ministry, I've seen elders make wise, spirit-led decisions time after time. I think they should have the autonomy needed to make faithful decisions according the Spirit's leading, but I'm a 'states rights' kind of guy. I don't need -- or want -- a cumbersome national bureaucracy to tell me the right thing to do in my local context. Does that help?"

"Some." he said," But I may need more than five minutes next time." 

A Political Statement?

"Does my wedding have to include all those political statements?" she asked after the rehearsal.

This was nearly seven years ago, and I had no idea what she was talking about.

"I'm sorry. I don't understand. What political statements?"

"All those political statements you started the rehearsal with. They make a lot of folks in the wedding party uncomfortable, including me."

I still didn't get it and asked her to be more specific.

"I can't quote exactly what you said, but all that language about marriage being "between a man and a woman..., a gift of God in which a man and a woman..., where a man and a woman mean to make a life together..." It's all so political. I'd like my wedding to be about God and the love that brought me and my fiancé together. Can you just leave that other stuff out?"

I was taken aback and a touch defensive. After all,  I was just saying what I'd been saying for twenty years, what they taught me to say in seminary, what the Book of Common Worship prescribes. I had no intention of making a political statement. Yet this earnest request: Could you please take out all those political statements?

Since then, I realized that our culture had changed dramatically while I was too busy raising children to notice.. That happens you know. The hour hand moves, the calendar flips, the millennium shifts and before you know it what you said before means something entirely different now. Ask someone whose last name is Gay. Tell your young adult children you went hiking on the "Old Negro Bill" trail. Inquire of a teenager what 'ginger' means to her. The meaning of language changes according to context. My earnest bride knew her context and was simply asking me to be attentive to it as well.

I did, of course, refine my use of language in her wedding ceremony and nearly all ceremonies since. It was a simple fix: wherever the Book of Common Worship mentioned "man and woman" I simply replaced the words "two people." Marriage is a 'covenant between two people…, a gift in which two people…, where two people mean to make a life together…." Those for whom these things are extremely important found the change to be a God-honoring act of respect and consideration. Those for whom marriage is designed as a covenant strictly between a man and woman found the change  so insignificant as to be nearly invisible.  Sometimes it is pretty easy to please nearly everybody!

 I'm glad our General Assembly has taken he first step to change the Book of Common Worship to say 'two people." Because the hour hand has moved, the calendar has flipped, the millennium has shifted, and it's time for us to return the wedding service to its original intent, a worship service honoring our God who gives two people the gift of love.

We Refuse to Be Enemies

A general feeling of malaise tends to overtake me regarding denominational matters.  For my personality, it's just too many meetings with too few outcomes, too much peace/mission/worship/ talking and not enough doing. One friend, a seminary president, even called our denominational headquarters a "tired cul-de-sac where all good ideas go to die." 

In recent years, however, I have developed a deeper appreciation of our denomination (PCUSA) and its work in the world. Look across Africa and you'll find hospitals, universities and other great social institutions planted and sustained by denominational missionaries for more than 100 years. Glance across the Middle-East -- Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, and even Iraq -- and again you'll  find long-standing educational and vocational missions that honor the dignity and value of all people. By working together for many years, we have engaged intractable social problems with careful thought, resilient hope and the moral force of faith.

In my lifetime our denomination has made headlines primarily through defection, decline, and conflict, yet something of our large vision acting as God's people in this world remains. In particular, this week's General Assembly will vote on a matter of morality and conscience that has the potential to bear  important witness to the world. Today, the assembly will vote on a carefully considered recommendation to divest from three American companies that profit from the military occupation of Palestine. Nearly every mainstream Christian leader in both Palestine and Israel has encouraged members of our assembly to vote in favor of this divestment option. Faithful efforts at other options have failed to change the actions of these corporations, and now we have the opportunity to engage intractable social problems with the moral force of faith. I sincerely hope our General Assembly honors our long-standing history and once again bravely acts upon a gospel vision for this world.

I didn't go to this year's General Assembly, but for the first time in my life wish I did. Had I been there, I would have proudly joined our ministers, elders and scholars in the written document you'll find pasted below. It captures well the essence of why I'm in favor of the recommendation to divest from these three companies. I hope you'll take the time to read the letter and be as proud as I am to be associated with these Christian leaders. And, if you'd like to understand something of the urgency around the issue, I invite you to watch this painful video recorded this week by Christian Peace Making teams. Yes, three Israeli settlers have been kidnapped and yes kidnapping, regardless what violence these settlers have wreaked upon the Palestinians, is always wrong. But home demolition upon children whose families have no proven -- or even broadly suspected -- culpability in response?  

Please note the weaponized Caterpillar tractor. Then you'll know why it's time to decide and declare, time for peacemaking instead of merely peace-talking..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWwfhSnpAv0

We Refuse to Be Enemies 

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Sisters and Brothers,

We are deeply concerned about the Open Letter sent to General Assembly Commissioners by John Buchanan and twenty-eight of his colleagues on Friday, June 13th.

We consider the signers of this letter our friends. Together, we have been allies and colleagues in our shared work of reclaiming a vibrant church. However, we disagree sharply with their critique of the recommendation that the Presbyterian Church (USA) divest itself from the stock of three corporations that are doing business in a way that supports or benefits the State of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

You have already been inundated with diverse opinions about many issues facing the General Assembly. While this may seem to be in opposi­tion to the Reformed tradition’s understanding that “God alone is Lord of the conscience....” we believe that in order for all of us to engage in measured and faithful discernment, we must be aware of the diverse opinions and perspectives that exist within our Presbyterian family. We share our conviction with passion, just as we trust our colleagues with whom we disagree will continue to do so.

We offer the following, three fundamental ideas that we find compelling, and a suggestion about how the General Assembly could move for­ward with the greatest possible integrity and commitment.

This is a matter of conscience. It is a reasonable thing – and a moral obligation – to assure that our financial investments reflect our core values as followers of Jesus. Our Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee has done due diligence over the course of the last ten years in engaging these three corporations. It is entirely clear that these companies are profiting from business that is counter to our social witness policy.

This is a faithful, principled response to a call for nonviolent resistance from the Palestinian people. Palestinians – both in Israel and the occupied territories of Palestine, and including the Christian leaders who signed the Kairos Palestine document in 2009, have called on us to embrace the principled use of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions as a nonviolent strategy of resistance to the continued expansion of illegal settlements and the occupation of Palestine. Simply put, they have asked us to stop funding their oppression.

Our witness matters. No one cared what the Presbyterian Church (USA) believed about the evil of a decades-long occupation until we began to consider selling our stock. The reason we are struggling about this matter is because it is the only thing we have contemplated that actually has the potential to help change the reality of the occupation. This decision will lay the groundwork for peace with justice and genuine security for all who live within both Israel and Palestine. As we strive with our sisters and brothers across the church to be faithful in this difficult matter, our sense of conviction about the critical need to divest is shaped by the powerful words of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail:

First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regret­table conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a posi-tive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action;” who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constant-ly advises the Negro to wait until a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.

When we choose to honor our conscience and follow our legacy of social corporate engagement, we actually claim the moral authority to stand against all instances of anti-Semitism, or Islamaphobia, or any act in which people really are targeted because of their religion or ethnicity or race – or for any other outrageous reason that people are discriminated against and targeted on a regular basis.

We Propose “Divestment Plus”:

Adoption of the divestment recommendation should push all of us to a more spiritually-grounded and faithful place – a more Holy Ground. As we take this option, let us publicly commit our church to the work of defending the rights of all people – starting with our sisters and brothers in the Abrahamic traditions – wherever and whenever we can claim the power to do so. Let us work with colleagues in all religious traditions from around the world to reclaim our sacred texts from those who would steal them for purposes that are antithetical to our fundamental val­ues of peace and harmony with one another.

In the end, we trust that God will be at work in this assembly and in your deliberations. We will hold you in prayer as you discern together how best to help all of us to be obedient to our call as followers of the Risen Lord.

Sincerely,

Herb Valentine, Moderator 203rd General Assembly
John Fife, Moderator 204th General Assembly
Patricia Brown, Moderator 209th General Assembly
Syngman Rhee, Moderator 212th General Assembly
Jack Rogers, Moderator 213th General Assembly
Fahed Abu-Akel, Moderator 214th General Assembly
Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator 216th General Assembly
Bruce Reyes Chow, Moderator 218th General Assembly
Jerry Pillay, President, World Alliance of Reformed Churches
Rifat Kassis, General Coordinator, Kairos Palestine
Bruce Gillette, Moderator, 2004 PCUSA General Assembly Committee on Peacemaking
Jim Brown, Executive Director, General Assembly Council 1992-1996
Michel Nseir, Programme Executive for the Special Focus on the Middle East, World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland.
Marilyn Borst, Former Executive Director, Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding
Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer, Associate Professor of New Testament, The Interdenominational Theological Center
Yusef Daher, Jerusalem Inter-Church Center
Mazin Qumsiyeh, Professor, Bethlehem University
Nahida Gordon, Former Moderator, National Middle East Presbyterian Caucus
Walt Davis, Professor Emeritus, San Francisco Theological Seminary, Education Co-Chair, Israel Palestine Mission Network
Elaine Johnson, Christians Witnessing for Palestine, Rochester, NY
Carolyn Harris, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, Synod od SoCal and Hawaii
Rev. David F. Johnson, Retired General Assembly Staff
Marietta Macy, M.Div. , Israel Palestine Mission Network Steering Committee
Terra Winston, Candidate, Presbytery of the Western Reserve, former lecturer at the Near East School of Theology
Rev. Ron Shive, First Presbyterian Church, Burlington, NC
Rev. Lisa M. Lopez, Member, Middle East Task Force, Presbytery of Chicago
Rev. Anne M. Ross, Pastor, Elkton Presbyterian Church, Elkton Virginia
Rob Trawick, Moderator, Hudson River Presbytery
Mark C Johnson, Executive Director, The Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice
Rev. Dr. Lois A. Aroian, Retired Foreign Service Officer, Moderator Elect, Presbytery of South Dakota
Rev. Steven W. Plank, Stated Clerk/Communicator, Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
William P. Brown, William Marcellus McPheeters Chair of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary Decatur, GA
Megan McCarty, Inquirer for Ministry, Mission Presbytery, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Rev. Raafat Zaki, Synod Executive, Synod of the Covenant
Dr. Pauline Coffman, Middle East Task Force, Chicago Presbytery
Rev. Aric Clark, Pastor, United Presbyterian Church of Fort Morgan, CO
Rev. Darrel Myers, Friends of Sabeel North America
Emily Brewer, Candidate for Ministry (East Tennessee), Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Rev. Katharine Cunningham, Moderator, Israel Palestine Mission Network
Cat Dodson Goodrich, Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta GA
Melinda Thompson, M.Div., Chair of Middle East Committee, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
Addie Domske, TSAD, McCormick Theological Seminary
Bob Ross, Assist. Professor of Global Cultural Studies, Point Park University
Laura Newby, Special Projects Director, Church of All Nations
Don Mead, Professor Emeritus of Economics, Michigan State University
Rev. Geoff Browning, Peacemaking Advocate, Presbytery of San Jose
Ben Snipes, Inquirer for Ministry (Whitewater Valley Presbytery), McCormick Theological Seminary
Bill Plitt, Executive Director, Friends of Tent of Nations North America
Rev. Chad and Johanna Collins, Valley View Church, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Theodore Settle, Former Volunteer, Pilgrims of Ibilin, Palestine
Rev. Kathleen Day, Campus Minister, Northern Arizona University
Rev. Matthew Johnson, Pastor, Aldrich Church, Minneapolis
Dylan Rooke, Ruling Elder, Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community, Pittsburgh, PA
Rev. Dr. Pat Youngdahl, Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Rochester NY
Rev. Joo Kim, Parish Associate, Church of All Nations, Minneapolis
Colleen Earp, Young Adult Volunteer, New Orleans, Louisiana
Rev. Roger Powers, Co-Chair, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Pastor, Light St Presbyterian Church, Baltimore
Abbi Heimach, Candidate for Ministry (Whitewater Valley), McCormick Theological Seminary
Rev. Katie Mulligan, Chaplain, Rider University
Dean Lewis, Former Director, Advisory Council on Church and Society
John Morgan, Former Chair, Joining Hands for Justice, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta
Rev. John Kleinheksel, Honorably Retired PCUSA, Moderator, Friends of Palestinians and Israelis, Holland Michigan
Rev. Jin S. Kim, Pastor, Church of All Nations, Minneapolis Minnesota
Rev. Paul Palmer, Former Moderator, Chicago Presbytery
Luke Rembold, Youth Director, First Presbyterian Church, Baker City, OR
Rev. Jeff DeYoe, Advocacy Chair, Israel Palestine Mission Network
Rev. Libby Shannan, Co-Chair, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Associate Chaplain, Eckerd College
Fern Brown, TSAD, McCormick Theological Seminary
Rev. Winston A. Lawson, Honorably Retired, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.
Mary H Smarr, Chair, Joining Hands for Justice in Israel & Palestine, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta
Rev. Kori Phillips, Associate Pastor, Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church
Margaret Woodcock, Student, Willamette University
Rev. Jan Orr-Harter, Aledo, TX
Kevin Moran, Coordinator, GA Peace and Justice Coalition
Rev. Mitchell Trigger, co-pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Rockaway, NJ
Rev. Paul Hoang, Pastor, Korean Young Nak Presbyterian Church of Houston

Organizations listed for identification purposes only.

Winter Beauty

The day wound down like so many others -- in my office with one group entering as another was leaving -- making plans for this worship service, that mission trip. We consulted calendars, created communication plans and confirmed our to-do's.  After three straight hours, the heat of logistics evaporated any sense of the sacred.

 When the last group left,  I stole a glance out my window to discover a gentle snowfall, the refracting light suggesting a moment to pause and appreciate the beauty. As I glanced across the hushed cityscape, I remembered our Room in the Inn guests, chronically homeless members of our community,  gathering in the Fellowship Hall for a meal and warm shelter. I offered a quick prayer of gratitude  that our congregation would take in these guests and decided to see if they needed any extra volunteers.

I approached the Fellowship Hall, glanced through the window panes, and was struck by another picture. A passel of  young adults -- most of them new to Charlotte and Covenant --  were sitting at round tables, sharing a meal, engaging in conversation, and enjoying our guests. The menu that night reflected the demographic: Bojangles instead of meatloaf, Trader Joe's ready-to-eat in place of casseroles.

It was a remarkable sight for many reasons. Young adults with a multitude of options giving of their time and energy to serve the homeless of their new city. Faithful young professionals braving poor driving conditions, last-minute shopping lines, and traffic jams to make their way to church to serve with others they barely knew. Nearly all of them came straight from work, and they did it all with a spirit of joy and humility.

As I left that evening, I did so again amazed a the quiet ways of God, the only one capable of orchestrating such a sacred scene. Homeless members of our community -- certainly in need of shelter and food -- but needing even more  someone with whom to share a meal, sitting at round tables with young adults new to the community, away from their families, also in need of table fellowship. As a rare winter snow brought a thriving city to a standstill, two disparate segments of the same community discovered God's subtle provision in each other. 

Winter beauty indeed.

Angel Makers

Angel Makers

Something about Christmas puts me on spiritual notice. I suppose if God can show up in a stable, there's no telling where the sacred might show up…. a family meal, a hospital room, a child's laugh, a walk around the block. Who knows, God might even show up in church! Most often,  God shows up when I'm not really looking, as if to keep me guessing, and I only catch a glimpse out of the corner of my eye. 

Truth be told, I sort of expect God to show up in church on Christmas Eve. The carols, scripture readings, a piece from Handel's Messiah (thank you, choir), and a highly artistic rendition of  Little Drummer Boy (thank you, worship team) seem to increase the likelihood.  Yet, once again, God showed up in the most surprising way. 

This time it was through the angel ornaments, a new tradition for our Christmas Eve services. Unbeknownst to most in the congregation, small groups of friends had been gathering for months to craft exquiste handmade angel ornaments (fine satin and lace, hand-cut and sewn) to be given to all in attendance on Christmas Eve.  These 'angel makers" met quietly, worked diligently, and prayed faithfully that their gift would bring healing and hope, not only to their lives (many of whom had suffered loss recently) but to all who attended our Christmas Eve services.

We sweated the details of how this would work out: counting angels, sizing baskets, sleeving each angel in a protective sheath,  timing music, and carefully mapping an "angel ornament" distribution plan. In worship, we introduced the angels by asking everyone to take "one ornament per family, however you define family" and sent the ushers down the aisles armed with baskets overflowing with angels. Grace prevailed and somehow it all worked with minimal chaos. Each family received an angel ornament.  The ushers took up the offering and exited the sanctuary in their allotted time. We exhaled and a new tradition was born.

Then  God -- who is able to do far more than we could ask or imagine -- started to show up in the most (extra) ordinary ways. After the service I was greeted at the door by two elementary school-aged sisters, each with an ornament. With tears in her eyes, their mother hugged me and whispered, "Their dad and I just separated, and they wanted one for his home as well. I hope that's ok." I wanted to say "No. It's not ok; it's beautiful and lovely, exactly what we want this church to be about." Imagine that,  God using the church to help children build a bridge between two homes saddened by loss.

 A few moments later an elderly woman exited with her daughter in-law and grandchildren. Her son was absent due to an array of high-consequence decisions. She held the angel tightly and said, "I'm putting this on my bedside table to remember the promise of good news. God knows could use some right now."

Then she reached out her hand to her granddaughter, steadied herself, and walked arm in arm toward a Christmas Eve dinner very different than any of them expected.

Another woman let me know she hadn't set foot in a church since her husband died. But she'd heard that others who experienced loss like hers had decided to honor their loved ones by making and giving angels, and she wanted an angel to help her journey toward healing.

The stories have continued almost every day since, convincing me that God showed up on Christmas eve pretty much the same way God shows up every time,  not in the fanfare of trumpets and choirs, nor in the well-spoken word or careful choreography of worship, but through the humble, anonymous, prayer soaked offering of servants who hoped their efforts would serve God's purposes in ways beyond anything they could ask or imagine. 

Summer Reading

The mere utterance of 'summer reading' has elicited eye rolls and heavy sighs in our home in recent years. I can't really blame them. Who wants to engage The Scarlet Letter when the fifth season of "Gossip Girl" has just been released? Besides, with the advent of Snapchat and Vine technologies, who has time to let a plot line unfold? Extended time for reading is a quaint idea, akin to eight track tapes and tail fins.

Yet this summer -- more than any in recent memory -- has allowed me time (most of it on the way to and from Kenya) to engage some wonderful works.  Perhaps the most important book I've read in recent years is Eboo Patel's Sacred Ground. If someone wants to make an important investment in our world, get in touch with me about bringing him to Charlotte. His work with young people through his Interfaith Youth Corp is the most hopeful  way forward for our world, and especially for our nation. We'll study the book at Covenant in the fall, but I encourage all readers to pick up a copy now and enjoy.

I also branched out a bit this summer and enjoyed some surprising works. The first surprise was The Untethered Soul, an explicitly Buddhist book about centering our hearts and minds. At times the concepts are a elusive to my western mind, but for any who over-invest in people and causes, who ruminate and obsess over  children, and suffer other inward challenges, it offers sage advice.

Years ago I swore off the whole genre of church leadership books, but like a lover with boundary issues, I took up two books on organizational and church leadership that were so compelling they kept me up at night. First was Blue Ocean, a book on how to transcend the typical turf wars of competing entities. They principles within apply to churches, educational institutions, and businesses. I plan to study it with some staff members in the fall. The most surprising book I read -- one which is almost embarrassing to admit I've devoured -- is Andy Stanley's Deep and Wide. If you haven't read it, don't laugh. He's a thinker, analyst, communicator, and motivator. Dismiss his ideas to your own peril (I'm talking to you, my Presbyterian minister and elder friends).

Finally, I substantiated my reading by finally taking on William Placher's Essentials of Christian Theology. I've meant to read this compendium for years and am sorry to have waited. Many of my classmates have entries, and I commend it to those who long for substantial Christian theology. I especially like LeAnne Van Dyke's entry and remember fondly her contributions during theology class over twenty five years ago.

I'll offer an update a few weeks from now but hope to tackle a few other works. Feel free to suggest your favorites.

Celebration Dance

David Partington, a valued friend and colleague, introduced me to the work of John August Swanson, an artist whose etchings and serigraphs capture spiritual experiences. Perhaps my favorite of his works is "Celebration" which shows a dance with musicians playing, candles burning, and people of all ages joining hands to fill the room with joyful dance. It's an image of life at its richest.
















I was reminded of this "Celebration" dance last weekend when other friends generously hosted a graduation party for our twins at their lake house. The day was beautiful and bright, and people from multiple generations gathered on the lake, lawn, and patio to enjoy the gift of each other. Youth advisors who had guided our children, school friends, church friends, long time family friends, grandparents, and others from across the landscape of our lives gathered for no other reason than to share the joy of traveling together.

As I stood on the patio looking out at the festivities, I marveled at the beauty of it all, how blessed we are to dance through this life with more fine people than we could possibly name. I couldn't help but wonder if this is what God had in mind for the human enterprise.... a joyful dance with hands joined, arms raised, light shining, music playing ....  populated by those with whom we are privileged to share the journey. It's a marvelous image for this thing we call church.

To all those who have been church to our family for the last twenty one years of raising children, thank you for joining us in the dance. We're honored and grateful.

Spiritual Observations from 14,000 Feet

If you take a summer drive through Eagle County, Colorado and look to the south, Mount of the Holy Cross -- with its 14,005-foot peak -- reveals itself in full splendor. The mountaintop is famous for large summer snowfields, one of which forms a distinctive cross. In the late 1800’s, William Henry Jackson published a picture of this so-called “Holy Cross,” subsequently drawing thousands in pilgrimage to this site.

When I first saw Mount of the Holy Cross thirty years ago, something about its beauty beckoned me to the summit, and recently I decided to give it a try. I invited a friend to join me and along the way made some observations about risk, guidance, nourishment and reward.

Observation #1: Staying Alive Includes The Risk of Failure.
William Carey, the famous British missionary, once said, “Attempt great things for God: Expect Great things from God.” There is something refreshing and good about applying ourselves to endeavors that require God’s help to succeed, endeavors which attempted with only our own strength are sure to fail. The thrill of such a daunting summit attempt lay in very real possibility of failure. Approaching endeavors beyond our own capacity, ventures which rely on God’s help to succeed, injects an important dose of vitality into our lives.

Scripture is full of examples. When God appeared to Moses, God said, “Go down to Egypt and free my people from slavery!” Moses responded, “I can’t do that. I stutter. I’m not good at speaking. Besides, I murdered someone down there.” Yet God’s call remained. When God said to Jeremiah, “Go speak a word of truth to power. Remind them they are to worship me alone.” Jeremiah said, “You sure you want me? I’m just a boy.” Again, God’s call remained. When God commanded Amos to speak a strong word of justice, Amos was understandably nervous. “But God, I’m just a tender of sycamore trees.” Still God’s call remained. Max Dupree once said, “Never insult a leader with an easy job.” And God never does. When we accept the call to something bigger than ourselves, we are released from the false sense of self-sufficiency, led into a spirit of humility and trust, and emerge with a fuller measure of life.

Observation #2: Travel with an Experienced Guide

After numerous mishaps and near disasters in my outdoor adventures, I finally subsumed my pride to common sense and hired a guide. The guide granted my friend Stephen and me all kinds of freedom to hike according to our desires -- stopping when needed, pausing for pictures, answering questions – and he inserted himself only when necessary to save us from harsh consequences born of inexperience.

His value was evident from the outset. The temperature was 25 degrees colder than anticipated, and at the trailhead he opened his well-stocked trunk, inviting us to grab any extra equipment we needed. He also insisted on walking sticks, unnecessary on a 6,000-foot ascent, but essential aids on a descent navigated by fatigued minds and legs. He also insisted on sunscreen which we didn’t need at 15 degrees in the dark of morning, but was essential to our health a few hours later when we stood under a cloudless sky at 14,000 feet.

Perhaps most importantly our guide provided an intimate knowledge of the landscape. Much of the terrain lacked distinction, making it easy to drift a few degrees left or right, such that over time we would have been significantly off course. On this particular hike, just a few hundred yards of drift led to dangerous cliffs from which many previous hikers had required rescue. Thankfully, our guide had solid points of reference, made small corrections along the way, and got us to our destination safely.

The same is true for the spiritual journey. Wise spiritual guides can keep us from drifting according to the landscape. They can set points of reference, offer a seasoned read on the terrain, and share knowledge of the contours of the hills and valleys because they’ve been there before. If we walk with a trusted guide, we can receive small correctives for the journey and avoid a potentially harrowing and expensive rescue.

Observation #3: Start Early Because Storms Come at Mid-Day

We hit the trail at 5:00 am, the launch time for all guided hikes, because storms start to brew at the summit around mid-day. Even the most inexperienced hiker knows the worst place to be during a lightning storm is at the summit, only halfway through your hike. Safe refuge is hard to find, wind blows strongest, rain pelts hardest, and navigating the way home can become very difficult if not downright unpleasant.
The same can be said for our lives: Illness, teenagers, mortality, addiction, marital strife all the threatening storms of life start flashing their lightning about mid-way through. The wisdom of a challenging hike holds true in the spiritual life as well. Our ability to endure storms is largely dependent on how far we’ve traveled, our comfort level on the trail, and our knowledge of safe hiding places along the way. If we want to end our journey well, we must start early, because storms come at mid-day.

Observation #4: Hydrate or Die

When hiking at altitude, dehydration can sneak up on anyone, with devastating effect. Physical weakness, diminished cognitive ability, and even altitude sickness are more likely when a hiker is dehydrated. At altitude, hydration is more discipline than desire. Successful climbers drink before thirst and eat before hunger. On our climb, we carried as much water as possible (120 milliliters each), carefully measured our intake and stopped to compensate if we ever fell behind.

The parallels to the spiritual life are obvious. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says,

"But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." Jn. 6:35

Ministry leaves little appetite for personal spiritual hydration. We pray for others, study for presentation, and worship as a form of work, but that does little to hydrate our own spirits with living water. If we're not careful, we get behind, start to feel weak and experience diminished cognitive and emotional ability. Dehydration of our spirits quickly leads to a loop of spiritual/emotional doom from which it's very difficult to escape. Experienced hikers know you have to drink before being thirsty, to hydrate as practice instead of feel.

Observation #5 Stop and Enjoy the View

On the way up the mountain, Stephen and I were so invigorated by the challenge we fixed our sites on the summit and set out quickly. Our stated goal was simply to summit, but a secondary goal was to finish in less than seven hours, a feat accomplished by an elite few. We ascended at pace, took short breaks, and snacked as we walked. At the summit we celebrated briefly, ate lunch, took a few pictures, pulled out our walking sticks and headed down.

Nearly half way down, serious fatigue began to set in. Knees ached, calves burned, and Advil lost nearly all its magic. Our guide saw the staggering and again offered valuable input. “I need to pull over for a minute and change socks,’ he said. “I’m getting some blisters.”

We gladly obliged his need and sat down on a rock. He took his sweet time, slowly unlacing his boots, air drying his feet and scrounging around in his pack for a fresh pair of socks. “Look up at that mountain.” he said. “Can you believe you did that?” We glanced up at the gleaming summit and enjoyed a moment of accomplishment.

“Don’t you want to change your socks too?”

Come to think of it, we did. We sat a bit longer, changed, and got re-oriented to the remaining portion of the journey. We moved much more slowly now, down the mountain, out of the sun, into the wooded portion, and after only forty-five minutes came upon a stream. Once again our guide said, “I need some water. In fact, why don’t we all fill up?” Off came the packs, out came the water filtration system, and we sat by the stream as the fresh water supply slowly filtered into our packs.

Re-loaded, we trudged on even more slowly, and on the final leg climbed through a switchback to a clearing. “This is the last full view of the mountain,” our guide said. “Let’s just enjoy it for a while.” We stood in silence, admiring the majesty of creation.

When we are young and ambitious, it’s difficult to slow down and enjoy the journey. But, without proper pacing, we become fatigued, start aching, and begin to trip and fall, sometimes in a disastrous fashion. When we stop to appreciate the view, take in the beauty along the way, and pace ourselves appropriately, we not only enjoy the journey but invest in a more successful completion.