Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
Thinking it over
I was scheduled for a 1:00 PM meeting at my church today. I had agreed to it because it is important to the church for a group of congregants to meet and explore various uses of the building that might bring in another stream of revenue for us. Like so many other churches, we are usually barely ahead of our expenses. It is a big building, requiring maintenance and having obligations. On Sundays I sign checks that will be disbursed the next week to keep us in business. Last Sunday I signed a check to Ameren UE for nearly $1,600. We pay rent for our copier, and every month there is something that needs attention in the elevator – so people won’t get stuck in its old self.
Last Sunday I was also the MC for the service as our minister took her first day off since before Thanksgiving. There is a little script available to help with all the welcoming and announcing that happens. I did stray from the script once and announced that, as the treasurer of the board, I had just signed a check for nearly $1600 to keep the lights on. Apparently that caught peoples’ attention. I realized just how easy it is to come to church without a thought of what actually goes in to running the place. I did not go downstairs for coffee after church, but another board member tells me that people were shocked to hear about the bill and were asking questions. That was the intended effect of my announcement.
Back to the meeting today. I finally decided that I am already overbooked and cannot take on another responsibility. It occurs to me that my 20 hour work week crowds my schedule and that it is too hard to try and be free to attend an early afternoon meeting some 30 miles from downtown. As a part of the building committee there would be other responsibilities to add on. By now I know myself well enough to picture some resentment building if I take this on. I prayed about it and texted my minister my decision. She understood, because she also tends to over-schedule herself.
Last Saturday four of us met for our monthly 12 step book club. We have yet to pick a new book to read. It appears that we have outgrown the need to study another recovery book. Each of us has sponsors, attends meetings, and keeps the 12 step life foremost in our consciousness. Instead we will take a new approach to our monthly meetings and take turns bringing an inspirational piece to study and discuss. We have formed such a bond that we treasure the friendship and relationships that have come out of this practice, and do not want to dissolve the group. We are a source of support for one another, and we love our time together. In this group we are free to discuss anything that affects our spiritual life – good or bad. In my opinion you can’t have too much of this kind of sustenance.
Once many years ago I felt my spirits sinking and decided I needed to learn a creative hobby. I took stained glass classes and spent many years engrossed in this activity. It provided me with a direct line to my Creator, who always supports efforts to engage in matters that inspire the soul. Lately I have become fascinated with a new series of Lego products – a line of botanical kits that produces beautiful bouquets of different flowers. While I am engaged in building a flower I feel peaceful and at ease, except for the frequent dropping of small pieces on the floor at which time I curse and fuss. But that has its own power of release…