Reflections of a Running Reverend

My bib from doing the same race two years ago I'm running a half marathon this weekend. I'm using it as a training run for the full marathon I am doing next month. And as I have done in previous races, I will again be doing it as a prayer run. Half of a marathon. 13.1 of 26.2 miles. Halfway to a goal. In between. Midway. In this prayer run, I will be running for those who are finding themselves in some form or state of being in between... for those who are in between jobs... for those who are moving, from one side of town to the other, or from one state to another... for those in between school levels, those moving up a grade level... for those transitioning from being a student to working and beginning a career... for those in the middle of major projects in life... for those in the middle of medical treatments... for those in the midst of family transitions... for those who are in the midst of picking up the pieces and figuring things out after the loss...

Trees are budding and flowers are starting to bloom here in Anchorage. Its beautiful!  And because the flowers are blooming, the bees are starting to get busy. Notice the bees in springtime. They do not stay in one place more than they should. They spend time on one flower, do what they need to do, leave what they need to leave, take what they need to take, and move on to the next bloom. I think we can learn from these busy bees. A former District Superintendent whom I was recently in a retreat with asked how I was doing. I said the job has given me my fair share of joys and challenges.  I said I enjoy the time traveling to different ministry settings and seeing great things happening in churches and communities. Her response struck me. She said, " Yes, I loved that too! During those times, you get to be a bee spreading the pollen." What she meant was, that she was in a unique position where she can be the bearer of stories and best-pra...

Mother and Child by Rev. David Fison Celebrating Mother's day in churches is always a sensitive matter. We want to celebrate but we also want to be inclusive and sensitive. A couple of years ago, I was searching online for Mother's Day resources for the church I was serving and I came upon this poem from the blog, The Messy Middle by Amy Young. I found it very helpful for me and my congregation so I thought I'd share it with you today: The wide spectrum of mothering by Amy Young To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. ...